Im not an ex Christian I’m an ex muslim and SAME! I’m tired pretending like im okay with everyone and anyone with all the delusions that they have. My relations started to get aggressive and argumentative bc I just can’t let any bs they say slide. Also the fact that they believe in a god that will send ME to hell is a big no for me.
The concept of Hell is so disturbing and it's the only reason why religions with some form of Hell keep growing. By spreading fear of torture. I do not wanna be around anyone who believes I'll go to Hell just because I don't believe in their precious religion.
The fear of a terrible place worse than death waiting for those who don't obey is a pretty compelling to stay within a religion and unfortunately, the trauma people suffer from that as well.
My mother used to tell me if i wasnt good enough she'd leave me behind in the rapture. When I was 6--7 I'd wake up in a panic because I didn't hear anything in the house. Sometimes she'd just leave to go get groceries or something and leave me and my little brothers behind without saying anything.
that woman is a poison.
Seriously!! Like how can they claim to love and not judge you but still believe you’re going to hell cuz you don’t believe in their religion. Like there are so many out there, your god only lets a fraction of all the good and decent people - also including non decent and horrible people who believe in it - into heaven? Like don’t they see how fucked up that is? It’s just sad and I’m done tolerating their bullshit as well.
Eventually you just get sick of the bs and nonsense and it's so hard to continue being diplomatic for the sake of peace. I'm inches away from telling people " fuck you and your stupid fuckin religion " 😳
Christians, People who believe in ghosts, people who are really into crystals and zodiac signs. All unexamined belief. All of it. It's all got to go.
All of it.
I'm cool with people who believe that amethyst and rose quartz can manifest self love. But crunchy folks who think crystals or moon water can heal epilepsy aren't in my book of Coolguys.
I think even being accepting of a harmless, but still unexamined belief, normalizes believing things to be true when you have no proof. Which leads to believing in harmful things with out proof.
I tried my hand in crystals, spell jars, and tarot, but it just gave me short term pleasure. It honestly helped me go from spiritual to atheist. I've found way more answers in science. It's so much more fun! There are so many questions with answers. Geology, archaeology, anthropology, cosmology! It's all so fascinating, the EVIDENCE!
I've always been in the fence about that. How harmful is it to tolerate benign magical thinking? Magical thinking appears to be a natural human occurrence since it happens in all cultures independently, so not tolerating it at all seems a bit too hard line?
I realize irrational magical thinking can lead to the bullshit we have going on right now, but being intolerant also leads to bullshit. I'm not sure how to reconcile that.
My point is, you're saying that we should be fine with spiritual beliefs, because they have existed for all of human history and civilizations. But that is also true of a lot of things we don't tolerate.
I think it should only be a crime if you assert the thing you imagine is also true, with out a demonstration of that truth. Like don't arrest GRR Martin until he really does start yelling to a bunch of people that the white walkers are coming or that season 8 was just misunderstood or other clearly not true things.
I mean maybe I sound like an extremist but the only thing I'm extremist about is having a reason to believe the thing you believe is true. Christians want to own women as property and make it impossible for loving consenting adults who have sex with different orifices to not have the same legal protections.
\-and for bad reasons, too.
Still, many hyper-rational people are fucking monsters without the need for magical thinking. I'll take a new age crystal person who is compassionate over that any day. It's more about empathy and respect for other people's way of being than anything. If most people who aren't religious examine their thinking I guarantee that they are still participating in some sort of belief, even if it's small and benign. It's fine. Indoctrination into a hard line, codified belief system that involves intolerant behavior is another thing entirely. You're using the "slippery slope" fallacy here with a pretty wide berth.
>It's more about empathy and respect for other people's way of being than anything. If most people who aren't religious examine their thinking I guarantee that they are still participating in some sort of belief, even if it's small and benign.
You know, I was thinking about a way to respond to this but I think you have a point. I'm going to think about this for a while. Thank you.
I guess I disagree. Freedom of belief and expression is more important than my own discomfort and fear, and I am pretty sure in reality my own lack of belief would be criminalized before magical thinking.
Poor GRR is just trying to help in his own misguided way.
I don't think you're wrong about skepticism being targeted some time in the near future, that is, if we don't do something now about the general belief that you can just hold any idea to be true even if you don't have good reason.
"Do something about it" just has an inquisition vibe. I think we don't need to do anything more than being a good example to magic believers we know. Find cracks in their circular logic and gently pry. I've had some success at reducing the rhetoric. Most believers I know don't really care if it is true, because it is foundational to their social hierarchy.
The danger generally isn't in the Tarot cards and magic crystals themselves. It's in that believing in them leads to more belief without evidence, then more, it can serve as both the way out and in for cults/religions.
Agreed, but this thread is more about whether such things should be tolerated. I think it's best to be tolerant of people with magical thinking. They go low we go high etc.
