Best friends are anti-religious, don't know what to do

[marco180]

Thank you to all who have replied, it has helped me alot and I have taken everything you have all said in to account.
As I’m not a regular user of the catholic boards (in fact found it in my search for some help on the internet about this problem) I am not comfortable with PM and more private conversations with people I do not know, but thank you for your kind offers, as I know the intent is well meant. Thankfully Christmas is right around the corner, giving me something positive to look forward to, and I am home from University, excited for mass tomorrow (as I’m in the choir!). I feel alot better, and hopefully in the new year when I see my friends again I will be able to cope better, and eventually perhaps they will come to realize the truths.
Thank you all so very much, and Merry Christmas!

 

[mommyof4]

Thank you to all who have replied, it has helped me alot and I have taken everything you have all said in to account.
As I’m not a regular user of the catholic boards (in fact found it in my search for some help on the internet about this problem) I am not comfortable with PM and more private conversations with people I do not know, but thank you for your kind offers, as I know the intent is well meant. Thankfully Christmas is right around the corner, giving me something positive to look forward to, and I am home from University, excited for mass tomorrow (as I’m in the choir!). I feel alot better, and hopefully in the new year when I see my friends again I will be able to cope better, and eventually perhaps they will come to realize the truths.
Thank you all so very much, and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you, too. I’ll be praying for you and your friends.

 

[blacktiger057]

Are you sure that our Faith is not a fact. Did you know that the Catholic population has over 1,000,000,000 members, its been around for more than two thousand years and thats a fact.

So? Yes, it is a very big religion. But if Islam becomes the world’s most popular religion, will that make Islam automatically fact? Paganism was once the only religion, so does that make it completely right and truthful? Smoking was once popular, but it killed you! Do you see my point? It is faith, and that is why it is opinion, not fact.

Oh, and they took a survey in the US. It said that 40% of Christians did not know the first four gospels. So while people may call themselves CHristians, it isn’t always so. Just thought that was intersting…

 

[marty30]

So? Yes, it is a very big religion. But if Islam becomes the world’s most popular religion, will that make Islam automatically fact? Paganism was once the only religion, so does that make it completely right and truthful? Smoking was once popular, but it killed you! Do you see my point? It is faith, and that is why it is opinion, not fact.

Oh, and they took a survey in the US. It said that 40% of Christians did not know the first four gospels. So while people may call themselves CHristians, it isn’t always so. Just thought that was intersting…

You got me Blacktiger. I guess thats why there is an old saying and I may be quoteing it wrong but I’ll give it a shot. "For those who belive no explination is needed and for those who don’t beleive none can be found. Too bad for those who don’t beleive, its so sad to know that God offers us an eternity of blissful happyness but there are those who think its hocas pocas or a lie. I think I’m having desavue or did this happen along time ago when a certain anchient serphant tricked our first parents. Seems like he’s still fooling some of us.

 

[blacktiger057]

Blacktiger have you ever read bthe lives of the saints, Church Fathers teachings, listen to Catholic radio, Watched EWTN. Only someone who lives in a cave secluded from civilzation could miss the reality of the Catholic Churches Teachings. Oh yeah also if you only get your info and resourses from secular media and anti-catholic groups you will probably miss the realities of the Catholic Church. Is experience an opinion or a fact? The greatest trick Satan ever did was convince man that he doesn’t exist. I wonder who controls the secular media. hmmmmm… He sure has you and others fooled. You know our Faith has been proven over and over again through varios miracles around the world since the beginning of time and thats a fact, some people choose not to believe.

Yeah, I was once Catholic. I’m not anti-Catholic. All of my friends are Catholic, and I don’t have any problems. I accept their faith and they accept mine.

Yes, I do ackknowledge some miracles of the Christian faith. But they aren’t as numerous, as many, if not all, of the ‘bleeding eucharists’ have been frauds and stuff like that. Many other faiths have had miracles occur. I’ve had my Wiccan faith work some miracles for me. Thus, all religions are united in this way. And ancient paganism was the first religion, so in religion time that was the very begining.

