My mate Chip's a great bloke but is a complete athiest. I'm a commited Christian-can we ever be close friends?

Answer 1

He's a great bloke, so why not?

Just because you don't agree on religious beliefs doesn't mean that you don't have lots of other things in common.

So unless you feel 'obliged' to 'save' him then I don't see a problem. Either don't discuss it or discuss it , clear the air that you disagree and move on.

Just my opinion.
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Answer 2

Don't ever talk about religion or none religion. You will never believe his believes and he'll never believe yours. There is therefore no point in talking about it.

A problem occurs when one can't accept the other has a right to not be forced to believe in their way. I had a friend who was very religious and I'm a complete atheist. I had no desire to believe. I was happy for my friend to believe but he just would not accept I find the whole concept of a God ridiculous and in the end he would come on strong and always bring God into the conversation. Usually how I just needed to love God and then my live would be so perfetc ect. It played on my nerves in the end I lost all respect for him and ended the friendship. I never once tried to turn him atheist - there was no point,unfortunately, he didn't have the same respect for me, as many people who believe in God do not. Only you know if you can have a life together without your differing believes becoming an issue. I hope you can.

Answer 3

You have simply chosen to follow different routes on your journey. I'm sure that if you don't try to give him religion, then he won't try to drive you away from it. Friendhips are built on personalities, not beliefs. People tend to be more ready to realize that there is a superior figure as they mature. As a child I wouldn't hear of it, even though the school I was at tried endlessly to convice me. As an adult, I am now of the opinion that 'he' does exist ...... in some form. I Still don't know which religion to follow though.

Answer 4

if he is a good guy and u both r friends to begin with, then the fact that he has different beliefs then u shuldnt discourage that. If anything it is our differences that make us interesting from one another, maybe he can learn a little from u and u can learn a little from him, bottom line is religion should not stand in the way of friendship

Answer 5

It is difficult for a partially sighted surgeon to remove a small tumour from a patient. First the surgeon should operate to restore his sight before he try to operate upon a patient.

The sumariton whom helped the Jew did not believe in Yehweh (Jehovah), yet he was the only one to do the correct thing and help the injured Jew. Whom serve the lord, the High priest whom passes by the Jew without stoping, or the godless Sumaritan whom stops to attend to the Jew.

Parable of the map maker.

Now there were 3 servants and a map maker. The map maker orbited the earth in his satalite. He would draw maps for his servants to copy so that all the people could know the way. From his vantage point, the map maker had perfect perception and could guide a camel through the eye of a needle, such were the quality of his maps. Yet one day, the map maker passed on.

The servants were very agrieved because they had nobody to bring them the perfect maps. All three of them had maps given to them by the map maker, yet none of them had seen the earth from up above like the map maker. All 3 of the servants wished to be the new map maker, but all 3 of them were not at that moment caperble.

Two of the map makers competed with each other to make profit and to see whom would produce the most maps for the people, and the third declined to take part. He admitted; "the lord who made our maps could see all, and I can see only part, what merit is it for me to make maps, if I cannot see as the lord saw".

The two competing map makers continued to make maps, but alas the maps were not accurate. Those whom built their holy empire's church using the maps often lost their way. Yet they said to themselves; "the maps are made by the lords servants, how can they be wrong. If we believe the maps are made by the lord, surely we will reach our destination". Yet all those holy people were decieved because they took the maps without questioning them.

The 3rd servant of the lord was asleep one night when suddenly he had a dream, and the lord came to speak to him, in his dream saying: "Servant of mine, you have stopped making maps because I am not providing you the instructions! Yet because you have not tried pretending to be as I am, I will entrust you with the secret of my map making." The map maker continued;
" I spent many years making this satalite so that I might use it to see the earth from up high. If you wish to see the earth like I see it, you must also build your own satalite. Do this for it is the will of my master whom taught me".

The lord said again to the 3rd servant; "I have shown you how to use each of the tools in your tool box, and now you must learn to use them to create your own satalite". "Use the tools to design a working satalite". The map maker gave a serious look to his servant...
"You will take many years before you finish the satalite, but take care to finish it before drawing any more maps. You will suffer many hardships, but if you succeed, you will be rewarded with a place by my right hand".

If you have ears, may you hear.

Answer 6

As a commited christian you already know the answer to that one, Im a commited christian, but all my family and friends are not, i pray that jesus will shine through me, and help me be a good witness to them, not a preacher.

Answer 7

If religion is what’s keeping you from being friends with someone, then it doesn’t seem that you would be a good friend to have. Friendship is about accepting someone for who they are, and being for them when they need it. Just avoid the religion topic…

Answer 8

I have a good friend who is a very committed christian.
I am not ( I am a Humanist!).
We laugh about our differences and respect each others views.

She often tries to convert me and prays for me regularly!!

I appreciate her efforts but know she will never change me!

Answer 9

the truth is that no-one can ever possibly know anything at all for sure. but you believe one thing to be true while your friend believes another thing to be true, while neither of you can be sure of your beliefs 100%. as long as you can both appreciate that the other is entitled to their own belief system and respect their choices then it shouldn't be a problem.

Answer 10

Yes. Don't be an ***, He's not going to kill you. I was BEST friends with a Christian. (We stopped being friends because she was "tired" of being my friend. How do you say that with a straight face?!)

My cousins are super committed Roman Catholics, and we're best friends.

So, yes, you can be friends, close friends.