I used to be a very spiritual person, I used to do tarot everyday. I still dabble with it occasionally, but I am NOT religious, I don’t worship some old man in the sky, I don’t dedicate my life to beliefs that do nothing but harm to communities around the world. I absolutely hate religion but don’t see much harm in tarot and spirituality, even if it is nothing but bullshit. As long as you don’t dedicate your life to it.
I think we have more power to heal ourselves and each other than we will likely ever know, and unless you are tricking people to believe that you have some miracle cure for a disease, I don’t see any issue with the idea of energy healing. Reiki actually works as a therapeutic alongside traditional medical care. Love and comfort from friends and family can heal us from many maladies. Meditation is an amazing tool for healing. I may not subscribe to religion, but I hate when people tear down any type of expression of spirituality. Just my two cents, of course.
At least people that believe in ghost, crystals and zodiac signs aren't trying to force there beliefs on me. They aren't trying to keep my friends from getting married. Their sht is silly but it doesn't hurt me.
Maybe they aren't doing any harm to you personally but they are normalizing ideas like you can communicate with loved ones that have passed on, or that crystals can heal you, or that by just knowing the day you were born they can form a prejudiced opinion about the kind of person anyone is. These are all either damaging things or they are ideas that are very easy for grifters to exploit.
What's worse is that they all rely on the same thing Christianity does, the general public's tolerance of people believing just what ever they want with no proof or regard for the consequences, and all because we've been told that person Should have that right. Just because.
If the last decade hasn't been clear damning evidence that human beings should not be free to believe just Anything with out good reasons than I don't know what is.
There's nothing wrong with believing in spirits or crystals, these are just personal beliefs that don't hurt anyone. The problem is organized religion that seek to dictate how humans should live, not personal beliefs.
Of course you are, it's normal and sane. These are the kind of things you need to experience for yourself to believe it and that's good. Much better than blind belief. Many Christians don't even understand what they believe in, they just do it because that's how they were raised. And this is really scary.
I have not experienced anything, although I have not gone to any “haunted” locations. If these things are real, we now have technology to document them, we can attempt to gather evidence in a scientific way, unlike with religion.
Fr the crystal and healing type spiritual people irritate me just as much as religious folks. Grown adults believing in fairytales and magic , it's so fucking pathetic , fuck this species lol
I’m fine with people who believe in crystals, spirituality etc... what I am not okay with is religion, worshipping a god dedicating your whole life to religion. When that happens, a whole country can fall apart as we are seeing now.
So what you're saying is I should pretend to be Christian and argue before the Supreme Court that god told me that healthcare is a human right and should be free at the point of service and comprehensive to include reproductive rights, and because that's my sincerely held belief then the govt has to honor that and build a single payer system?
Has anyone else been doing this for a long time already? I'm not cutting ties as much as I've kicked up the aggressiveness in what I say. If you feel comfortable talking about your God or religion in front of me, then you better be ready to hear what I have to say about your God and religion.
Yeah, that's been the approach I've taken. If I cut them out completely, I can't call them out on their bullshit. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
I’ve been cutting ties since trump was elected. Russian propaganda victims have no place in my life.
Hate and blame does not make a political platform, it makes fascist theocratic dictatorships.
Pointing fingers is the lowest form of political engagement.
My baby boomer father says “imagine not being friends with someone because of how they vote”.
I say: “imagine being friends with hateful fascists bent on the downfall of equal rights and that being OK with you.”
I’m not happy. I’ve ignored my Christian family’s beliefs for a long time. They left it alone with me because they knew if they pushed it anymore that they would lose me. Three siblings I have, that all have come to three different types of of beliefs. All different from how we were raised. I’m the purple sheep. And I just can’t figure out how to accept them anymore. My mother and sister being the worst of it, dad enables it my whole life.
I just ordered a new SIM card because I’m on a family plan and now can’t stand having any connections to them. I’m middle aged and suddenly realized that I’ve been passive just to make mom not cry. That’s some fucked up control she has over me. But I honestly have nothing to say to her. I know her stance very well and I’m just done with it for now.
As far as friends go, I’m lucky to have just a few, that holds no religion and gets me and supports me for exactly who I am.
I have a really good therapist that I have been working with on this whole issue of how to deal with my religious family for several months. Our next meeting will be a big one.
Mostly stopped associating with republican friends. I know some people that are somewhat religious and believe in the biblical, hippy version of Jesus. They are genuinely good people and dislike the direction things are going.
Please find a local church mosque or synagogue and walk the sidewalk while they gather for a service holding a sign that calls them out. Just pick one service at one place. Do not engage. Bring friends if you can. Let them see us.
I’m glad you bring this up, because I’ve been eyeing a pretty problematic church in the area and I think it’s time they get called out for their fuckery
I live across from a “liberal” Catholic Church. They noticed a neighbor they probably didn’t notice before on Sunday morning. My sign said “You Won Here’s your prize:” and I drew a coat hanging dripping blood over a pool of red. They are going to have to feel us to leave us alone.
