An Army of One

Well, tell them that. Nobody has a right to put your spiritual beliefs to the question, or bully you into belief.Tell your family that you're more than happy to answer questions about something you're interested in - biology - to the best of your knowledge, but that your individual spirital life isn't something you expect to have to justify to them. Nobody walks your path but you. Let them know how uncomfortable they made you, and don't let them play it off like "that's God's way of trying to reach you." (There's honestly no feeling or situation evangelical Christians won't try to capitalize on to convert you.)Let them know that the science of biology and evolution are definately on the table, and you'd like whatever opportunities they have to correct their misunderstandings, but your personal faith is definately not on the table, and they have no right - indeed, should be deeply ashamed of themselves - for presuming to know better than you in that regard.

I know how you feel. Every time I'm faced with an issue, or things aren't going well for me, it seems like my parents are all like "you know, I find prayer very helpful at these times."I politely remind them that that's something that isn't going to work for me, and I try to avoid the issue at other times. Of course I recently got my conservative mom a book about how the GOP is manipulating American Christianity to its own purposes, and that went over like a lead balloon.You're not alone in your walk. Almost every atheist and agnostic has to deal with the well-intentioned evangelism of their family. Understand that they belong to a church that informs them that absolutely nothing is more important than convincing you to believe just like them.Edited by crashfrog, : No reason given.

Well, I envy your optimism. Understand that they belong to a religious tradition that informs them that, if they learn to understand and tolerate your difference, they've failed in their duty to God and in their love to you.That's going to be something that's hard for them to get over. I hope it works out for you.