when the core of each person is total opposite on the belief of God? Friends, yes, I can see. But close best friends will they clash when one slips and says, "wow God is good" and the other says, "please I am going to hurl"
You get my point...........
2007-03-16 09:24:51 · 43 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The key to any friendship is RESPECT
I have several Christian friends - they know my views and I know theirs. We respect each others' beliefs and the right each person has to choose what to believe and how they express those beliefs. Because of that respect we don't try to "convert", "save" or otherwise alter each others point of view... in short we don't preach at each other... and as a result we remain friends.
Perhaps the World would be a better place if more people respected the right of others to have different points of view
2007-03-16 09:28:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why would it be a problem for you if your "close friend" commented that he balieves that God is good and loves him? Why would you feel compelled to challenge him on that belief?
We all have the freedom and free will to believe or not to believe. Do you think that it is hurting your friend to believe in God?
After a lifetime of belief, at the end of his life, to be proven wrong will not have damaged hom or lessened the quality of his life. On the other have, at the end of an athiest's life, to be proven wrong would be a devastating revelation.
My point here is that it seems that there is something within the non-believer that causes him to recoil at the thought of a real relationship with a believer in Christ. Most of the believers I know do not have this reaction to athiests.
I know it is possible, as some of my close friends are non believers.
2007-03-16 09:37:44 · answer #2 · answered by sdmike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think that they can be close friends but they would probably need to come to an understanding to not try and push their beliefs on each other. They should agree that they disagree and for the sake of their friendship the topic of religion or lack thereof will be off limits. They may have a lot of other things in common and have a real bond for those things. I don't say it would be easy and it may not be very common but I think it is possible.
2007-03-16 10:30:46 · answer #3 · answered by garden lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, as a pagan, I have alot of atheist friends.. by your theory, they'd have a lot more gods to hurl over.
While they poke fun at generalized questions on here, none of them has ever insulted me or my gods when speaking to me personally.. I have close atheist friends who would never be disrespectful of me nor would I of them. I admire them for following the evidence. Their path is the right one for them.
I could see a conflict arising if the christian felt the need to push fire insurance on them.. but I don't see why people couldn't be close.. the closer my friends, the more respectful I am of them.. and I believe that's the way with most people.
2007-03-16 09:31:09 · answer #4 · answered by Kallan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I have atheist friends, and I'm Christian. But we're at a certain maturity level where we don't often use the word "hurl".
The people I'm referring to left the Church due to some pretty nasty experiences. They are a family of 4. He does not believe, she's agnostic, and the kids are just, well, kids. We've been friends for over 10 years.
2007-03-16 09:29:27 · answer #5 · answered by <><><> 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how radical they both are. If the Christian believes that the atheist will go to hell if he doesn't "accept Jesus" and thinks he has to save him then I don't think they will remain friends for long, and same if the atheist thinks that whoever believes in God is an idiot and wants to turn the Christian into an atheist. But otherwise I don't see a problem. I'm an atheist and for me it is not a problem if someone believes in God and I will not start to argue about it. And not all Christians believe this "accept Jesus or go to hell" thing.
2007-03-16 09:42:19 · answer #6 · answered by Elly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is, have been an atheist for many years, and many friends that know I am an atheist, but they are christian. I have two brothers, by the way, that are ministers, and we don't hate each other or not get along. Of course, we do know not to discuss religion. But you can have great friendships without ever bringing up religion anyway.
2007-03-16 09:33:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is.
A Christian with his belief hopes that his actions and behaviour will influence his friend to maybe change and develop a love for God.
An atheist is not automatically a 'bad' person.
It is jus that God has not been properly explained to them.
Jesus stated that the 'truth' would be hidden from the 'wise' [ in their own eyes] but revealed to 'babes'.
Babes being simple unsophisticated people. Often people withg minimum schooling.
(MATTHEW 11:25) “At that time Jesus said in response: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes.”
2007-03-16 09:41:15 · answer #8 · answered by pugjw9896 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can be very close friends. In fact my best friend is my husband who for the majority of his life was an atheist. We would discuss certain aspects of God and that was about it. 7 years ago he became a Christian We will be celebrating our 23rd year together this August
2007-03-16 09:30:17 · answer #9 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My best friend is an atheist. Why would I want to bring up God and Religion when we're playing in a band, watching a baseball game, or just kicking back?
2007-03-16 09:32:21 · answer #10 · answered by sluggo1947 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