my nephew does not believe in God. I look at it as his loss.
He’s a real smart alec about it , too. I find ignoring him is the worst i can do to him, as he wants the confrontation.
I’ve experienced the same. Family (for me) has always been afforded an extra measure of restraint. I too had a nephew who, when he got into his later teens and twenties, got belligerent to his elders (father, grandfather, and uncles).
He kept pushing for a reaction and finally got it with my older brother who took him to the floor, pinned his nose against the carpet, and told him, “Disrespect me - fine, but insult and disrespect your grampa again and you’ll do all your eating through a straw.”
It surprised me little to hear that he’s gone transgender (the nephew not the brother!).
[[He’s a real smart alec about it , too.]]
A good response would be “If you wish me to respect your belief, then respect mine please”-
His soul is crying; "Give me Something to believe in!!"