A friend, religion, and what to do?

Atheistism is just a fashion. Got a lass on Facebook who I used to work with, she goes on about it all the time. Next thing I read is she is having her new baby christened in a CofE church - because it is the fashion and everyone is doing it. :o
 
His friend is the same guy as he was before he found god .. he has not changed according to the OP other than going the god route

As it stand's just leave him to it he is a grown up after all if its that much of a bother to you walk away and lose that friend

P.s I don't believe in god ect I just don't see a point in loosing friends over it :)
 
The religion is probably a symptom of something - as a friend, you should probably focus your efforts on finding out what that is and how you can help, rather than being distracted by the rights and wrongs of his new found spirituality.

Probably a symptom of only having 'friends' that will only stay friends as long as you are atheist.
 
He's not pushing his views on to you, as you've said. So just keep shtum and let him be happy!
 
I would probably be concerned. Mostly because it seems odd behaviour to suddenly decide to invest in religion in such a way - what has prompted this? Is he suffering from some significant life stresses or perhaps mental health issues?

The religion is probably a symptom of something - as a friend, you should probably focus your efforts on finding out what that is and how you can help, rather than being distracted by the rights and wrongs of his new found spirituality.


good call.
 
Look, as you guys know, i believe in God and have lots of atheist friends as well a Catholic friends. Have been friends with them for many many years!! They know my feelings and i know theirs. I dont try to convert them and vice versa. We all get on superbly.

True friends stick together no matter what and religion shouldn't make you think otherwise.
 
I'd ask him what he believes and why. Have a conversation as friends. Getting someone to try and justify a belief can be a big step to getting them to realise their beliefs are false. If he says " Well I have faith", well leave him to it. But if he's willing to listen to reason and understand that belief without evidence is asinine, then he might eventually realise his mistake.
 
If he seems like the same person you used to know but who is just following religion then leave him be. Everyone needs their escapes.

I am not religious and I thought I was Aethiest, but now I would say I follow all religions and take parts from all. Something I seem to have adopted from traveling the world. I like to think I have my own religion just for me :D

If your friend starts giving money away or doing strange religious things, then I think it is time to come in and say whats going on. Otherwise leave it.
 
If he seems like the same person you used to know but who is just following religion then leave him be. Everyone needs their escapes.

I am not religious and I thought I was Aethiest, but now I would say I follow all religions and take parts from all. Something I seem to have adopted from traveling the world. I like to think I have my own religion just for me :D

If your friend starts giving money away or doing strange religious things, then I think it is time to come in and say whats going on. Otherwise leave it.
 
As for religion keeping poor in their place, lol pull the other one. Religion teaches equality and you can continue to be shackled down into a financial choke hold that your beliefs have burdened upon you.

Religion definitely does not teach equality. It regularly forces underserved inequality on people eg. homosexuals.

Why? There's nothing wrong with being a Muslim.

No, I know that. But there are a lot of people on here who cannot differentiate between terrorists and practising Muslims.

Atheistism is just a fashion. Got a lass on Facebook who I used to work with, she goes on about it all the time. Next thing I read is she is having her new baby christened in a CofE church - because it is the fashion and everyone is doing it. :o

The large majority of us, for whom it's not simply a fashion, were once religious and have changed our minds, or come to our senses ;)
 
You are willing to lose a friend because he found god * a finding he has not pushed on you at all as it stand's * ...

I'd rather not lose him as a friend, and so far he's not given me any reason to change anything. Which I'm pleased about. :)

From the OP it's definitely not about whether the guy is pushy or not. He's questioning his friend's ability to think.

From my standpoint, yes. It would be different if he'd been raised into it, as a family tradition, and these beliefs were long-standing. But they've just arrived like a present in a box :p

Your friend's beliefs are nothing to do with you. If he is your friends you'll respect his choices. Just as he respects yours enough to not interfere with your beliefs (or lack of).

Fair comment, and certainly 1 way of looking at it. :)

I would probably be concerned. Mostly because it seems odd behaviour to suddenly decide to invest in religion in such a way - what has prompted this? Is he suffering from some significant life stresses or perhaps mental health issues?

The religion is probably a symptom of something - as a friend, you should probably focus your efforts on finding out what that is and how you can help, rather than being distracted by the rights and wrongs of his new found spirituality.

It's possible, without giving too much away he's recently moved house and got new job, so it's possible that it's a symptom of 'wanting to fit in' - may need a bit more time to work out if this is the case. Men don't readily discuss such matters! :D

It will get worse. I had a mate who did this. Our conservations started to get more and more about religion.

The final straw was one evening when I was round at his and some of his new friends came round and one of them had a guitar and they started singing "god is great, god is good, god is beautiful" and wanted me to join in.

Shudders. That's partly what I'm afraid of. He already has a beard, last thing I need is him wearing sandals and chanting... :(
 
If he's leaving you to it, then you ought to leave him to it.

If you look at the converse scenario, i.e. you were brought up C of E, but now decided to become atheist, and your C of E mate then decided to stage some sort of intervention... I doubt you'd be best pleased.

Obviously if later on he wants to start pushing it on you, then you've got a decision to make and perhaps a conversation to be had about respecting each other's views - but I don't see the point in making predictions.
 
Then don't force your views on him, ignore it and move on.

A lot of people saying this.

Are none of you concerned that his friend may need some help? That such a major change in behaviour is worthy of a friend's unease?

I have, and have had, friends who like to partake in illegal narcotics. They do what they do and I pay little attention - that's just their thing.
If one of my non-drug-taking friends started doing so, however, I would be concerned for their welfare - why are they doing it? It's out of character.
 
The problem I have with Atheist nuts is the same problem I have with religious nuts.

Neither should force their views on others.

If your friend wants to believe in God etc and he's not harming or forcing his views upon you then leave him to it otherwise you've become exactly what you are worried he will become.

To the above poster, plenty of people find religion later on in life. If the friend is becoming unhinged then religion is not the reason for this (or the solution). I wouldn't say finding faith in itself is not a sign of mental illness. If he starts developing signs he may need help then by all means help him.
 
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A lot of people saying this.

Are none of you concerned that his friend may need some help? That such a major change in behaviour is worthy of a friend's unease?

I have, and have had, friends who like to partake in illegal narcotics. They do what they do and I pay little attention - that's just their thing.
If one of my non-drug-taking friends started doing so, however, I would be concerned for their welfare - why are they doing it? It's out of character.

If there's something going on then sure. If someone I knew had a death in the family and then made a change like this then of course. But needless to say it would have to be very sensitively dealt with.

Nothing in the OP suggested that there were other things going on though. And even if there were, the religion should not be the focus at all - the problem should be.
 
Shudders. That's partly what I'm afraid of. He already has a beard, last thing I need is him wearing sandals and chanting... :(

He did. He grew a beard and started wearing sandals. Every time i went to see him he would be reading the bible.

We grew apart really as we then had completely different interests and hobbies etc.
 
Leave it. If he wants to come out of it eventually, he will.

My best mate found religion a few years back, went to church every sunday, had a bible with him most of the time, a small crucifix above his bed. It kind of annoyed me deep down because I was atheist and I felt like I was losing him to something I really didn't like.

We stayed friends however, and after a few years of god bothering, he came out of it and is back to being an atheist now. I think the whole reason he want down that path was due to a girlfriend at the time.
 
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