Faith/Politics and Facebook

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ESMDHokie77

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I feel like I need to stop debating things on facebook because I have no religious common ground to build an argument from with most people on there.

Should you maintain “friendships” on facebook with people you don’t see much anymore who all you want to do is argue with?

I’m guessing I should end contact given that I fear my debating on the issues can sometimes lead to sinful [angry] behavior.
 
I rarely debate on facebook, but I do use it as faithbook instead. These days, life online is more about snippets of info. People rarely if ever read long discourses… myself included, especially on FB. I use it as a way to evangelize in the hopes that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes and hearts through a very short status or picture. Sometimes, someone else will comment against it, then I will argue (if you can even call it that) my point. NEVER disparaging the other person. This gives an opportunity for others to read and perhaps for the HS to touch the quiet ones. Today’s society has slowly changed people’s thought processes, often through short bursts of misinformation. My hopes are that if these people get the short bursts of info from faithful and true followers of Christ, maybe their thought processes will change again 👍

Debating rarely changes someone’s opinion unless they are ready for change. Sometimes some of my “friends” will post things completely opposite to my morals… I often just ignore it unless it’s against the Church which I take exception to. If it’s against political views, or even against Jesus, I ignore that person’s post, but then will post something that is in opposition to that person’s status on my own page… this way I’m not exactly singling out the person 🙂 Yes I’m sneaky that way. I have 103 “friends” many of which I don’t know personally due to games I used to play and one game I still play, so things don’t get too personal.

If FB is an near occasion to sin for you, maybe it’s time to rethink it and ground yourself. When you come back if you decide you can, then you can change your tactics… but like I said, debate will not change people’s opinions unless they are truly ready, and the HS is helping them.
 
The only time I discuss faith or politics on FB is with fellow friends who share my same views.
 
I have lots of friends on FB that post or share articles that are really disturbing with regard to morality and faith. I don’t “unfriend” them but I don’t engage in debate either. My tactic is to post or share something with the contrary (Catholic) view on my own wall. I make my own position known that way and, who knows, maybe one of them will read it and learn something.
 
I used to be very vocal on Facebook. I shared my faith without fear. I got into discussions with people…

this past week it has come out that many of my friends list took GREAT offense to my positions. To the point that it has trickled into them having a very poor opinion of me.

I have NEVER been rude or cruel. I have always been charitable in my discussions but apparently the fact that I’m willing to discuss faith without fear sits uncomfortably with many of my friends (who are Protestant). Ironically my friends of no faith have no issue with me but my Protestant friends are VERY upset with me.

There are such deep hurt feelings that I am very tempted to stop posting on Facebook at all. I thought my discussions were all very charitable but apparently they were instead very offensive…

It’s a real … dilemma.

The problem with Facebook as a format for religious debates is that there are many people READING those debates who may not weigh in and say: HEY! That offends me. And then they hold those hurt feelings and they just grow and grow until you have a real problem on your hands.

sigh Anyway. I think Facebook may not be the best place for those of us who are zealous.
 
nicky, it IS a dilemma and I too have suffered the brunt of my posts, although I don’t often post discourses. I’ve been put on ignore by family members, and one even came out and said that I was “offensive”. All this because I post things about faith. I’ve come to terms with it all, and I’ve even been able to have good visits with these people during family dinners.

It’s not easy knowing that the people who are supposed to love you actually think you’re a weirdo “Jesus Freak”, especially when they knew you before your true conversion and your lukewarm days. It’s such a change to them that I think they don’t know what to think about it.

Don’t get yourself all in a tizzy about it because little do you know, you’re actually touching some that are ready to think about it, those who are lukewarm, those who were uninterested. I know this because one day, to my surprise and delight this was said to me when I posted a link

ME: The Holy Name of Jesus - our focus on today’s Inner Life with Fr. Jerome Kish. How holy is the name of Jesus in your journey of faith? Noon Eastern, 11AM Central along the Relevant Radio Network and online anytime at www.relevantradio.com. See you on the radio

JEROME: Two things caught my eye. One I go to Holy Name of Jesus church in Essex and two I share the same first name as the priest in your post

ME: Wow! Is the Holy Spirit speaking? It is cool though isn’t it?

JEROME: Yes it is cool. He’s speaking to me through you

ME: Well then I’m glad he can recycle this old girl somehow LOL!

You see, this person was one of the quiet ones, and that’s just to show you that what we say on FB isn’t wasted. He’s not the only one who’s responding… there are even non-catholics who are responding.

Remember, Jesus said “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.”
 
Yeah, I use my facebook to keep in touch and make plans with several friends and as of late it has also become a platform for abortion debate. I have had a few friends object but mostly, what I share they can choose to ignore, and you never know when something you post will strike a cord with someone, so I choose to put it out there anyway. Typically I just click ‘like’ on the lifesitenews article, but that is enough for people to see it and comment. We have very civil discussion and there is usually no hard feelings.

If nothing else, it helps me understand their views/the opposite side, and I know who needs more prayer than I thought they did! It’s been quite eye-opening.
 
time to focus on prayer warfare against satan and his will.

I think being passively aggressive is the way to go on facebook…
 
I don’t debate on FB, though sometimes I want to. My nieces post their support of abortion and gay marriage and it makes me want to scream. I think responding in any way will just fuel them. I wish I knew how to respond.
 
DiZent said:
I don’t debate on FB, though sometimes I want to. My nieces post their support of abortion and gay marriage and it makes me want to scream. I think responding in any way will just fuel them. I wish I knew how to respond.
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I have the same problem as you, DiZent. Several of my FB friends post in support of gay marriage and I want so much to respond. But I want my response to be thoughtful and kind. However, every time I start a response I erase it. Should I send a private message? Should I simply not respond in any way?
 
