If you are a christian and you are sure that what you believe is rel, and you meet a very nice person that you enjoy spending your time with and you want to be friends, but then you find out that he is atheist and there is nothing you can do to convince him of your beliefs.... will you stil be his friend?
2007-09-14 12:53:42 · 25 answers · asked by larissa 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
batgirl2good: i criticize what i find to be completely off limits, but i stil have respect for any belief, no matter how ridiculous it may sound to me
2007-09-14 13:32:52 · update #1
The answers you get ought to be interesting. Who's honest and who's a hypocritical liar?
2007-09-14 13:01:06 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely. My brother in law is a COMMITTED atheist, and my husband and I are active in ministry. My BIL is one of my best friends, and still would be even without a family connection. We can have a close relationship despite differences of religion. He knows he will never convince me to be an atheist, and I know that I do not have the power to convince him of my beliefs. The only thing that we can not share is a sense of Christian unity and a Christian accountability relationship. That doesn't mean that we can't love each other and even share values and convictions other than religion. And for us, religion is not an off-limits topic! He asks us questions about our faith to hear our answers, just as we ask him about what he has learned through his interest in archaeology and physics. We are both mutually respectful of each other, even though there is ocassionally good-natured ribbing.
2007-09-14 20:14:21 · answer #2 · answered by lizardmama 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Larissa, I am a Christian and I have one friend who is a scientist and we have been friends for over twenty years. He does NOT believe in God and that never stopped me for caring about him as a person! Not at all!
Now, what do I think inside my heart? I am afraid for the atheists souls! I want them to know the joy, love, peace and forgiveness that no mere man could or, can provide! Only through God do we have such things in this manner.
To me, hell is seperation from God. I know God to be all that is Good! I don't want anyone to suffer nor, be apart from the Creator! So, since I care about all, I can tell you that I do CARE about the atheists because of my truths!
2007-09-14 20:24:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
of course...my absolute favorite person (outside my immediate family) in the entire world is an atheist-we've been 'connected' for over 30 years, been thru stuff together all the way back to high school-she respects my beliefs, and i respect hers! neither of us has tried to 'convert' the other, although we have had long long discussions, sometimes all thru the night, about everything from books and music to philosophy, religion, politics, you name it-our 'differences' have no effect on our friendship, except to give each other an insight into other ways of thinking
2007-09-14 20:17:23 · answer #4 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been an atheist & then an agnostic, but both times christians say it doesnt mater, but it does and drift away. Some are good though & defended me against the others. Then i'd pray for the believers living on blind faith and hearsay...lol.
2007-09-14 20:01:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I would still be friends with an atheist. I don't know how much we would have in common, however, I would still want a relationship if I liked the person.
2007-09-14 19:58:48 · answer #6 · answered by Kaliko 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My answer is yes, but... (and I'll probably get thumbs down for this opinion) I think it's rather arrogant to deny 100% any possibility of a God. At least agnostics are willing to say "I don't know". However, that being said, I have atheist friends and we get along fine we just agree to disagree.
2007-09-14 20:05:36 · answer #7 · answered by mel 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
To be a true Christian means to be Christ like. Christ treated everyone with respect including the prostitutes. You should be friends with anyone who you enjoy being around and treats you with respect.
People made fun of Tammy Faye, but she was truly Christ like.
2007-09-14 19:59:54 · answer #8 · answered by HannahSimon 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Of course, I will.
I would NEVER try to convicne him of anything in the first place, though, for I would want to be respected.
I hope that you respect those who do not believe as you do.
Do you?
2007-09-14 20:25:19 · answer #9 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course. If you are a real christian you will love people,and that includes atheists.
2007-09-14 20:00:10 · answer #10 · answered by prophet of restitution 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have friends of many different beliefs. Whether I am their friend or not has more to do with what respect there is between us irregardless of our differences.
2007-09-14 19:59:50 · answer #11 · answered by David F 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