Satan is a creation of the Catholic religion. You can keep him, too!
Humans control the media. Is it not possible to just have a human’s will at times, not your God or your devil’s?

And I don’t read anti-catholic things. Anti-religious things annoy me. You must live in a cave if you can’t see how all religions are connected in a great many ways. I merely stated that religion is a matter of opinion…that statement isn’t really debatable.

 

[blacktiger057]

did this happen along time ago when a certain anchient serphant tricked our first parents.

I don’t believe the world became evil by someone eating an apple. Notice how in Catholic myth it was a woman who brought sin in the world, not man. The stroy is symbolic, if anything. But you can have the poinion you want, as it is faith.

 

[Abbadon]

I’m undefined as of relegion, i belive in everything and yet nothing. But debate like an athiest.

That said i have made some great catholic friends over the years of going to youth camps etc… I used to debate about things, but now i no longer do and if any debate should come up i give a netral stand point that keeps both parties happy.

What I’m trying to say is, if relegion is such a hard topic and they are in constant friction with you. It comes down to both parties not to bring it up if you can’t discuss it in non attacking manner.

I have a young earth creationist freind whom i debate with often. At one point he seemed to be getting depressed over what i was saying as he was reasling how flawed some of his thought was. At that point i stopped and gave him answers that approved his religious pilosephy of life.

It’s not a problem if you don’t make it a problem…

 

[Abbadon]

Errrrr wait a second are you a girl and your two freinds are guys? Cus that would explain ALOT…

 

[whatevergirl]

Hello,
I have recently started university and made some great friends. Unfortunately they are not religious, with one claiming undecided, and the other an avid follower of Dawkins. (this only started recently, in an effort to go AGAINST me)

Granted you may think, why be friends with a pair like this, but they’re in all my classes and we get along great, and I’m not going to ignore them because they don’t have the same religion as me. I also hope to help them see Christ one day, but am in no means preaching to them. I am always available for discussion and they know it, and enjoy talking about serious matters and hearing opinions and ideas of others.

Yet it seems, that they don’t listen to a word I say, because they know I was brought up catholic and so they say I’m brainwashed and blinded to the truth.

Fact of the matter is, though I was raised a Catholic, I was not really convinced for a long time. Till I had the chance to study at a higher level, and really learn about the logic behind the beliefs did it make sense to me, and did I accept it fully. There is not one value or belief that I have that I cannot justify with a full explanation, and most without need for religious involvement too!

Yet whenever I try to discuss anything with them of serious nature, they shut me down and say I’m brainwashed and can’t see the truth.

In fact, today in the library we were in a study room… and the topic of homosexual marriage came up.
I presented the concepts of legal marriage and religious marriage being two very different things, and that homosexuals are vying for legal marriage rights. Also that they should be allowed legal marriage rights, but that the Church will not change the ceremonial definition of marriage because there are two sacred parts, 1. love/unity and 2. procreation (of which the second is impossible in same-sex relationships. aside from the obvious bodily abuse and sin caused by same-sex sexual relationships)

But they denied me! Said I was a fool! Said that I was brainwashed and generalizing about things I don’t know anything about! It hurt me so bad to see that they were only arguing AGAINST me, not because they believed the opposite, but they just always argue AGAINST me. Because i have spent YEARS studying the subjects. And I said to them “I have spent years studying, and these are the things I’ve come up with, when you do some research then we can discuss this, don’t just make up stuff and argue against me!” - And their responses were “no, you haven’t spent years studying, you’re just making up ****”.

I left very upset, as my feelings were really hurt. I was trying to have a serious conversation, and explain my views, and openly listen to their views, but they only wanted to shut me up and insult me.

It hurts me alot to have my best friends, of all people, treat me so intolerantly and so disrespectfully. I don’t know what to do, and it just really hurts.

Sorry that this is so longwinded, but I just don’t know what to do!
Normally we are great friends, but right now I feel so alone and hurt.