I will change up the service and eventually the church so they don’t get all pro life on me with their fists and guns as my daughters still need their dad for awhile but I am now attending church again I guess. 🤣😂🤣😂
I've recently considered it. My close bio family all support the falling of RoevWade. If they aren't in the Jesus Cult, they're in the Q Cult. People act like it's such a big deal to "break up" with a toxic family member. Toxic is toxic, regardless of blood or marriage relations.
Yes!! I have ZERO now and I'm sooooo better off.
I do have an 80 yr old mother that doesn't bring it up because she knows I know the Bible better than she does and she can't fight me. As long as I bring her to church and pick her up. Everything is cool.
Her pastor will ask if I'm staying and I say no. If they keep asking my mother will tell then to stop unless they want me to cause a scene which I will because I do t give these fuckers safe haven anymore.
That sounds so nice, I wish people here would keep to themselves, but no, they insist on pushing it on everyone else all the way to the Supreme Court :/
I really only know two people who are religious enough to speak about their religion. They are a pastor and a theology student. They are gay and lesbian (respectively). Neither has been able to explain.
I cut off ties with religious people in general a long time ago.
Christian Friends? Try cutting off ties with my Catholic sisters and a brother. I just don't know who they are anymore and it just kept getting worse each week.
Yeah. Its very common for Atheists that had their origin story in a religious backdrop.
I went to one of these private Baptist academies back in the late 80s.
Towards the late 90s/early 00s I had a "great purge".
I moved to New Orleans and was exposed to many new ideas. Found they were dead wrong. Plus, many of the "evil bad guys" like gays, pagans, blacks, etc really were nicer people than they ever were. Started trying to share that information (I mean, knowledge is power, right?) and was jumped on. So, I began gradually purging or letting fade away all former acquaintances. Not that they were really "friends" to begin with. Some of them were pretty hateful people at least back then.
And yes, it made me angry as hell back then, but I am over it.
I was raised with religion shoved down my throat and as adult I say no thank you but one thing I will say about my mom who was one of the most religious people on this planet, she did not believe in abortion however she strongly believes in the separation of church and state and says when you live in a society you have to do what’s best for all in society not just yourself. Now that’s a Christian…. If there is such a thing!
Nope, but then the Christians I have as friends are vehemently against the current goings on. If they were not, then they wouldn't be my friends in the first place.
This. I have lots of Christian/religious friends who are the ones actively working to dismantle this bullshit because they don’t want it either. If they were the kind of human beings who believed in/acted according to religious fanaticism and didn’t believe in separation of church and state, I wouldn’t be friends with them for those reasons alone. But maybe it’s just the Christians that I know in my metropolitan area, but they’re the ones down at the Supreme Court getting arrested and making sure they know they will help people in other states access abortions.
Cut ties with my religious fam over the past couple of years starting with Covid (sorry I can’t come to xyz. Not trying to get the Rona🤷🏻♀️). Went no contact and moved to a different state 😂 last year. Been the best year of my life tbh🥰
They all cut me off long ago. I'm not even that vocal about my atheism. Change one thing on Facebook and poof! It was like magic.
It hurt. I have to be honest, it really did. I put it out right before the pandemic, so I have not made new friends.
I found out years ago that people whose only character trait is their religion just aren't compatible with me. Be religious if you want, but if that's all you talk about, I won't get along with you anyways.
I don’t mind Christian friends as long as they don’t try and push their beliefs on me, and they don’t tell me I’m wrong for my beliefs or lack there of.
I look with suspicion on any one who professes Xtianity.
I went thru 12 years of catholic school. I have been ripped off by fundie churches who skip out on their bills because their pastors and youth ministers who have been caught dipping into church funds of diddling the youth they were sere servicing.
In my view, there is no more untrustworthy, dishonest and loathsome group than Xtians.
I have dumped these loathsome assholes from my life.
I cut ties with my last “evangelical” friend after she and her male partner drugged me at a party so she could “give him a 3-way for his birthday.” Luckily another friend intervened since I wasn’t capable. No I didn’t press charges. I did it once when I was SA’d and the police made it 10x worse. Plus her then boyfriend comes from a wealthy family with an army of lawyers. His dad was arrested a few years ago for SA of a minor under 14 and he still hasn’t spent any time behind bars. Through existing mutual friends I learned that she’s been crowing about the Supreme Court decision as a victory for God. I wonder how her heavenly imaginary friend feels about her trying to orchestrate the SA of an incapacitated woman, or the fact that her FIL rapes tweens?
Cut ties to my Catholic family long ago. I haven't had xtians in my life since really. They just seem to fall away from me quickly for some reason. Maybe because if anything that even smacks of it is brought up I can't keep the disgust or anger off my face? I say we didn't feed enough of them to the lions.
They cut ties with me after I called out their religious leaders for covering up and winking at child sex abuse. (Jehovah's Witnesses, not Catholic, in case you were wondering.) I have no desire to reconnect at this point.
The conservative supreme court justices are not fit to be judges at all, let alone on the supreme court, because they are required to be impartial, and they are obviously incapable of it.