Hoo(name removed by moderator)mie said:
I have the same problem as you, DiZent. Several of my FB friends post in support of gay marriage and I want so much to respond. But I want my response to be thoughtful and kind. However, every time I start a response I erase it. Should I send a private message? Should I simply not respond in any way?
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What I have been doing is sharing my support of the Back to Life Movement going on right now in Texas. 39 young women marching from Houston to Dallas, sharing their stories of how abortion has affected their lives. I liked them on FB & share the updates.


www.backtolifemovement,com
 
Facebook has become a popularity “ego contest” If you wanted to be popular with Society then being catholic is in stark contrast with the world’s current acceptable values. Be you, if they defriend you for it, then fine - but be you, its your page/wall, your profile, your faith and your life.

I’ve never defriended someone because they have differences of opinion, on the same hand I have been defriended for posting the power of prayer. Go figure!!! It’s why forums all over the internet like this one work so well because like minded people can gather in one spot and discuss issues they feel similar about rather than a public portal such as FB. I for one am all for like minded friends so add me 🙂

facebook.com/profile.php?id=1183037099
 
Hoo(name removed by moderator)mie said:
I have the same problem as you, DiZent. Several of my FB friends post in support of gay marriage and I want so much to respond. But I want my response to be thoughtful and kind. However, every time I start a response I erase it. Should I send a private message? Should I simply not respond in any way?
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I would send a private message. More often then not the quickest way to start a feud and hurt feelings is to publicly dissent to a popular opinion. Problem is, when you post your objection (no matter HOW well thought out) all of her friends AND your friends will see what you’ve posted and then people who have no real investment in the conversation can jump in and turn a simple comment into a huge fight/debate or bashing session.
 
After reading all these posts, it just affirms my decision not to join Facebook. 👍
 
I don’t think that religious difference should be the reason you end a relationship, even on facebook. However, it may be advisableif it’s causing you griefe
 
What sorts of things do you post about abortion? I’d love to share it on my facebook. Thanks 🙂
starrball said:
Yeah, I use my facebook to keep in touch and make plans with several friends and as of late it has also become a platform for abortion debate. I have had a few friends object but mostly, what I share they can choose to ignore, and you never know when something you post will strike a cord with someone, so I choose to put it out there anyway. Typically I just click ‘like’ on the lifesitenews article, but that is enough for people to see it and comment. We have very civil discussion and there is usually no hard feelings.

If nothing else, it helps me understand their views/the opposite side, and I know who needs more prayer than I thought they did! It’s been quite eye-opening.
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I have read through these current posts. I am pleased and sad that I have now permanently deleted my fb account. My parents are Catholics and all my siblinbs and I baptized catholics as children. I have a sister who is currently an angry atheist. Any time I posted a comment with christian values even while trying to keep religion out of it, she would begin to blast it with a stream of comments against religion, christians and particularly catholics. I tried a private message which didn’t go well. Other family members were becoming upset with me for—I’m not sure what. I tried to explain myself to no avail and am unable to handle the verbal assault. The whole thing has been more eyeopening in a way I totally didn’t not expect. Until I can learn more apologetics, sadly, I shall have to be less connected to my family. But, I do have a great list of people to pray for.
 
I have a lot of friends that are extreme liberals and one family member (cousin) who is an atheist. As for my cousin–I usually ignore her posts about religion or politics unless it’s something I can peacefully and factually “argue” against: ex. She posted a quote about Christians being against health and education. I responded with the factual evidence of the Church starting hospitals, universities, founding schools, etc. There was no response from her, no rudeness and no “unfriending”.

My extreme liberal friends will post pro-gay and pro-abortion things and I post pro-life and various other things that do not attack them, but state the other side. I don’t know if they read my posts or not, but they do have the respect for me to not be rude as I am not rude to them—like commenting that they are stupid for thinking xyz. If we engage in debate, we try to keep to facts and evidence and still stay friends.

Generally, if it’s politics, they can have their opinion as long as they let me have mine. I am not going to engage in name calling or “I don’t like him because he’s stupid/policy xyz is stupid”… if they are not going to use facts and evidence, I’m not going to participate. If it’s religion, I do believe in absolute right and wrong and will defend the Church and the Truth, but try to do so calmly and with love and evidence.

I also have conservative friends that share my views, but I’d rather debate with someone that doesn’t agree with me, it’s more fun and challenging.

I had a protestant minister friend post something on how the church should take care of people and not the gov’t and a bunch of his protestant friends were commenting on how “yeah we should/we haven’t/2,000 yrs we haven’t” I responded that “WE” (Catholic Church) have been, no one commented after me.

I did unfriend one person–although not in real life–after he accused me of saying something on FB. He would not tell me what I supposedly said that he was mad about and I could not find anything in my posts that I thought he could be talking about. I still don’t know what his problem is, or what he thinks I said. 🤷 I thought we were adults, but maybe he’s stuck in middle school?
 
There are many reasons one may choose to cut ties with someone, even virtually. Difference in faith and politics may be one, but you should never assume it’s required. it’s a very personal matter.
 
Hi,

I mainly post Christian messages, and specifically Catholic messages/pictures on fb. I “like” Catholic organisations who regularly send posts to my site. This means that my page is a constant witness of what I hold most dear. I also have a lot of friends on fb, and old students, and whenever they post about a problem or want to have a moan, I turn their minds to Jesus. …even when I am complaining about a soccer score!!🙂
 
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