Have you ever had to sever a friendship because of religious differences?

Question

How far do you let a friendship dwindle before saying, "Ok, that's enough. It hurts too much to see you make these choices. I can't be your friend anymore, unless you start making better choices."? Or do you just let it dwindle away into nothing?

Just to clarify: What if this friend were the same religion as you, but their actions did not reflect the teachings of that religion?

I think allowing it to dwindle away into nothing is the cowards way out. You have to either be willing to stick by them, or tell them you can't deal with it any more. Either way, they deserve an answer/explaination as to how you feel.
I've told my friend how I feel, and I realize a lot of it is problems I have with her choices, and therefore none of my business. But I haven't gotten past them yet although I am working on it. Just FYI.

Answer 1

I have never severed a friendship due to religious differences.

I have walked away from friendships (and possibly just postponed them until a later date) due to some people's making consistently horrendous, self-defeating choices and their having no interest whatsoever in taking action that would better their lives. I have let such people know that I am willing to resume the friendship or to help them if they actually ever wanted help, but I simply grew weary of all the self-indulgence and perceived helplessness over their own lives.

That is, I will hang in with people for the long haul if they are actually seeking a better way, no matter how painful and difficult. But after years of making it plain that they'd prefer to sit in self-pity and self-created misery, they are on their own.

In other words, there comes a point when I am not part of the solution but am part of the problem. When I recognize that things have gotten to that point--where I am part of the problem (or what is currently known as "enabling")--then I get lost, amicably.

And I always let them know that the power of God is ready and waiting their seeking it. If they want to know more, I share with them. If not, then not.

Answer 2

No, I have never (and never would) end a friendship based on religion. Even tho I have one friend who occasionally drives me nuts trying to convert me to Christianity. I have, however, had people I though were friends just walk away without a word, only to hear later that they would not associate with me because I am Wiccan. A persons choice to believe as they wish is their own. You cannot make that choice for them. If that person is truly a friend then it should not matter what they believe unless they are actually causing harm to someone (in that case it would obviously not be Wicca!)

Answer 3

i'm variety of in that project now...except i'm the single strolling away. An previous severe college chum has walked down a course i do not trust. that is tremendous...I have a good time with having a collection of multiple friends. yet her new pastimes have replaced her to the middle. i do not understand her anymore and we do not relate. i replaced into also damage because she positioned better fee on utilizing me as a stepping stone to get to the position she ought to be, extremely than retaining our friendship. to lessen a lengthy tale short, she tried to apply me for monetary/egotistical benefit. We were large friends in severe college, and that i have fond concepts of her. We really communicate through digital mail now, and that i concept it better to easily enable issues cool off between us and not in any respect pursue the friendship extremely than ending it through confronting her and having a wrestle. at the same time with her modern-day values and life form, our friendship isn't potential. possibly one days issues will replace, yet in honor of the friendship we once had, I favor to end it quietly and not in any respect make a scene. BTW...to keep on subject matter...i'm an atheist :)

Answer 4

I would only sever a friendship if my friend turned into a violent fundamentalist extremist. But first, I would try to make them step back and see reason, and only give them up if they wouldn't listen and carried on the way they are going.

Otherwise it's nonsense. Why should religious differences stop you being friends? We are all equal.

Answer 5

Hi Tony,

i don't think i've ever had to tell anyone we could be friends because of our religous differences. Although i've had to sever ties with people because of destructive behavior- ie: had a roommate who was stealing money and spreading false rumors about me. And so i had to sever that tie for obvious safety reasons.

The Bible advises us that Bad company corrupts good morals- and we i think we do have to watch the context of our interactions with others. When i received Christ- i stopped hanging out with my buddies who got into fights all the time and liked to do "illegal things". Off course after i tried to share the gospel with them- they stopped inviting me to their events as well.

i think one thing to keep in mind is: whether or not they are influencing you more or vice versa. It's painful to be around people who make bad choices- but like Jesus- you got to love people where they are. i think God has put you in their lives to help them... but you also must make sure that they're not dragging you down with them.

Your situation sounds like it may be complicated... feel free to email me with more specifics and i'll try to advise you biblically and sincerely.

In terms of Christianity: it depends on what that person is doing. The Bible does teach that if someone claims to be a behavior and they are doing something grossly immoral and they refuse to change- to withdraw fellowship (very loosely translated- sorry don't know the verse of the top of my head- but that's the meaning of it).


Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 6

I had to end a friendship with a woman I'd been friends with for years. She had joined a fundamentalist church that was strict with everything- no dancing, no drinking, no wearing shorts, you name it. Not only did she turn preachy and critical of my every move, it got to the point where everything we used to do together was against her church. The final straw was when I invited her for a day at the lake- a longtime favorite of ours. She called it sinful because of the bathing suits and the mingling of the sexes. I told her right then and there that she had gone too far and was no fun anymore.

Answer 7

I don't severe the friendship, I do hold them accountable to thier choices, and don't allow myself to be involved in what they do that is of the world, and not of God, but I will continue to be there for them, with them knowing that my views of life are through God, and if they want advice, expect it to be based on my beliefs. I have indeed lost some friends since becoming a Christian, but they usually say that I am just tno fun anymore because I don't drink, drug, and screw around. I tell them I want to be thier friend, and won't push my beliefs on them, but they just don't want to be around me. Makes me kinda sad..

Answer 8

I've never had to sever relationships but I knew this born again and we were really good friends. He, in fact, was an atheist who, like me, actually made fun of religion and mocked the idea of god.

He severed his ties with me and other people that were like-minded. It was rather shocking, to say the least.

Answer 9

To have a friend is to realize that you love them no matter what.

I have friends who are skanks but they are my friend . And I look beyond that because they are good people and were there for me when no one else was.

As a friend, you should always try to promote the right choices without controversy or argument.

Don't tell your friend to do the right thing, but show them and encourage them without force.

Answer 10

Well I have never judged any of my friends according to their religion...rather according to their habits.

Good habits ..good friends.

Bad habits...not so good for making friends.

Ive only severed a tie for good once. And that was a friend who professed her utter jealousy to me and I came to the conclusion that she would never get over it..and had tried to ruin pretty much all the goodness I had because of her uncontrollable jealousy.

Peace