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I love being able to have reasonable conversations with like minded people (godless skeptics), but does anyone else here also enjoy having a variety of friends that believe in some level of bullshit? I admit that haven't gotten around enough in atheist communities...but so far the flavor seems limited. What is everyone else's experience?

kanzen 4 July 9
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7

All my friends believe in god and know that I’m an atheist, we respect each other’s views and they don’t try to covert me to their beliefs, nor do I them. They believe what they read in the bible and I’m not going to start a conversation with them in disagreement of it. We don’t talk about our differing views on religion, but respect the right that we all have to hold them.

6

On Facebook, I blocked a local friend who owns a gym. Rachel said I'm in denial for believing World Heath Organization experts who rated gyms at high danger for catching coronavirus: 8/10.

Rachel is pushing for her gym to open. In Washington State, that's not going to happen soon.

She's a Republican.

Sadly, it is a political ploy. In WA state there is still a sense that it isn't a real thing. If anything else killed a thousand people in this state alone they'd be freaking out but coronavirus seems invisible and the great pumpkin isn't taking it seriously, why should they?

I work in the medical field and some of my usually calm and compassionate co-workers are almost violently angry at anti-maskers because they have seen healthy people get hospitalized. For them it is hugely real.

@CK-One I have one particular friend who believes that the push for masks is somehow a government conspiracy to take control of the population. It's an odd patriotic paradox. The American ideal is under attack...and ideals must be defended at all costs. I feel like patriotism is just as bad as religion in some cases.

That said, I still value other aspects of my friendship with that person. What's the better move? Break off the relationship to improve my mental health and reduce energy spent? Or maintain that friendship, reduce my risk of living in an echo chamber and make the societal divide even greater?

Hopefully you blocked her because she said you were in denial. It appears that she's the one in denial.

@IAJO163

Exactly. I told her she's in denial.

@kanzen Sorry for the slow response. Personally I don't believe that running away from conflict is healthy. I believe that is the echo chamber. If you are right, and you are, eventually they should come around to the truth and see how valuable you're perspectives are.

6

I like having friends of various mindsets. If my friends believe silly things, I try to introduce them to facts, evidence, and solid reasoning. They may get a little irritated, but it gives them something to ponder, and it may improve their lives. It may take time, but that's Okay. People progress at their own pace. I, too, enjoy learning things from my friends. If what they tell me does not make sense to me, I ask for facts, evidence and solid reasoning to support what they claim. Their search for facts, evidence and logic, to convince me, may end up convincing them that they were wrong. 🙂

Hey, you think like I do! 😏

6

Most of my friends are believers, many of them Muslim, and we don't really bring up religion in conversations. But sometimes I get the feeling that their belief isn't rock solid because they agree with me on things that their religion is strongly against (gay marriage, for example). Or it just might be a case of cognitive dissonance.

5

I don't BELIEVE IN anything, being an 'Ignostic/Agnostic Neo-Deist Pantheist,' but bullshit is my specialty! AND I'm lots of fun.
'Hard' Atheists, on the other hand, can get boring as a steady diet. And constipating. Too much fiber.
No, variety, by way of chocolate and ice cream (plus of course fruits and veggies), add frivolity and the kind of semi-empty calories that make life worth living.

Can't argue there. The level of stick up the ass is a big factor in how much I enjoy a person's company. You can be too far atheist/skeptic just as easily as you can be too religious (yes, I think than line occurs sooner on the religious side). Maybe it's a question of ideology. The harder you cling to an ideology, the more unpleasant you can be.

@kanzen I myself can argue (and do) ANY belief system is dogmatic and therefore boring. Unless you completely 100% agree.
THUS IT'S ALL 100% BALONEY, and as we all know baloney is probably the worst, least nutritious luncheon meat.
No, 'hard' atheists are as tasteless as theists, which is why it's better to have fluid, changeable opinions about everything EXCEPT people who are positively sure about anything. Except Republicans.

