Hello! :)

[redshift]

Nice to find a forum like this.  I hope to find helpful strategies for remaining calm and composed when in the presence of religious stupidity.  There are some very good people who are still bound to their religious beliefs and I have to find a way to accept this fact without the urge to confront and challenge their ideas "for their own good", really.
I feel that their form of religious belief is a form of suffering.  I neither feel superior to their ideas nor to them personally and I need to find a way to not intervene with their choices.  It is probably like dealing with an alcoholic.  I have seen human beings in that condition, when it is full-blown, lying in the streets.  And it was very difficult to continue walking on to my job without being affected by that sight.
It is not my role to "save the world" from false belief.  I just need to find a way to maintain my focus and leave others to their own choices however disasterous I may perceive their choices to be.

[OldGit]

I think this is just the place for you, redshift.  Welcome.

It is not my role to "save the world" from false belief.  I just need to find a way to maintain my focus and leave others to their own choices however disasterous I may perceive their choices to be.

Many here will agree with that.

[Amicale]

Redshift, welcome to HAF. Glad to meet you.

Like you and many others, I'm not out to evangelize/save the world from religion (or much else) either. I have a pretty live-and-let-live philosophy.

Anyhow, you're among friends here. See you around!

[Recusant]

Hello and welcome to HAF, redshift. Personally I'm not aware of any fool-proof strategies "for remaining calm and composed when in the presence of religious stupidity." However, it's possible that having a place to discuss the more egregious aspects of religious behavior may be helpful. Also, other members here are likely to prove to be more resourceful in the realm of strategies than I am.

Notes for new members from Tank:

The Rules.

Users who comply with forum rules will graduate to full membership after 10 posts. Till that time your ability to post is limited to the "Getting to Know You" section of the forum. It is our hope that this small restriction improves the overall atmosphere of HAF.

Some threads you might find interesting.
Where did you get your username from?
10 Things About Yourself
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From
Photography
Non-religious pet peeves
Pets...what do you have?
How to tell your family you are an atheist.*
"Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler*

*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.

I hope you enjoy your time reading and posting here!

[Tank]

Hi redshift

I find keeping calm in front of some theists very difficult indeed, so I wouldn't use me as an example 

Welcome to HAF!

Regards
Chris

[The Magic Pudding]

Wellcome

Unlike many here I am endeavouring to stop people from believing in gods, and dogs too, nasty yappy little things.  I've tried the classics, the rack, bamboo under fingernails and public burning but with little success.  I'll try reversing their tax advantages next.