Today my friend & I were having a conversation & I decided to let him know that I don't really believe in God (I used to, but as I got older I started doubting my religious beliefs & whether God really exists or not)...
My family is Catholic, & although I used to go to church frequently (voluntarily) as a child, things have changed so much since then...
Well, when I told my friend that I'm an Agnostic (although I'm still confused), he got really mad & said that I'm the Devil...& now he won't talk to me...
It really hurts because I don't have many REAL friends just as it is & I want to keep the few I already have...
Plz don't tell me that if he can't accept me for being myself, then he's not really my friend (& suggest that I stop being friends with him) because I really want to have him as a friend...
I really need some advice as to what I should do...:(
(no rude answers, plz)
2006-07-16 17:28:37 · 20 answers · asked by ♥WestlifeForLife♥ 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Also, when he asked me "If you don't believe in God, then who do you think put you on this planet; why do you think we exist; how do you explain life?" & for some reason, I thought "Oh man, he sounds so foolish!"
Honestly, now I'm even more confused than before :(
2006-07-16 17:49:30 · update #1
You need to let him know that he hurt you. And tell him you really feel the need to sit down and talk to him about how you feel. Tell him you want to remain friends and would hate to see religious differences come between you.
You might try asking him what it is about Agnosticism that scares him so badly? If there is Creator God, then He/She made your brain and would certainly understand that rationally speaking, there is reason to doubt His/Her existence. You are not the Devil, nor on the Devil's side, just because you have reasons to doubt the existence of God. You do not desire to do bad things or side with evil because of your belief or lack thereof. Maybe he just doesn't understand what it means to be an Agnostic. You may just need to show him that you are still a moral person, a good friend, and that the belief has not affected your personality in any bad way.
All the best to you! He will probably come around. I just can't imagine someone really letting beliefs like that come in the way of a friendship. Maybe he was just reacting out of shock. He'll get used to the idea, I figure.
2006-07-16 17:38:45 · answer #1 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My suggestion is to let him know you care about him and really value his friendship as well as opinions. Ask him to let you explain why you feel the way you do and explain to him that your belief in no way changes the person you are other, you still have the same values and morals. Maybe he just needs some time to cool off a little. If you explain things and he still doesn't want to be your friend, then there is really nothing you can do to change that other then be nice to him when you do see him.
I know you don't want to hear it, but I would seriously rethink my friendship with him. If something such as you saying your unsure of what you believe is going make him treat you so poorly, then it seems as if he doesn't really respect you.
2006-07-17 00:49:39 · answer #2 · answered by curls 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there!
I hope I can help. I know that there is a God but I can see where some would doubt or not believe in God at all. I have a suggestion for you. Ask you friend to help you prove weather or not God is real. Please let me know how things are going. If you will email me I will give you a website where you can read a book about proof that God is real. I would put it on here but I don't remember it right now. I can find it on my email. I pray for the very best for you & your friend.
PS. If he or she doesn't want to be your friend than you can still be a friend to them. I'll be your on line friend if you want.
2006-07-17 00:40:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell your friend to read his Bible a little bit, and if he is a Christian, to start acting like one. There are several places in the New Testament - particularly in the letter of St. James, but also I believe in one or two letters of St. Paul, that say that if someone in the Church has fallen into sin or is in error, a believing member of the Church should talk to him privately and try to restore him. Then if that doesn't work, bring two or three others, etc.
The point is, if he is truly a Christian, he has an obligation to talk to you and to help you regain your faith. Of course, you also have to approach it with an open heart and mind and be willing to hear what is said. Then it's up to you as to whether you believe or not.
But it is not right for him to shun you for something you told him in confidence and obviously in trust. Instead, he should be looking at this as an opportunity given to him from God to help turn someone from error and restore them to the path that God intended for them.
Who knows? God knows - but maybe this is an opportunity for you both to help each other grow in your faith?
2006-07-17 00:39:22 · answer #4 · answered by LDRship 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gather from your the way you posed and qualified your question that you are neither lazy or rebellious....but as you stated just "confused". I can't imagine anyone not examining the claims of Christ and the demands of Christianity thoroughly and personally before attempting this road of selfless passion. So good for you. To halfheartedly follow is to betray the very soul of Christ and miss the whole message of Christianity. Go look. Look hard and long at all the other explanations for human existance, babies, weddings, happiness, and grief. Look for answers to "What happens after I die"? and "Why do children suffer?" Ask, seek, and knock.
2006-07-17 00:45:58 · answer #5 · answered by Truthseeker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to go to church. And, have out with people who do believe in god. See, I m going through a lot of emotions. With the things in my life. And, Its hard to weather or not if I should still trust the lord when bad things get in the way. But, it's all God's test on how we are going to handle it. But, now matter what I go through weather it's happy or sad. I turn to god. you need to except jesus as your personal savoire and things will turn around for the better but, it takes time. But, when I turn to Jesus I feel so full of life. I hope things go for the better for you. And, you should try to put your trust into the lord.
2006-07-17 00:37:58 · answer #6 · answered by sweat mamma bear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you better just talk to him about it this way. just tell him that you don't want to lose one of your only friends. if he's so conserned about you being an atheist, well, then you can't really do anything without giving up on your beliefs.
Also, what about not judging others and forgiving? i just don't get christians sometimes - when they think they are such good christians and discriminate against those that aren't, they are violating their own beliefs on which they base the discrimination. you can tell your friend just that. also, tell him that if he wants to show you that God is good and wants to lead you to spirituality, he should accept you as a friend and show you benifits of religion through his example.
2006-07-17 00:35:01 · answer #7 · answered by helper 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've already answered your own question, dear. Why do you want fake friends? Life is so much better when you're around people who accept you and your beliefs, whether they change or not.
Staying attached to people who don't care about you is a sure way to become miserable. Do you want to be happy?
2006-07-17 00:32:34 · answer #8 · answered by Baxter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell your friend that your confused about things and tell him you want him to be your friend and maybe help you out of your confusion but you really should give God a chance at least try i know how confused you can get but i know God will take away the confusion Hes there you just have to take notice i wish you luck with your friend
2006-07-17 00:37:28 · answer #9 · answered by kandiesmaid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was a really brave thing you did.
i would write him a letter letting him know what you're going through and reasons you have for believing as you do. you have to believe that he will value your friendship enough to get through this. give him some time. if this only happened today, then I'm sure he just needs to digest it a little bit.
2006-07-17 00:36:28 · answer #10 · answered by MaasMCTS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