Religious Friends

[nailit]

Naomi has stated that she has a local (female) vicar as a friend.
I have said that I have a retired Pastor as a very good friend and other evangelicals as friends.

Do other atheists/non-believers have religious friends and if you do, do discussions with them go the way of AB discussions?
Or are they more friendly?

[bednobs]

More friendly :) I as an unbeliever have 2 friends who were missionaries in Sierra Leone. We sometimes talk about religion but not all that often we have gossip to catch up on usually! I like listening to tales of their life in Africa but only coz I find it fascinating. They were very handy to have when I needed God parents for my daughter!

[ubasses]

Yes we are good friends with a couple who are very devout, they know my position and I respect their beliefs.
Strangely, I come from a family of non believers, my uncle married a strict catholic and I married a Methodist whose faith is important to him.

[douglas9401]

My friends and family who believe tend not to put it out there.

It works well all round.

[woofgang]

Am I the only one who doesn't discuss religion with my friends? I mean I more or less know where they are on the religious spectrum but what is there to discuss? They are happy doing what works for them, I am happy doing what works for me. I don't feel any need to change or any drive to change others.

[Old_Geezer]

No you aren't the only one. Not even sure where many are on the religious spectrum either.

[Sunk]

My mother was a Jehovah’s Witless, so I have had bonkers religious conversations all my life.

I have a methodist preacher as a friend. When I first met him 25 years ago, he was a copper and knew hundreds of dirty jokes.
I also have a work colleague whose husband is a genuine CofE vicar (though I suspect he doesn’t believe any of it).
I have a muslim friend who is a (semi) Iman if such a post exists. We can have quite good conversations, but he is deeply offended by evolution.

[Sunk]

Meant to say at the end.

I am a non believer, but get on with all those people Convivially.

[andy-hughes]

My wife is Catholic and goes to Mass every Sunday she can.

I am an atheist but I go with her because I like being with her, I quite enjoy the service, and we see friends after in the parish hall for a cup of tea.

We don't talk about religion, we each know and respect the other's views.

[Mamyalynne]

Have friends who believe and friends who don't, like many others our conversation rarely turns to Religion.

[agchristie]

Someone I know says she prays for me all the time!

Wot am I supposed to say cos I just pull a face when she mentions it.Should I be thankful? She overworries more than me own mum!

[Mamyalynne]

If you usually pull a face then carry on, if you want to make her feel a bit better just smile.

Doesn't sound like she'd mind either way.

[agchristie]

It bemuses me Mamya.She knows Im vulnerable and all that but she is more important than me..

[Mamyalynne]

She ccares, let her at least do that. x

[pixie374]

Yes, i have friends from different religions (including two vicars) and no religion... and also clients who all have very different beliefs. Occasionally, we talk about religion... but not usually. As always, I like to see what people believe and why. But it is never that important.

[agchristie]

Yeah s'pose Mamya ;-)

[pixie374]

I would suggest, look underneath it, ag. It's about feelings in the end, and if they want what is best for you- the rest is just translation x

[agchristie]

Thanx Pixie,I had me own little phase a few years ago when I prayed for lots of answers to me problems.Never did me any gud so wot chance will anyone else have?

[vulcan42]

I have a friend who's always praying for me. When it's something like a cold and I recover, she says her prayers were answered. When it's something that doesn't improve or change, she doesn't mention her prayers again.

[Apc2604]

I have close friends who are very religious. We don't discuss it. There is no need. We all love each other as we are. We all respect each other.

[archibaldy]

I do but I don't discuss it with them as they know I'm not interested in that particular hobby of theirs. Just like I don't discuss fishing with friends that don't share that particular interest.

If they mention church then I just make no real comment, I certainly wouldn't trash a friends beliefs like I would on a message board - I can overlook that oddness on their part because it's socially acceptable and their other qualities mean it's not an issue to our relationship. If someone pushed their religious beliefs on me, or I did on them them then we wouldn't be friends for very long!