How Atheists Can Live Peacefully with Religious People

Now, obviously from the title of this article, you can safely assume that I am not a religious person. I have never been religious, and unless I get hit on the head some day, I don’t anticipate ever being religious. My reasons for avoiding that way of life are plentiful, and yet not the topic of discussion today. Instead, what I want to talk about is the fact that, though we might not agree with what they believe, or how they behave sometimes, it is still nigh impossible to go through life without encountering/knowing/living with religious people. Here now are some simple ideas that have helped me in the past and continue to guide me as I make my way through existence, accompanied by folks of various creeds.

Don’t take it upon yourself to change them

This is the first, and seemingly most obvious, rule to peaceful co-existence with religious people. However, it can sometimes be the most difficult. It is made even harder when the religious person(s) in question is someone you care for, as a friend, family member, or what-have-you. Why wouldn’t you want to help someone you love? Why can’t you try and stop them from what seems to be a nonsensical, and sometimes scary, way of life? Well, for the same reasons that we atheists are incensed by religious people attempting to preach to us to change our beliefs (or lack thereof). It’s a personal decision. Just as you wouldn’t want people telling you who to choose as a boyfriend/girlfriend, or dictating how you should dress, so it is with religion. Respect a person’s decision to follow whatever deity they find works for them, so long as they offer you the same respect, and so long as they are not endangering anybody by doing so.

Don’t even discuss religion with them

The only times the topic should be breached are

1. if they bring it up
2. if they are offending you in some manner, or
3. if you are offending them

If B.) or C.) do occur, then the offending actions should be discussed, in a civilized manner. It is up to the discretion of both of you as to what may or not be deemed offensive, but I think common sense would make things pretty clear. They should not expect you to say “grace” at the dinner table, just as you should not expect them not to say “grace.” Things like that.