So we're no longer 'friends'

[Renji]

Yeah, this is kinda vent out thread. Earlier, I opened my facebook and I've seen my christian friends, and former churchmates unfriended me 'because I am an atheist'. One even PMed me telling me that she prays for me that I am able to get out of the 'dark room' and that I will not be consumed by my 'negative emotion'. Our head pastor even PMed me and told me "so this is the answer for the confusions that you have? Being an atheist?", as if atheism is some sort of religious movement that you get 'converted' into. This is actually a thing that the church where I am from does everytime a member 'backslides' from them, for the reason I do not know. It kinda hurt me because these people are my friends back in college and they forget all about it just because I am no longer a 'believer'. Oh well, who needs facebook anyway?

 

[Iti oj]

hugs im sorry

 

[Sees]

Scared sheep who need as much reassurance as possible. If you don't fulfill that role, you are now considered useless or worse.

It's much too common and a damn shame. Nothing close to true friendship.

 

[Ingledsva]

*
That's awful! Sorry to hear it!

*

 

[Renji]

Scared sheep who need as much reassurance as possible. If you don't fulfill that role, you are now considered useless or worse.

It's much too common and a damn shame. Nothing close to true friendship.

Oh well, should I call to Jesus right now? I don't really have any problems with them or their god, it's just that to me, I don't believe anymore on stuff like that. Seems they took it the other way around.

 

[Father Heathen]

They weren't real friends to begin with. It still hurts, but in time you'll realize that it was no real loss.

 

[Norman]

Yeah, this is kinda vent out thread. Earlier, I opened my facebook and I've seen my christian friends, and former churchmates unfriended me 'because I am an atheist'. One even PMed me telling me that she prays for me that I am able to get out of the 'dark room' and that I will not be consumed by my 'negative emotion'. Our head pastor even PMed me and told me "so this is the answer for the confusions that you have? Being an atheist?", as if atheism is some sort of religious movement that you get 'converted' into. This is actually a thing that the church where I am from does everytime a member 'backslides' from them, for the reason I do not know. It kinda hurt me because these people are my friends back in college and they forget all about it just because I am no longer a 'believer'. Oh well, who needs facebook anyway?

Hello Renji, I am sorry you lost your friends, with there response it seems to me that they were not real friends in the first place. You have every right to be an atheist and should be respected for that. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, people call us Mormons. I lost a lot of friends also when I joined this church thirty years ago. I even lost family members who told my me my church was of satan. My heart goes out to you, I hope you don't let this stop you from posting in this forum. You have every right to post what your belief's are and no one has the right in my opinion to tell you any different. Hang in there and stand your ground.

 

[Thana]

That sucks. People can be so fickle.
Oh well, You'll move on to bigger and better things yeah?

 

[LuisDantas]

My sympathy. But as others noted, ultimately it is no great loss.

 

[Gnostic Seeker]

Renji they weren't real friends. I know that may not be what a person would want to hear at such times, but your real friends like you for you.

 

[Parsimony]

I've kind of been through this before, but from the other side. After I found out that one of my close friends had values that were contradictory to my Christian beliefs, I felt upset about it for a long time. That eventually changed into a mild disliking for her, which increased over time. Eventually, I tried to gradually distance myself from her until we stopped interacting.

I regret having done that now, especially since I have learned to be much more tolerant of differing viewpoints.

I'm sorry that you've had to go through this yourself.

 

[Heim]

Wow, rough. I just can't imagine people doing such a thing.
I wish you all the best. /hug

 

[Renji]

This is the first time I cried for loosing my 'friends'. After I did, I was like yuck, why did I even bother to cry? My mom was like " You don't even have a girlfriend to break up with you. So why are you crying? " Oh well, I guess it'll be better soon.

 

[Renji]

And yeah, earlier, the head pastor, which also used to be my 'friend' keep on sending me PM's telling me that what I did was pride and next comes destruction. We debated a bit. So yeah, already deactivated my facebook. I guess pain is part of being mature.

 

[Renji]

That sucks. People can be so fickle.
Oh well, You'll move on to bigger and better things yeah?

Sure thing.

 

[Renji]

I'd just say that I'd rather be hated, than remain ignorant about things.

 

[Estro Felino]

Your "Christian" "friends"?
they were not friends. A friend by definition respects your identity, your beliefs.
and a Christian by definition is supposed to do the same

 

[Heim]

And yeah, earlier, the head pastor, which also used to be my 'friend' keep on sending me PM's telling me that what I did was pride and next comes destruction. We debated a bit. So yeah, already deactivated my facebook. I guess pain is part of being mature.

I hope you didn't allow yourself to be 'chased away' from FB. If it is still of use to you today, please do stay.

 

[oldbadger]

I am sad that you are upset, Renji. But we need experiences such as this to help us to appreciate real friendship when it comes along. I hope that you feel better very soon.

 

[Renji]

I hope you didn't allow yourself to be 'chased away' from FB. If it is still of use to you today, please do stay.

'RF' is better than 'FB' I guess.