At university it’s hard to find Catholics, and I have joined the Catholic chaplaincy here, but quite frankly, the people I met there seemed so BLAND and BORING! Perhaps its because, aside from God, we don’t share much interests in common… but it seems like I’m the only Catholic in the whole School of Computing!

Ahhh, I just don’t know what to do. It’s 2am and I’m in the library studying for a math exam, and my friends doing this to me just, feels so much worse than it probably is.
Ugh.

I am sorry you are feeling down about your friends. Sounds a bit like they know what makes you upset. That being said…I have come to the conclusion that there are two types of journeys in life…one towards God, and one away from Him. Your friends are on a different journey right now, but eventually…they will take another path–through your prayer. Pray for your friends. Praying for those who hurt us is the best ‘medicine’ we can take when we ache because of another’s hurtful words against us. It will also help them in the process! I would tell them the next time they start gearing up for another 'debate, that you have decided to just pray for them. And be done with the conversaton. No need to push, or struggle, or end up upset and exhausted. Just tell them you are going to keep them in your prayers.

But, just remember…everyone is either moving towards God or away from Him…either worshipping or trying to disprove His laws and existence. Which is actually a good thing, when you think about it…because God is at least a part of their lives, but they just have not accepted Him yet. So look on the bright side…you can be a great example for your friends…through God’s grace…and maybe your friends will see Christ shining through you, someday soon.

God bless! I hope this helps a bit.

 

[LDNCatholic]

I don’t believe the world became evil by someone eating an apple. Notice how in Catholic myth it was a woman who brought sin in the world, not man. The stroy is symbolic, if anything. But you can have the poinion you want, as it is faith.

Its a lot more complicated than that whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.

 

[Godlovestrength]

Hello,
I have recently started university and made some great friends. Unfortunately they are not religious, with one claiming undecided, and the other an avid follower of Dawkins. (this only started recently, in an effort to go AGAINST me)

It hurts me alot to have my best friends, of all people, treat me so intolerantly and so disrespectfully. I don’t know what to do, and it just really hurts.

Sorry that this is so longwinded, but I just don’t know what to do!
Normally we are great friends, but right now I feel so alone and hurt.

Ahhh, I just don’t know what to do. It’s 2am and I’m in the library studying for a math exam, and my friends doing this to me just, feels so much worse than it probably is.
Ugh.

I realy think you do know what to do looking at what you have writen because you have said how you feel for God, and then what you are going through, then again how you feel let down.

Well 1st be strong cling to Jesus the sourse of all light. he will guide you , give you (remember this) a love and jot that will shine through the darkness. A joy the world CANNOT take from you.
2nd Remember we are never given more than we can take and if it feels TOO much then ask yourself how much of this you are taking on without God? you may find that you have not invited Jesus to take the cross or asked the Holy Spirit to speak through you(as Jesus tells us He will if invited).
Be strong only satin can put doubt on our mind and he will use any person thing or situation he can…you are never alone

You are on my prayer chain
Godbless

 

[daeve]

I haven’t read every post, so this might be old news, but I spent many years working in live theatre. There are a lot of varied philosphies there, and I finally figured out how to deal with religion as a topic of discussion. If someone starts anything that is anti-Catholic or anti-any religion, I’ll explain that this isn’t a good topic for discussion because too many of us have different opinions and there’s no reason to hurt someone’s feelings. Let’s talk about something else. If someone asks me a question, and really does want to know the answer, I’ll answer to the best of my ability. I will NOT let anyone bait me with anti-Catholic or anti-other Christian garbage. There’s no point in discussing things with people who have closed their minds to any other points of view.

I’d tell those friends that religion is off-limits as a topic of discussion, and then just say I don’t want to talk about that to any subject that touches it. You may have to leave a couple times, but they should get the idea. If they don’t, they’re not worth your precious time.

 

[Augustine]

All I’ll say is that you shouldn’t let them brainwash you into their ways of seeing things.

Are you positive that their friendship is worth being shut down condescendingly whenever you disagree?