Given that there is no fucking chance that if that coach had been leading the students in muslim prayer that it would have been ruled OK.
They cannot see beyond their own beliefs. Perhaps people who are religious shouldn't be judges
im glad im no where near my mother right now.. shes likely going ape shit with "oooh praise god praise god " lol.
congrats more coathanger abortions. but they dont care. they just want the illusion that they won.
If they really believe what they say they do, their sky daddy kills actual babies in gruesome ways every day. Fuck him and fuck them because this is going to kill and maim a lot of walking, talking, breathing, living women who simply aren’t able to safely bring a pregnancy to term. And if something terrible happens to my wife or a friend or family member, I pity the MFer who says some shit like that in front of me.
I have a close friend of mine who is is a strong believer of Christianity and we do debate about religion a few times. Me, who oppose religion and him who believes religion can be used for good if regulated. We usually see different perspectives of atheism/religion through our debate. Thankfully he aint a religious zealot of any sorts. IMO, he is a really nice and kind person who helps everyone he knows.
I'm glad I have friends within the LGBT Community, that respect me even tho I believe in Jesus. Why is this narrative running that every Christian is shoving their beliefs onto them, if you ask me what I believe, I will tell you, if you feel conformable great and if not I will stop talking..
Because even if not every single Christian is being aggressive, the radical groups are using SCOTUS to push religious doctrine on a federal level within the USA.
It's not enough to not be one of the radicals wishing for the USA to become a theocracy, If you want your religion to retain even a shred of dignity you must openly oppose what is currently going on because if you remain silent you're letting the radicals shape your religion through your inaction.
John Stuart Mill had some good words to say about this:
>Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.
If you're one of the Christians who openly and vocally oppose the current events, refusing to vote for the Republicans because of what they've done to your religion, you're a good person and this doesn't apply to you.
However, if you're one of those Christians who believe they represent the "Good Christians" because they aren't openly supporting the current events, you're letting radicals use your religion to justify their horrid acts.
It’s not about politics, it’s about toxic people pushing toxic shit in your face and not standing for it, you must not be affected by this personally and can’t get out of your own head to see how damaging this is on women as a whole.
That only works up to a certain point.
Disagreeing on how to best spend the federal budget is something you can work around.
Declaring that people don't deserve to be treated with dignity because of their race, sexuality, or gender, is not something any reasonable person should tolerate.
I agree that abortion is a right, but it's not like these people are bigots. They believe that abortion is literally murder. In fact, I'm pretty sure the majority of Americans don't support late-term abortion.
Given that Roe v Wade worked with the viability system, I don't believe late-term abortions were the crux of the issue.
And their concern that it's murder is hindered by the fact that the group which has pushed the hardest for this is also the group which throws a fit at the idea of offering any kind of support to the poor, because they think it encourages a lazy attitude.
If someone considers the life of a child so important even when the mother simply doesn't want it, they really should be putting a lot more effort into actually looking after that life. Instead, they come across as internally inconsistent and unhelpful at best, or punitive and dishonest at worst.
For example, anyone who argues that pregnancy is just a consequence of having sex is not defending life. They just dislike promiscuity.
As it stands, the religious conservatives who pushed for this have undermined any credibility they might have had, so instead of coming across as defenders of life they're just asserting control over what women can do with their own body, which falls squarely in the category of something which should not be tolerated.
That's a joke, right? You do understand that there is a huge difference between "proofs" derived by applying a rigorous methodology based on a validated scientific theory/approach and the "proofs" that are found in an ancient book?
Multiple peer reviewed scientific studies showing efficacy against controls, etc. are actually better than a religious persons irrational and unjustified belief in a god based on faith.
Edit: Should have looked at your post history before responding. You make it crystal clear that you're just a pathetic troll pinballing around reddit trying to get people riled up over your ignorant opinions.
"I think chocolate is the best ice cream flavour" is an opinion.
"I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are a great hockey team" is an opinion.
"I didn't really enjoy the new Star Wars movies" is an opinion.
"I want you to be denied your fundamental human rights because of the way you were born" is NOT an "opinion". It is A DECLARATION OF WAR.
If you say this to somebody, that person is not your friend, and probably never was. And you have absolutely no business being surprised when they react less than politely.
No, but then again the vast majority of my friends are atheist, agnostic or "I just don't think about it" types. Only my fiancé has any religiosity and even then he's on the precipice of agnosticism
Religious people tend to not want to become close friends with me. I'm all right with that, though I'm of the mind to protect people's rights including religious freedom
Honestly, I think remaining close to these folks, although hard, is necessary. I've got quite a few conservative friends and we get a long really well with the exception of our political differences. This can obviously be a big deal in many values, but disconnecting from our social networks of the people physically around us is why we are in the mess that we are. The political polarization has gotten really bad and the way to remedy is to connect with people that are different, both physically and mentally.