5

In my younger daze studying for the ministry was not enough. I had to "know everything" so I got into all kinds of woo. You make friends in these circles but later I came to see that in reality we know very little. Today I have one long time religious friend who is always pushing his beliefs on me. (He thinks I am lost and I do not like it.) My 2 daughters have gone more into Christianity since the murder of my grandson and the pandemic. (It must be the apocalypse and they have to know everything and want to see that dead son again.) We have to connect the dots and know things. This is how we see things. Are the Democrats doing this or is it the New World Order?

I've just about had enough. At heart I am a misantrope and do not like discussing nonsense with anyone. Why would I discuss the current pandemic with you and be content with it all when you switch the subject into the book of Revelation? That strange book barely made it into the bible. Then you have my granddaughter who knows her dead brother is around and watching over her because she keeps finding feathers. Her idea on this is that angels have wings and this is where the feathers come from. My advice is to look for birds to explain the feathers.

5

Yes, I have had friends across the spectrum of belief to non-believe to adamant disbelief. I enjoy learning about the cultures around religion and how culture is shaped by religion and supports it in many ways; it's also interesting to learn about the rules in religion and consider how it shapes law -- because weather agnostics and atheists like it or not, the majority of law around the world has it's foundation borrowed from the major world religions.

sarbot Level 4 July 10, 2020
4

Depends on what you mean by "enjoy"

4

My former best friend is a devout catholic. We were in love at one time. I hate calling her she because she's a transman but denies it now. Goes to catholic groups that are anti-trans. My family has either disowned me or I have cut them off because of the religious propaganda they spew. I'm sure most of the people I encounter are religious and I have little to say to them because I am an introvert. So no, I don't like religious people to be in my life. I've been an attender of many religious groups in the past and tried to be a believer in each but those days are long past. I have my dog who as far as I know is an atheist like me. She would probably growl and nip at anyone who tried to convert me. She already growls when she senses hostility towards me.

4

As a Christian for 35 years, I know plenty of people who believe in bullshit. I enjoy being with them, sometimes, in some ways, but the bullshit is never fun. Just sad. Interesting, from an anthropological perspective, sure.

4

My friends know I am atheist, or if they don't they are just not paying attention. I had a great friend who believed sort of in god we did so many things together and joked about my lack of faith a lot. He became my personal "god" many because I would say things like good god and oh my god so he would reply, "yes." when I did. Another friend is a pagan in a poly relationship I was at the birth of two of her children. We get drunk and have roaring conversations about a range of things. I have some devout catholics (church every sunday etc) I find around them I am more careful of what I say and don't comment if a touchy topic comes up but we all tend to be fairly civilized. I am going around for lunch on the weekend and know there will be a prayer said before we eat so I sit quietly while it happens. If they come to my place they know there won't be and never ask to. I have noticed her quietly lower her head and seen her lips move before she eats. Here there are groups I would never join as their views on some things are completely different to mine and the way the groups are worded makes me believe they are not interested in discussion to the contrary of their views. But hey that is their choice plenty of groups to join that are like me.

Budgie Level 8 July 10, 2020
3

I choose friends by what they do. Not by what they believe. If they are a fan of Day Glo Donald, then I can't be friends as their actions do not meet my approval. If they are astrology fans, then I can be friends as their actions are less influential.

congratulations, you are a Christian then, at least by the original def (Christians were even deemed "atheists" by Romans 🙂 )

and there is no judgement for beliefs in the Bible, only for works

@bbyrd009 I am a Christain by Christ's actions not by a belief in a deity. Only my repentance absolves me of my bad behavior.Then also I am Muslim, Hari Krishna, Judaic, Rastafarian.....but never a Scientologist. Most religions are a guide on how to live communally which as an introvert I do not do. Therefore I am not a believer that any deity can save the life energy that I will release into the cosmos upon my death.

