Have you ever lost a friend because you had different religious convictions?

Answer 1

No. It should be possible to be friends with people of all religions

Answer 2

Yes!

When I was in college I was in a Christian group and was friendly with the leader. After I graduated I stayed in the area, and we continued to be friends, meeting for lunch or whatever occasionally.

But towards the end of college I had gradually lost my faith. So he told me that if I was not going to be a Christian he could no longer be my friend, because he needed to focus his limited time on the Christian students he was supposed to be leading.

That was total BS, because as it was I was no longer a student that he was "leading," so the time he spent with me--which was very little time anyway--had nothing to do with that. It's not like I was leading some wild immoral life where associating with me was a bad influence or something.

When another friend from that group (also not Christian) moved back into town and we became roommates, we invited his family over for dinner. They never even returned our phone call. I made a few other attempts to reach out like that with zero acknowledgement before I gave up and was just left with a feeling of bitterness about the whole thing.

I guess what I thought was a friendship never really was. It was just a job, or an evangelical manipulation that he abandoned once it wasn't getting the right results anymore. So much for Christian love. That really hurt me.

Answer 3

I have no problem with acquaintences of mine, that are not Jehovah's Witnesses. I'll do for them, as I would any one of my Witness brothers and sisters. I find someone in our ministry that (just ran into this one) was undergoing chemo treatments, I was more than willing to run any errand for them that they needed. They weren't interested in our message, but that doesn't mean I couldn't be a good neighbor too them.

A friend of mine from Toledo, who also has a PhD in psychology made this interesting comment however.

The problem arises, with many people who hold to religious beliefs, whatever they may be, that human interaction and social behavior being what it is. Two human beings who hold to different value systems, whatever they may be, will inevitably come into conflict. Because their value system does not agree. It's why, when people ask whether or not someone should look for a person of their own religion, my answer is always yes. Because you'll end up sharing an important part of your lives together, and that is religion.

In addition, religion is a very touchy topic.

My grandfather, and indeed, my entire family was originally Southern Baptist. Footwashing, Regular Baptist. My father and I gravitated towards more athiestic views. They all used to believe that the Catholic Church was the Harlot, Babylon the Great, and was Satan's organization on earth.

When we became Witnesses, he looked straight at us, and said: "I would rather you have become a Catholic". He wouldn't speak to us for years.

People hold to their beliefs very closely, and when there is conflict, at times, they have a hard time with tolerance.

Indeed, the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ understood this. Human beings have a hard time with acceptance. He had no problem talking to a Samaritan woman, but he knew most people would not be able to put aside prejudices, even against his own followers. He stated:

"Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household" - Matthew 10:36

"If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you" - John 15:19

Answer 4

Twice. The first time had more to do with that guy wanting so bad to save me that it began to dominate our discussions. We WERE very close-- so close, in fact I had a developing deep affection for him, (and he for me) but he said the only way he'd date me was if I got saved. Well, that put a damper on the whole friendship, and eventually I just stopped answering the phone when he called. Sad, really, that he drove away a very close friend by being too pushy.
The second was another male friend. We became friends when a high-school crush I had on him started to peter out, and that we even stayed friends was a miracle. He was a practicing Zen Buddhist, whose quest for enlightenment was driving away all his friends. He was isolating himself more and more, and I tried to save him from himself. I tried to lure him back from the edge of reason, because I had fallen wholly in love with him, and he was falling for me (finally) but his love for me was damaging his quest or Truth. And I ended up pushing him away. He joined a monastery in New York State about 8 yrs ago, and no one has heard of him since. I still mourn the loss of his love 10 years later, despite being happily married and an even happier mother. I dream of him at least once a week.
The moral of the story is that fanaticism creates rifts between the closest friends, and that often they can never be repaired...

Answer 5

I had a surgery and was in the recovery stage when a friend invited me to church. I said no and she asked why thinking I would say something along the lines of I was angry at him...I didn't and asked her something she didn't have the answer to and then I never heard from her again. I've known her for years and miss her. I hope she comes to her senses but if she's going to act that way, she has her own issues to resolve. I feel sorry for her-hope she can find me when she's ready to be decent. But, this is her problem and she not only has to work it out on her own but she's going to need to be able to admit she was wrong and feel secure enough to come around again.

Answer 6

I actually have had some discussions heated at circumstances yet have under no circumstances lost a buddy, etc. The trick is to continuously undergo in concepts that the guy is your buddy and also you should hear and take a check out to comprehend. in case you may comprehend the assumptions and good judgment you gives you a aspect of respect to the opinion held through your buddy. you may then concentration your disagreement on the assumptions truly than the positions, that's, really, what all of us might want to do, truly than personalize the talk.

Answer 7

Unfortunatly, yes. I have lost a friend because of religious differences. I am a Pagan and my friend was fine with my choice, as it is my choice. However, she went back to church, which is her choice, and I'm happy that she found her spirituality. However, she became obsessed with 'saving my soul from Satan'. I asked her to please not force her religion on me, and I would do the same. She told me that if I could not accept God and Jesus as my savior, then she could not be my friend. I still send her emails and Holiday cards, but she never responds. I try though....

Answer 8

Not really lost a friend but didn't really have anything in common anymore. Lives take different paths sometimes. Still talk to friends that I chose to separate from, but don't hang out with them anymore because I've changed my lifestyle. Two of my friends have gotten saved by watching my life and how I've changed, but it is still hard to let go of people you've practically grown up with. Friends usually understand and as you get older they accept you for who you are.

Answer 9

Yes, I had a friend who became fervently religious at a time when I was moving in exactly the opposite direction. While I was happy for him and as supportive as I knew how to be, he suddenly acted as though standing within ten feet of me would put him in danger of hellfire, or at risk of being struck by lightning bolts. Probably just as well. Religion became such an all-important factor in his life that we couldn't have a conversation that wasn't completely dominated by it.

Answer 10

I lost my mother, father, sister and they eventually turnd my kids against me because I was a Christian only and not a Pentecostal. I am now Wiccan, but doesw not matter since I have not seen any of my family over 10 years. My dad died and was dead nearly 2 years before i found out by accident. Good christians huh?

Answer 11

Nope, I respect people's beliefs, no matter what religion. I do not have any devout christian friends, but I have never hung out in the same circle as any. I am polytheistic, and my friends are: one female goddess ruler, american type christians (believe in the bible but don't go to church except on holidays), Buddhists and athiests.
I have seen some people post on here about if they would go to hell to have a friend who was Buddhist, Muslim, or atheist and it is absurd.