Unpleasant encounter

She is clearly aa bully Becket.
I too am a believer and tbh if it was me she was speaking to,it would have been her who walked away as i would have hit the roof.
I respect everyones point of view on religion.
Please don`t let ignorant people like her upset you.

Oh that’s just what I’ve been saying —on another thread— except I called it being boring rather than nasty.

I don’t know why. A need to control?

I am agnostic but would not dream of trying to force anybody into my way of thinking nor would I be at all interested in them pontificating on their religion

I hope you don't bump into her again, each to their own as they say.

Rude, horrible woman!
Just ignore, most normal people wouldn’t dream of commenting like this to a stranger.
Looney springs to mind ?

I wouldn’t worry. Real atheists should have no interest in talking about God. I’ve heard of so many people like this who go on to become Christians!

I think I'd call any stranger who invaded my space out of the blue in that ranting way "a bit of a nutter". Stupid woman.

You should be upset with your friend for allowing this to happen.

Try not to let her upset you, if you can? That is not normal behaviour, and she clearly has some sort of underlying issue.

If you had tried to convert her and she had reacted in that manner it would be bad enough, but to interrupt a conversation (rude in itself) to do it is bonkers.

Each to her own. I am not religious myself, but quite enjoy discussing these things with those who want to do so. I could only join in such a discussion if it were on a basis of mutual respect, though.

I am an atheist - have been for most of my 8- years. My children and g.children all are also.
However, I would never dream of discussing this with anyone unless they brought the subject up to me.
I find this most unusual. Humanasts are, on the whole, some of the nicest, kindest and most caring people around.
Think this person has other issues and is probably arguing more with herself over her lack of religious faith than with you.

Very unpleasant!! Pleased don't let this woman cause you distress. She was well out of order - her remarks only serve to show her own issues. Your friend must have been so embarrassed!

Good heavens. How unpleasant. You did well to 'turn the other cheek'!

Humanists or atheists? What are the differences?

Either way, they have no right to impose their beliefs on others.

Thank you for the supportive replies. Franbern I agree with you that Humanists tend to be kind and caring. The woman I encountered stated she was an Atheist. I think there is a distinction between Humanists and Atheists. The Humanists I know tell me humanism is based on a positive attitude to the world. Atheism is merely an absence of belief.

How horrible Beckett. I am a committed atheist, so much so that when forms like the Census etc ask about religious belief I never tick those boxes stating none but opt to write in the "other". My belief my business. What right does anyone have to challenge, undermine and disparage anybody's beliefs? Faith is a personal matter, for many it runs through the heart of who we are. How dare she!

In a way, it doesnt matter what the reason or subject of her ire.
She was acting like a bully.
Sorry you were subjected to this kind of behaviour Beckett
I suppose you're forewarned should you meet her again!

This woman was rude and boorish. What would have particularly annoyed me (and often does with some atheists) is her assumption that if someone has any religious belief they are committed to some hackneyed belief in a bearded white man in the sky, all the stereotypical beliefs associated with Christianity and with it all the moral values associated with it as well, where as if they actually talked and were_ interested_ in the other person they would find, on discussion, that each individuals approach to their faith is complex and while they will accept many of the standard truthes, their interpretation of them will be complex and nuanced. Often an atheists and religious person's views and attitudes to life are closely aligned.

Beckett you are a Christian lady so just forgive this person as I would imagine something bad has happened in her life which has made her very angry. Maybe she used to believe in God and now doesn’t because of whatever happened, but has to vent her anger on someone or something which unfortunately turned out to be you with your cross acting like a red rag to a bull.

What a horrible experience, I feel for you. Rude, unkind, thoughtless, your friend should have stuck up for you more than she did.

Quite horrid and boorish at best. Your friend's 'friend' is an atheist zealot, and that makes her no better than a religious fundamentalist - and look what they perpetrate!

I am an atheist, as were my parents, but in 2015 I married DW Ashcombe who has been a believer all her life, attends church, plays the piano for services, often reads the lesson etc. I have been happy to attend Christmas Midnight Mass with her, and it is inconceivable that I would try to say she is "wrong". I am proud of her truly Christian outlook.

If God helps people get through their day that's fine with me. I cannot actually point to a piece of solid evidence that says there is no God, so my conviction that He does not exist is no more soundly based than that of a believer.

And DW's vicar is a smashing bloke, and I hope to buy him a pint some time!

I'm sorry to read you were treated in this manner, Beckett.
It seems to me that she has little understanding of good manners, nor of respecting your belief, even though she doesn't agree with it. Try not to let her rudeness upset you.

Gosh you were very polite, I would have told her to P* off and keep her opinions to herself, how dare she!

Goodness me, how rude! Don’t let it upset you, she seems to be the one with the problem, not you. I wonder if she would challenge a Buddhist or Muslim in the same way?

Unbelievable Beckett! Is that person all right? I would ask myself that, dismissing her conversation. I’m a vegetarian but I don’t preach to anybody eating meat! The mind boggles!