Ken, a 66-year-old psychologist from Portland, Oregon. His first message:

"I really like your playful, creative, giving being. You're more "spiritual" than most religious people. I'm curious how an "atheist" can live that way."

After two Skype sessions, I wrote:

Ken,

During our Skype sessions, I repeatedly asked to change the subject. I was tired of talking about religion. "We should be able to talk about anything," you insisted. "I don't want to talk about hiking. Hiking is not a deep subject." You shut me down.

This is controlling behavior. I felt pressured and hassled by you about religion and spirituality. "I enjoyed the couple of conversations we had," you wrote. It was not fun for me.

Yesterday a friend, Rich, dropped by as I was kneading four loaves of bread. With a master degree, Rich is highly intelligent and an atheist. Unlike you, Rich immediately saw the insult in your first message. "I get asked that by Christians all the time," Rich replied.

I would never corner Christians and demand that they explain themselves. Yet you and your compatriots think this is acceptable behavior. Christians who don't know me often demand, as you did, that I explain:

1. Why I am an atheist.
2. How the universe began (as if being an atheist automatically makes me an astrophysicist). "Nobody knows," I reply. "Science is advancing every year."
3. What happens when people die. "Nobody knows," I reply.
4. What is "spirituality."

You may think your questions were unique. They were not. Rich and I both find being grilled by Christians rude and tiresome. Atheists are often hassled by Christians, demanding that we justify our beliefs. I don't have to justify my lack of belief in an invisible deity to anyone.

I suggest you see a therapist to discuss your bias against atheists. Yes, I am perfectly capable of "agreeing to disagree." How else do you think I live peacefully in an area dominated by Republicans and Christians?

On dating sites the number one comment on someone's profile that'll have me immediately exiting are religious intoxicated comments, "god comes first", etc.

I'm willing to date Christians as long as they don't try to convert me.

I don't think Ive ever dated a xtian but I also am not worried about being first place on her list of things she loves. If I dated a woman who also loved god/jesus, she just may have been able to love us both without it needing to be discussed. Ive also dated women with kids, and I always assume they love their kids more than me.

Then again, dating doesnt always mean love at all. To date me means you think Im interesting and worth being around, not that you love me. That comes with time, I hope.

Some of my best friends are Christians, but I'm done dating 'em.
I think the majority of Christians operate from a premise of fear (of the unknown) and many add hate on to that. And/or are just too lazy to think, or deceive themselves into denying science, or refuse to let go of the stories they heard as a kid, the list goes on.
I can't relate to any of the above.

Oh, sweetie, I've given up on dating period.
Although, trying to date a believer is an exercise in futility.

Given up on dating Christians? ... heck I've given up on dating. Women just aren't interested in me I'm not sure but I think that it might be a combination of my looks and personality

Not sure if I'll ever date again, I think I'm better off without companionship, but if I do, no way will I ever date a Christian or any religion really, including New Age Nuts which is the majority of folks here on my island. Where are the normal people, interested in thoughtful dialog? Not here in my geographic location, hence my sanity fix here on this site.

What's a date?

Stop dating religious women if you are an atheist. They say it will work out, but I don't believe so...

I think I would rather date Medusa . . . . besides, after that I would still be hard as a rock. That is my smart ass remark for the day.

Christians have given up on dating me. I don't care if the are C. but they usually have a problem with me no being C. When I , after a few dates, drop the A. , even if they are having fun, they head for the hills. I think they are scared. How could someone be so good and not be as the programming has prescribed. If they don't get away the might be persuaded to step out and think for themselves.

There's a woman that I "went out" with 4 times before she mentioned that she's a devout Catholic. It only came up after I talked about this group, agnostic.com, and why I'm a member. She's not really creepy, just Catholic.

I have never dated a man who practiced any religion. Interesting to think about. I am sure some of them had beliefs but nothing that really came up in conversation. Not dating now and rather happy with being alone for awhile. Dont need anyone to convert me, or try and convert me.

I know I'll attract angry feminist trolls when I say that in a typical cis, hetero relationship, the woman takes the lead...in everything. In fact, dating is when women determine which men are imprinted on her and will do what she wants.

Men in a normal cis hetero Western relationships are usually happy to turn their social lives over to their wives, accept her control of everything they do.

For instance, if married men try to do anything on their own, they have to keep it secret, and they even brag to each other how their wives won't "let" them do certain things, such as golfing on weekends, or attending sports events with their male friends, etc.

After hearing a few worse testimonial here, where they don't even want to date anymore. Now, I don't feel so bad. Thanks.
Although
Being a man, I apologize for some men's neigative behaviors. There are some really good guys out there, don't pass them up, just, because they don't seem so hot.

I am addictive to love and most to the ultimate love of a lover. I know from experience in life. My life is more enhanced, more in balance when two people are stronger together than apart.

No one and only for anyone There is always someone you can build bigger and better out there.
Love is the most important value in the world.
Never give up!!!

I haven't dated in quite some time. I'm shattered. This has as much to do with me as it does with women in general or my ex in particular. I have a lonely existence except for doing the things I always done and enjoyed as a much younger man. I hate no one and have no bad feelings. At the same time I have no delusions. I am so tired of being surrounded with drama, drama, drama. Discussion is medicine for the soul because it is sharing. The pace today for relationships is media driven and too much like Reality TV.

Very careful rigid belief is not allowed

They're Christian only because they were born in a Christian country. Had they been born in an Islamic country they would've been Muslims. If in an atheistic country they'd be atheists. Etc.

In reality, every one is born atheist (a=without, theos=god).

Come to think of it, I've only dated one Christian. Otherwise all my girlfriends have been either atheist or pagans. Louise was a preachers daughter, very horny, very evangelical. Lets say it didn't last long.

With Atheist dates, I tell them I'm spiritual sided, they call me delusional. With my Christains girlfriends I try talking to them about my dinosaurs I build for natural history museums. They yell out to me, I don't want to talk about dinosaurs!!! I don't want to talk about dinosaurs!, the meek will inheritance the earth. Me- Grrrrrrr, I guess the evidence of immortality jelly fish is out of the question.

I think I'll end up in the land of misfit boy toys.