frustrated with Christian family members

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I am the only person in my family who is not a "believer" It has been this way for some time, but lately I have grown weary of hearing Jesus everything, God everything. I want to discuss this issue with them but they are either condescending or patronizing when I try to do so. Or they become offended that I even question them about it even though they know how I feel. I pretty much view them all as idiots now, because of their inability to even discuss the issue. I am a Buddhist, and they all know this yet none of them take any interest in what I believe. They treat me like I am stupid for my beliefs just as I view them as idiots, but at least I am willing to have a discussion about the issue. It is beginning to actually piss me off that they are all so closed minded about religion. I know it is offensive to Christians, but I view their constant references to God and Jesus as excuses not to take responsibility for their own actions and am becoming extremely frustrated at having to just constantly bite my tongue rather than risk creating a barrier between us. I want to make comments about things like the Duck Dynasty issue and the yearly chant of the "War on Christmas" Lately, however, I notice a lot of very threatening commentary online and in the news coming from Christians towards Atheists Accusing Atheists as "attacking" Christians, simply because Atheists are daring to become more vocal about their position. I perceive Christians as imposing their beliefs on me by virtue of their accusations that THEY are being attacked.

How are THEY being attacked when I can look in any direction and actually visually SEE a church? When I can go into almost any public building (motels/hotels,) apartment complexes, even Government buildings, and see Bibles everywhere? I go into any major bookstore and see sections massively devoted to Christianity while books pertaining to other beliefs are stuffed into categories such as "New Age, Metaphysical, Occult," blah, blah, blah. And recently someone made a federal case about a book in a retail store mistakenly being labeled as fiction, going so far as calling for a boycott of that retail outlet.

I view the Duck Dynasty issue as a television show about absolutely nothing, now using the controversy over a LGBT statement to exploit Christianity for financial gain. It seems that most of the mainstream movement of Christianity is exploitation for financial gain. "mega-churches" are a mega offensive insult to my intelligence.

Can we please just get off the pimping of Christianity? No one is trying to stop you from believing in whatever you believe in. No one is trying to eliminate your religion. Give it a break, please. I just want you to stop trying to shove your beliefs down my throat.

Thank you and have a lovely day.

One major difference with Christians is that for us, there's no separation from Christ after we've personally accepted Him. All other religions talk about "being good", but none mention a supernatural being dwelling on the inside of a person. Its literally a transformation of the mind, will, and emotions, so every discussion you have with a Christian will be done through that filter from their side.

That said, there's many Christians who are open to science, even using it to support their claims regarding God and the Bible. This practice is called apologetics, from the word "apologia" meaning "an intellectual defense". If you're at all interested, I'd point you to people like Lee Strobel, Frank Turek, and Ravi Zacharias. Some atheists say they've been disproven, but I disagree; feel free to check them out on YouTube, and make up your own mind.

Think of it as a test of your Buddhism to be tolerant of their ignorance, and use the experience to remind yourself not to be so fervent in your own beliefs that it may put others off the way they do you. As an atheist, the only thing I've found that really works is to set a good example, and when you win people over by defying their expectations, it is easier to get the to see your point of view as rational.

Of course, that's all hypothetical. In practice, Misslizard is right. Pigeons. Good luck.

Try being Jewish sometime. Over the years I have learned the art of the noncommittal but pleasant half-smile and the "mm-hmm, that's nice" rejoinder to the point where I have it down to a science. The type of "Christian" who would use his or her religion as a soapbox to lecture other people is the same type of "Christian" who is going to see any hint of rejection as further proof that he or she is "right" and being martyred, so best not to even engage them.

I'm Zen Buddhist / Atheist and I never discuss religion with any family members; though being from the UK, religion is a non-issue anyway as just about everyone I know is atheist/agnostic/don't care. It is common knowledge what my religious stance is but I never raise the subject unless anyone wants to talk about it. I'm afraid I don't suffer Christian zealots very well - any who turn up on my doorstep are quickly dispensed with. I gather Christians are more of a problem in America as Christianity is still going quite strongly there. All I can suggest is leaving them to their ignorance (usually regarding science, evolution, cosmology etc). You know your own path; no need to take diversions from it trying to convince others to join you. I follow my own path and don't seek to convince anyone to join me; however, it is nice to meet others from time to time who are on the same path.

I'm actually positively surprised a book section for the occult exists, because a lot of the time people who mean ill to less educated and critical folk will try to pass off said literature as something orthodox and trustworthy.

Neither does them being christians make them idiots, nor do they need to discuss their religion. If some hardcore christian comes to me, and would like to discuss to me about his believings, then I would as well not be interested. I accept him believing what he believes, as long as it causes him not to act in a bad way, and I simply want that as well for me. My mom believes in christian believes, and she dont need to discuss that with me in any way.
You could start to get off pimping christianity, by doing so yourself. By letting it bother you that much, that other people believe in it, you yourself give it importancy. If you want, that religion becomes something completely private, then start by doing so on your own. I dont know exactly what you mean with "atheists becoming more vocal about their "believes" in the US" but for me this is the opposite of it being something private, but instead pulling the topic religion yourself into public. I am atheistic, but as long as noone asks me about it, or that it becomes relevant I see no need in being vocal about it. This is simply something I believe on my own, that is affecting only me. Just as I expect christian people to do so. I dont discuss that with them, thats just as useless as discussing if you prefer vanilla or chocolate pudding. No discussion ever could bring me into believing into something that seems as funny magic stuff to me, just as someone truly believing into an higher entity, wont suddenly say: "Oh, your right, the magic thing is not real."

Let them be as the are and believe what they believe, and if THEY are forcing an discussion about that needless topic about you or use their religion as excuse to behave badly, THEN talk about that. But not out of fun. I am atheist, but that does not force me to be aggressive without any need against religions or christianity. So I dont do a life drama out of companying my mom to christmas mess on christmas evening. She is simply a bit older, and its dark and cold in the evening, and thats why I accompany her, because she is afraid to go alone that late in the dark. I dont care if its about going to church or not, because it simply has absolute no importancy for me. Just as noone feels disturbed in the opposite, when I stay on the seat, when they are doing the final blessing and people go forward to receive the priests blessing, which makes it obvious that I am a non-believer. I respect their believes, they respect mine, everyone is fine.