How do I get somebody to stop inviting me to their religion?

Question

My cousin always asks me to go with to church with her. I am already happy with my spiritual situation as of the moment. How do I get her to stop without sounding offending?

Answer 1

You could visit her church and in return she could visit yours. If she's not willing then she might leave it be. If she does, what would it hurt? Then you could both be satisfied and go from there. You never know. Keep an open mind.

Answer 2

Tell her "I'm glad that you are so happy with your church, but I do have my own beliefs and am happy with my situation".    Unfortunately, there are people who won't, or can't, accept a polite refusal.  If this becomes the case, you might have no choice but to be rude.  When I have people come to my door, especially if I am in the middle of doing something, and act very persistent (about religion), I tell them "I'm sorry for being rude, but I am not interested in your religion" and close the door.

Answer 3

Insult her religion and make fun of it...she'll take the hint...eventually

Answer 4

Thank her for the invitation but politely explain that you are quite happy with your own situation.

Answer 5

I'm in the same boat too.

Just smile and say thanks.  

Answer 6

say your a atheist

or just say you dont wish to join any other religeon or faith.

Your happy with yours.

If shes a good person, she'll accept that you've made your mind up on the situation.

Answer 7

You could explain to her nicely that you are very comfortable with what you believe in already and ask kindly if she'd stop pressuring you into joining hers. Or you could just go to church with her, I mean it isn't going to kill you, and as long as you know what you believe in, then what's the harm in seeing what she believes in? Maybe it'll open your mind up more and you'll be able to experience something new. It's up to you, but knowing what you believe in is the most important thing, and I wish you luck!

Answer 8

I have a Friend like that.....every time she asks I just tell her "no thank you".....and I change the subject.

It doesn't bother me.....and as long as she keeps asking I'll keep giving her the same answer.

Answer 9

You probably can't, I have found that the more fervent they are in their beliefs, the more offended they become if you don't wish to join them.

Answer 10

Talk to her personally and say i respect you and your religion but i am happy with the way i pursue my spiritualism and i do respect you feelings but its better  we drop this issue , tell her that following a particular religion doesn't help a person  in attaining high spiritual ground .Dont be rude when you speak to  her Cheers :)

Answer 11

Invite her to your religion.

Answer 12

"Cousin, I love you and I admire your devotion to your beliefs.  Right now, though, I'm very happy with my religious path and I'm not interested in exploring other churches or religions.  I don't want religion to come between us and destroy this great relationship we have.  So could we just agree to disagree?  I promise I'll let you know if I decide to investigate other spiritual paths later."

The difference between my answer and what most other posters have said is that in my opinion, you need to indicate to her in a tactful manner that her continued and unwelcome invitations could harm the relationship between the two of you.  If she loves you, she's going to want to keep your relationship on good terms even more than she's going to want to discuss religion.

Polite but firm, those are the key ingredients of any response you give her.

Answer 13

Tell her that your relationship with God is personal and that you don't want to discuss it.

Answer 14

I would tell her that you will let her know if you change your mind,but that you don't feel comfortable talking about it anymore. Then if she does it again you just remind her that you already mentioned how don't feel comfortable talking bout it and that you will not discuss it again! Once you mention discomfort then when they cross the line you put them on a guilt trip and end it. Then finish with "I know you mean well,but that topic is personal to me." Then she should be nice and understand and if not then you are not wrong and stand your ground!

Answer 15

Tell her that you appreciate her concern but you feel that you are in the right place for you spiritually at the moment and that her constantly asking you to her church is not helping you to have a favorable view of her religion.

If that doesn't stop her, then you might have to start telling her in offensive tone so that she will get it.  I hope it won't come to that though.

Answer 16

I have a mother-in-law who is a Jehovah's Witness & for years I didn't say anything to her. I even went a few times to the Kingdom Hall with her which is very boring for me. When my son passed away & visited me & I communicated with him constantly (watch John Edward & you wll see what I mean, my son never left me) my mother in law told me I would never ever see him again. First of all that was not a nice thing to say to a grieving mother. My mother-in-law doesn't know that when I was 10 I had a near death experience & it was the most peaceful feeling & I have studied spiriuality since I was 14 & I am thrilled with what I believe. She never asked what I believed she only told me what she believed. So the day she said something about my son was the day I told her that, that was her belief but it wasn't mine. Ever since then when ever she brings something up I will tell her what I believe instead. It infuriates her. Yet she will say that I am right about everything I am saying. Most people are on an ego trip about their church. If they werent' they would allow you to you own experiences & offer it once payment but leave you alone after that. My m-i-l feels better when more people go along with her as if it is a popularity contest. Now she knows I have no interest. I think if you just live a great life & keep telling her no & maybe ad a little more as you feel more confident such as "I'm happy with what I believe". If she would say to me "you need to be saved" I would say 'from what?" see I am so comfortable with my beliefs that what they say makes no sense to me so I can answer to them so they leave me alone now.Just look at it as a challenge to learn more about your own beliefs & what you are doing is fine as long as she stays nice to you & doesn't push you the way my m-in-law pushed me. I am glad she did cause I stood up for myself & that is much more comfortable then just trying to be nice invalidating myself.

Answer 17

Explain that after researching the Roman Empire and its total acceptance of every citizens choice of religion as they desired, you have no real desire to be involved with one particular religion and risk never discovering personally a religion or spiritually that makes you comfortable just as her personal choice has done for her.  Her own satisfaction with her church is wonderful but you don't feel the need for recruitment at this point.

Answer 18

"Thank you for the invitations, but I am content with where I am right now. I will let you know if i change my mind in the future."