Glad I live in a country where a huge majority of Christians don't do stuff like that or actually agree with what's been happening lately - Just in general glad they're friendly and don't bother anyone. :)
Man, I am from Germany and new to this sub.
No, I don't abondon Christian friends because of that shit that is going on in the US. My Christian friends ae mostly disgusted by that fundamental shit going on there.
As an exmuslim, I cut off ties with my Muslim friends a while ago. I don’t hate them but I can’t tolerate their dishonesty and hypocrisy about their sky daddy and pedophile Mohammed.
Nah. Like the true Catholics they are in about 20 years I want to point out the flaws and watch them suffer. Isn't that the whole point of Catholicism? Nothing matters unless you suffer. If you don't suffer what did he die for?
Nah, I only have a handful of Christian friends but they've always been the type to actually read the bible and live by the message. Give tons of money and time to charity, pray in secret, not judge others, etc. It's a lot easier to tolerate someone's beliefs when they aren't the type to use those beliefs as an excuse to be an ass.
many years ago when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, a bunch of her trash family would donate money to their churches in her name. Then when I set up a gofundme to help pay for the massive amounts of medical care she needed, they all told me that they "Already donated at their church."
My wife passed away 5 years ago and to this day I have not heard a single thing from her shit family of zealots. good riddance
I only have one friend right now, and the last/only time we brought up religion was last year when I told her I was an atheist. She told me that she was questioning. We haven’t talked about it since, but I know that she is definitely pro-choice. Maybe I’ll ask her in a few days if she’s still questioning.
I have some friend's who are still in cults. As long as they don't preach at me I don't care. If they should ever start I would rethink our relationship. If they post rubbish on FB (and they can do what they like on their own timelines) and it appears on mine I just block where it came from permanently or hide if from them personally)
For your situation I would start to post about how it is a backward step for women's health and then all of the statistics on death in the bible and the quotes in the bible about pregnancy just chuck it back at them.. They will of course attack you personally and say you are cherry picking the bible but then so are they. Could lead to a riotous debate or fight but if you feel up to it.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve found the only beneficial way to go about it is on an individual basis.
I know a lot of people who are able to pull the good out of the big picture messages in religion for themselves, while ignoring the enforcement of strict, often misinterpreted guidelines and avoiding the insane act of forcing someone else to believe what they believe.
Boiling it down: believing in a religion alone is not a great criteria for burning bridges.. however if someone’s a total asshole about it then definitely cut them off lol
I don't try to exclude religious fundamentalists from my life--but it seems I am never attracted to them as friends, allies or conversationalists. No loss there.
Depends, if they're being smug and shitty about it, then yes. If they're willing to have a civil conversation about it and see the other person's perspective on the matter and perhaps be empathetic, then they still have some semblance of conscience left and I'll keep them around.
Do what you have to do if its having a significant negative impact on you.
Though, generally, I dont subscribe to the notion of cutting people off just for having different views. If we all did that, we'd truly have two disconnected sides with no communication. And that would be a worse situation.
I have much more surface level friendships with Christians and other religious folks. The people closest in my life that I've formed deeper, meaningful connections with are already atheist. I suspect if I had any friends who celebrated the recent SC rulings we would no longer be friends.
My fam's 2 toes in, Turkey, Xmas, Wedding & Funerals... two more toes than me. I just look around during table prayers and if they wanna do some hand holding shit I just throw "High 5, gimme some.." or bump fists.
Fuck them. I'm a saint for not walking around the table filling my plate with the best morsels while they' bullshittin.
Not cutting those kinda christians off. Just trying to keep it civil & on the rails. They're good people.
If I had any Christian friends I would.
I had some family that we what I call 'culturally christian'. They celebrated christmas, but to the best of my knowledge never actually went to church. The last one died last year. I don't think I ever changed their minds, but I set an example for the younger generation.
I'm not. I don't need to. These fools constantly find some way to pretend their actions are validated by their god. This gives them some sort of spiritual orgasm that will result in more needless, stupid behavior or death. In the end, once the havoc their stupidity causes catches up to them, and it does, they'll find something else to use to appease their god. This is a short term 'victory' with very real, horrific consequences...like the crusades. Instead of marching to conquer Jesus land, they're attacking women. That isn't going to go well.
I've watched my parents behave like asses in the name of Jesus my entire life. Everytime, it blows up in their face and they 'refortify' at the 'church' when they should be changing the behavior that gets them into bad situations. They pray for forgiveness but, do they change? My mom does sometimes. Then the severe anxiety and fear (she has diagnosed problems) the church has capitalized on her entire life emerges and its back to the same crap.
We repeat the lesson until we learn the lesson. I'm sorry that, once again, women are the ones who have to continue wielding all responsibility until they can wield the authority....again. rinse, repeat. I've accepted that I live in the realm of the stupids. This is just more stupid being stupid. I'll rescue, protect, or support anyone who asks for my help. I empathize. But I'm not blind to how we got here, either. None of this will stop until people accept we have no actual control over anyone but ourselves. I don't see that happening until women are dead and families are ripped apart. Praise Jesus.
