Help with Atheist

[Revoltingest]

Even with my academic background in anthropology he was not willing to accept my view which is fine. I only want to be left in peace to believe and practice as I see fit. His constant onslaught of anti-Hindu/ God beliefs have been very troubling to me. he is my brother and I love him and I am at a loss. I know I can't make him accept my views and I don't want to. I just want to have a relationship with him and be left in peace about my religious views.
I'm hurt with our exchange this evening. In some ways it has really reinforced my faith and yet it hurts to have someone so close being so negative. What's worse is I live with my family and when he is in town he stays in the room with my shrine and I'm worried his negative view is going to energetically impact my shrine. This is especially true since i'm out of town a lot when he's here.
Please any words of wisdom or advice about how to feel or respond to this situation is greatly appreciated! Also I can't move my mandapam right now, is there any way to safe guard it against such negativity?
Thank you and Aum Hari Aum!

Green is the best color for DIRs!
Atheists...oh, I know their vexatious type well.
Problems:
- Your brother has a strong need to change others to his way of thinking.
- But he is insensitive to the discomfort he causes.

Some possible solutions...if you've not tried them yet:
- Alert him to how his negativity makes you feel. It could be that he would care, but is unaware of it.
- Steer the conversation from being about "truth" of religion to one about how people arrive at their orientation. (He can still feel that he's 'right', but explore the human condition & religion's place in it.)
- You're both science fans, so there could be common ground in recognizing that religious orientation could have both genetic & epigenetic components. Comfort him by informing him that his position is reasonable & rational, but that you're inexorably drawn to another view. If you don't think your beliefs are absolute inerrant truth, then he should know this, because it might take the wind out of his sails.
- I long ago learned that discussions are more fun if one stops trying to win arguments & be right. Perhaps he's not there yet, eh?
- Recognize that he's a complete jerk. (I have much experience here.) Just avoid his proselytizing, & enjoy other subjects with a smile & polite refusal to go there. Make a conscious decision to not let it adversely affect you.

 

[Rohit Adhikarla]

Militants are militants no matter what their relligious orientation is.It is a character trait.

 

[Andal]

Vanakkam,

Thank you so much everyone for the kind thoughts and suggestions. Ratikala thank you for the suggestion about putting the Deities to rest and your are so right about that type of discord not being appropriate especially given the fact that my mom believes in God.

When he is here he's with my niece and nephew (5,2) who are adorable and they are always curious about the shrine and have learned to look and don't touch

Vinayaka, while that type of relationship won't work for us, there is a certain level of aloofness I need to adopt around this issue with him. Normally we get along very well it's just when he gets on anti-God soap box lol.

Thank you again for all of the supportive posts. Your kind words have given me way more clarity on the subject- especially to just not engage when he starts.

Pranams (insert bowing smiley that I don't know how to do)

Aum Hari Aum!