@Mooolah as good a def as any imo 🙂

3

I've actually reduced many long term friendships to acquaintance status. I just can't summon the energy or restraint when dealing with the religious crap. I just can't. I'm content, but I do actually like people and getting to pick their brains. Sometimes that's real slim pickings.....

I’m with you there. Add in Trumpists and working remotely for about 8 years means a lot less personal contact with coworkers too. I can’t deal with religious crap either.

@Ohub Yeah the trumpsters....ugh...that cleared the ranks right quick this year

3

I live near Sedona, Arizona, a hotbed for “spiritual” people. It’s not so much the religious bullshit, but I have a number of friends and acquaintances who are into healing crystals and energy vortexes (sorry, but I’ve been to them, and the only “energy” I felt was the exhilaration at being in the midst of so much natural beauty), along with astrology and naturopathy, and lots of other spiritual, woo-woo stuff. Unlike the religious woo-woos, however, I’ve never had any of them insist that their beliefs are taught in schools, or base our government on them. They’re into their spiritualism as I’m into my secularism, and it’s all just OK. We accept each other without demeaning anyone for believing differently. If only the religious bigots would adopt that attitude, we’d all be a lot better off.

Sedona is one of my favorite places. I feel the energy! 😉

3

I have many friends that believe in bullshit ,but as long as I do not believe in it is all that matters .

lori99 Level 5 July 10, 2020
3

I have some friends who are religious. We communicate well. That's what makes them friends.

3

Love it. I have one friend who believes that Portsmouth will one day make it into the Premiership.

Another that if you play for long enough you’ll win the lottery.

...and a few that can’t wait for Jesus to change me back.

I love them all but can’t figure which is the most delusional! Probably the Portsmouth fan!

3

I have a couple of friends who are Sunday Christians, that is they go to church help out in the church to run things but otherwise are very normal. One who is ex army said the church helps him cope with his past. * shall be propping the bar up with him tomorrow. Religion probably not be discussed unless he wants to rant about some committee meeting. He is trying to arrange access for me to the top of the steeple to get some photos of the town at sunset that is on hold at the moment. A work colleague is a pagan and a witch we occasionally have long walks together with her greyhound partly because she likes long walks and so do i and in the evening it is safer for her not to be on her own. Now we do talk a lot her beliefs come into our talks and we agree on many things about the environment to landscape where we live its the solution we tend to differ on. Oh and she is also one of the most thoughful people i have met

3

To me conversing with like minded people is comfortable but I rarely learn anything of value in the echo chamber.

3

One of my friends doesn't believe in evolution, and that concerns me. But all my other friends are either rational Christians or non-religious, so that's alright. As long as you're not completely off the deep end, I can get along with you.

Blazey Level 3 July 10, 2020
2

I just don't put up with it, but my friends list is pretty low. Lol

2

I could deal with it before it was so incredibly obvious to the damage that they do to today’s society. I avoid them, now.

That really does complicate things... For some reason the religious mind tends to fight for a lot of harmful movements.

2

Not friends; siblings. great Zeus, they are cathosick and append all their emails with a bible verse.
I am praying the FSM takes note and kicks Karma in the ass to do her job.

2

Lol yes! A wide variety of friends who believe in all kinds of bullshit. A friend of mine born in a Hindu family has converted to Islam. So far so good. But there's more. She found a godman, brought him home and believes that her 'spiritual father' from another birth enters this godman every night and she spends hours talking to him. If you met her in the day, you'd be surprised that this smart zoologist believes that this spirit controls things like tsunamis. Lol and through it all she's good friends with me, an agnostic.
Anyone have more stories like that?

Mimee Level 6 July 10, 2020
2

I can get into a conversation with someone on the subway and talk about many subjects. I live in a diverse city that's chock full of madness. I have no personal physical friends because I am an introvert and don't go out much but in reference to the post, "judge not lest ye be judged" a simple philosophical phrase to live by.

Am I judging? Maybe I am. How then are we supposed to effect positive change if we don’t speak up about and against the oppressors?

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