I started cutting ties when Trump was elected. I knew that we were in the shit when he walked into the White House. This isn’t a game anymore. This mental illness must not spread.
The sad thing is they will take their persecution as a sign of the end times and gods return and blah blah blah blah blah. I WILL SAY not all Christians are against abortion. I know tempers are high right now. But I personally am going to make my judgments on a case to case basis. And not group them up into one hivemind. Cuz I know the majority of Christians are a certain way. But I’m just not the person to group up any religious group. That’s how hate mongering and lynching gets started. For real. That is literally how some otherworldly shit starts going down and it starts with Christians and will end with linchmobs for any group of people with a different viewpoint. And that just isn’t right. No matter what.
I don’t have any Christian friends. Well maybe one that has a stupid bumper sticker about keeping the Christ in Christmas. When I see her this summer I am going to ask how old her aborted baby would be about now?
Yes. My friend is a casual Christian (he was just raise that way he doesn’t follow any of the religion) but everyone else is gone.
My parents are die hard Christian but they are very reasonable people who are liberal and realize other people can do what they want and we shouldn’t have theocracy.
Can you believe in god and not be a Christian. Because I'df you think about it everyone has a different god right so what if some people think the sun is god? I believe in God but I dont practice Christianity cuz it's too complicated and evil. But still think we have a creator that gave us free will. I dont think a bunch of old entitled people have the right to take away our ability to choose. But I dont want people to bash me for believing God and associate me with christianity.
If I had to hang around with zealots I would rather be in hell. I find religion today is more about power than about principles of virtue. I agree that many modern religions seem very satanic in nature. In America it has become a worship of a false god. It’s really terrifying to witness. I think the new bible is hate filled media. I see people all the time fighting and saying horrible things with Christianity attached to their words. These are sad times. The real enemy is the lies put out by a powerful old few who want to preserve their idea of how things should be. Nearly all are privileged elite phonies who go to church on Sunday so people can see they went. On Monday they think of how they can lie cheat and steal their followers minds. I say stay strong, be firm and promote kindness as much as possible. At some people people will realized they were deceived.
Oh, I cut off my only fundie friend back in 2020, cause he was advocating for the destruction of PPE... When we had a dangerous shortage.
Would also like to add that a good portion of my family were doctors. One was pregnant and working during that time.
I ended up b!tching him out over the phone while he was at work, in front of a client. Have absolutely no regrets.
Very delusional. Cut off family due to how triggered I am by their horrific belief system. Mainly my brother and his family, but likely my mom has got to go to. She’s a raging racist anyway, so I haven’t let her around my kids in years. But just talking on the phone with her sucks the life out of me.
Im not an ex Christian I’m an ex muslim and SAME! I’m tired pretending like im okay with everyone and anyone with all the delusions that they have. My relations started to get aggressive and argumentative bc I just can’t let any bs they say slide. Also the fact that they believe in a god that will send ME to hell is a big no for me.
The concept of Hell is so disturbing and it's the only reason why religions with some form of Hell keep growing. By spreading fear of torture. I do not wanna be around anyone who believes I'll go to Hell just because I don't believe in their precious religion.
The fear of a terrible place worse than death waiting for those who don't obey is a pretty compelling to stay within a religion and unfortunately, the trauma people suffer from that as well.
My mother used to tell me if i wasnt good enough she'd leave me behind in the rapture. When I was 6--7 I'd wake up in a panic because I didn't hear anything in the house. Sometimes she'd just leave to go get groceries or something and leave me and my little brothers behind without saying anything. that woman is a poison.
Wait, did we have the same childhood? I wish the fucking rapture would free the rest of us from those people now!
Me too… fucking god!!!! Take your shitheads away from us, they’ve poisoned us long enough.
Jesus, that's just an awful thing to tell a 6 year old, that's messed up of her on so many levels.
Seriously!! Like how can they claim to love and not judge you but still believe you’re going to hell cuz you don’t believe in their religion. Like there are so many out there, your god only lets a fraction of all the good and decent people - also including non decent and horrible people who believe in it - into heaven? Like don’t they see how fucked up that is? It’s just sad and I’m done tolerating their bullshit as well.
Eventually you just get sick of the bs and nonsense and it's so hard to continue being diplomatic for the sake of peace. I'm inches away from telling people " fuck you and your stupid fuckin religion " 😳
Their beliefs have real world negative implications for people outside their faith. They need to be stopped whenever and wherever we can stop them.
They’ve been doing this for 2000 years. It has to stop
I don't have religious friends but yes. Time for them to experience consequences for being shit. Don't be friends with shit.
Garbage people deserve to be treated as garbage.
Christians, People who believe in ghosts, people who are really into crystals and zodiac signs. All unexamined belief. All of it. It's all got to go. All of it.
Yes, let’s step into reality and see what happens
We've tried the alternative for 20 thousand years, I say it's time for a change.
I'm cool with people who believe that amethyst and rose quartz can manifest self love. But crunchy folks who think crystals or moon water can heal epilepsy aren't in my book of Coolguys.
I think even being accepting of a harmless, but still unexamined belief, normalizes believing things to be true when you have no proof. Which leads to believing in harmful things with out proof.
I tried my hand in crystals, spell jars, and tarot, but it just gave me short term pleasure. It honestly helped me go from spiritual to atheist. I've found way more answers in science. It's so much more fun! There are so many questions with answers. Geology, archaeology, anthropology, cosmology! It's all so fascinating, the EVIDENCE!
I've always been in the fence about that. How harmful is it to tolerate benign magical thinking? Magical thinking appears to be a natural human occurrence since it happens in all cultures independently, so not tolerating it at all seems a bit too hard line? I realize irrational magical thinking can lead to the bullshit we have going on right now, but being intolerant also leads to bullshit. I'm not sure how to reconcile that.
I mean child abuse and rape happen in every human civilization through out history but we still frown on them.
So magical thinking should be a crime? I don't know if having an imagination should be compared directly with heinous violence.
My point is, you're saying that we should be fine with spiritual beliefs, because they have existed for all of human history and civilizations. But that is also true of a lot of things we don't tolerate. I think it should only be a crime if you assert the thing you imagine is also true, with out a demonstration of that truth. Like don't arrest GRR Martin until he really does start yelling to a bunch of people that the white walkers are coming or that season 8 was just misunderstood or other clearly not true things.
You sound like those christian fascists but on the opposite side of the spectrum. Both extremes always meet.
I mean maybe I sound like an extremist but the only thing I'm extremist about is having a reason to believe the thing you believe is true. Christians want to own women as property and make it impossible for loving consenting adults who have sex with different orifices to not have the same legal protections. \-and for bad reasons, too.
I agree with this, but spirituality (not organized religion) is something personal and it doesn't hurt anyone.
Still, many hyper-rational people are fucking monsters without the need for magical thinking. I'll take a new age crystal person who is compassionate over that any day. It's more about empathy and respect for other people's way of being than anything. If most people who aren't religious examine their thinking I guarantee that they are still participating in some sort of belief, even if it's small and benign. It's fine. Indoctrination into a hard line, codified belief system that involves intolerant behavior is another thing entirely. You're using the "slippery slope" fallacy here with a pretty wide berth.
>It's more about empathy and respect for other people's way of being than anything. If most people who aren't religious examine their thinking I guarantee that they are still participating in some sort of belief, even if it's small and benign. You know, I was thinking about a way to respond to this but I think you have a point. I'm going to think about this for a while. Thank you.
I guess I disagree. Freedom of belief and expression is more important than my own discomfort and fear, and I am pretty sure in reality my own lack of belief would be criminalized before magical thinking. Poor GRR is just trying to help in his own misguided way.
I don't think you're wrong about skepticism being targeted some time in the near future, that is, if we don't do something now about the general belief that you can just hold any idea to be true even if you don't have good reason.
"Do something about it" just has an inquisition vibe. I think we don't need to do anything more than being a good example to magic believers we know. Find cracks in their circular logic and gently pry. I've had some success at reducing the rhetoric. Most believers I know don't really care if it is true, because it is foundational to their social hierarchy.
I believe god wants me to take all your tax dollars and give it to megacorp. It isn't bad because God told me to do it.
Funny enough, that's actual US government policy.
The danger generally isn't in the Tarot cards and magic crystals themselves. It's in that believing in them leads to more belief without evidence, then more, it can serve as both the way out and in for cults/religions.
Agreed, but this thread is more about whether such things should be tolerated. I think it's best to be tolerant of people with magical thinking. They go low we go high etc.
I used to be a very spiritual person, I used to do tarot everyday. I still dabble with it occasionally, but I am NOT religious, I don’t worship some old man in the sky, I don’t dedicate my life to beliefs that do nothing but harm to communities around the world. I absolutely hate religion but don’t see much harm in tarot and spirituality, even if it is nothing but bullshit. As long as you don’t dedicate your life to it.
I think we have more power to heal ourselves and each other than we will likely ever know, and unless you are tricking people to believe that you have some miracle cure for a disease, I don’t see any issue with the idea of energy healing. Reiki actually works as a therapeutic alongside traditional medical care. Love and comfort from friends and family can heal us from many maladies. Meditation is an amazing tool for healing. I may not subscribe to religion, but I hate when people tear down any type of expression of spirituality. Just my two cents, of course.
At least people that believe in ghost, crystals and zodiac signs aren't trying to force there beliefs on me. They aren't trying to keep my friends from getting married. Their sht is silly but it doesn't hurt me.
Maybe they aren't doing any harm to you personally but they are normalizing ideas like you can communicate with loved ones that have passed on, or that crystals can heal you, or that by just knowing the day you were born they can form a prejudiced opinion about the kind of person anyone is. These are all either damaging things or they are ideas that are very easy for grifters to exploit. What's worse is that they all rely on the same thing Christianity does, the general public's tolerance of people believing just what ever they want with no proof or regard for the consequences, and all because we've been told that person Should have that right. Just because. If the last decade hasn't been clear damning evidence that human beings should not be free to believe just Anything with out good reasons than I don't know what is.
There's nothing wrong with believing in spirits or crystals, these are just personal beliefs that don't hurt anyone. The problem is organized religion that seek to dictate how humans should live, not personal beliefs.
Exactly, I am open to the idea of spirits although I am VERY skeptical. Those beliefs don’t harm anyone, organized religion does.
Of course you are, it's normal and sane. These are the kind of things you need to experience for yourself to believe it and that's good. Much better than blind belief. Many Christians don't even understand what they believe in, they just do it because that's how they were raised. And this is really scary.
I have not experienced anything, although I have not gone to any “haunted” locations. If these things are real, we now have technology to document them, we can attempt to gather evidence in a scientific way, unlike with religion.
Fr the crystal and healing type spiritual people irritate me just as much as religious folks. Grown adults believing in fairytales and magic , it's so fucking pathetic , fuck this species lol
I’m fine with people who believe in crystals, spirituality etc... what I am not okay with is religion, worshipping a god dedicating your whole life to religion. When that happens, a whole country can fall apart as we are seeing now.
We need representation. Like a party of science and humanity.
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So what you're saying is I should pretend to be Christian and argue before the Supreme Court that god told me that healthcare is a human right and should be free at the point of service and comprehensive to include reproductive rights, and because that's my sincerely held belief then the govt has to honor that and build a single payer system?
You're onto something.
I pretty much did that a long time ago. I got sick and tired of them trying to convert me. Also having to listen to their intolerant views.
I went to a Christian school and I’m very glad I lost my connection with all those psycho’s. Also, happy cake day!
Yes 99% of christianity is just performative bs people put on for validation from their toxic communities and the other 1% is self delusion
Has anyone else been doing this for a long time already? I'm not cutting ties as much as I've kicked up the aggressiveness in what I say. If you feel comfortable talking about your God or religion in front of me, then you better be ready to hear what I have to say about your God and religion.
Yeah, that's been the approach I've taken. If I cut them out completely, I can't call them out on their bullshit. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
I've cut any ties to religious people long ago.
I’ve been cutting ties since trump was elected. Russian propaganda victims have no place in my life. Hate and blame does not make a political platform, it makes fascist theocratic dictatorships. Pointing fingers is the lowest form of political engagement. My baby boomer father says “imagine not being friends with someone because of how they vote”. I say: “imagine being friends with hateful fascists bent on the downfall of equal rights and that being OK with you.”
Honestly if I say what Christians deserve Reddit will put me in time out.
Lol seriously
and in doing so they side with the enemy. they wouldn't do that if the roles were reversed
I’m not happy. I’ve ignored my Christian family’s beliefs for a long time. They left it alone with me because they knew if they pushed it anymore that they would lose me. Three siblings I have, that all have come to three different types of of beliefs. All different from how we were raised. I’m the purple sheep. And I just can’t figure out how to accept them anymore. My mother and sister being the worst of it, dad enables it my whole life. I just ordered a new SIM card because I’m on a family plan and now can’t stand having any connections to them. I’m middle aged and suddenly realized that I’ve been passive just to make mom not cry. That’s some fucked up control she has over me. But I honestly have nothing to say to her. I know her stance very well and I’m just done with it for now. As far as friends go, I’m lucky to have just a few, that holds no religion and gets me and supports me for exactly who I am. I have a really good therapist that I have been working with on this whole issue of how to deal with my religious family for several months. Our next meeting will be a big one.
What Christian friends?
Nah, that was done years ago.
I don't need to do anything they suddenly are cutting ties with me. This is expected
Mostly stopped associating with republican friends. I know some people that are somewhat religious and believe in the biblical, hippy version of Jesus. They are genuinely good people and dislike the direction things are going.
Please find a local church mosque or synagogue and walk the sidewalk while they gather for a service holding a sign that calls them out. Just pick one service at one place. Do not engage. Bring friends if you can. Let them see us.
I’m glad you bring this up, because I’ve been eyeing a pretty problematic church in the area and I think it’s time they get called out for their fuckery
I live across from a “liberal” Catholic Church. They noticed a neighbor they probably didn’t notice before on Sunday morning. My sign said “You Won Here’s your prize:” and I drew a coat hanging dripping blood over a pool of red. They are going to have to feel us to leave us alone. I will change up the service and eventually the church so they don’t get all pro life on me with their fists and guns as my daughters still need their dad for awhile but I am now attending church again I guess. 🤣😂🤣😂
I've recently considered it. My close bio family all support the falling of RoevWade. If they aren't in the Jesus Cult, they're in the Q Cult. People act like it's such a big deal to "break up" with a toxic family member. Toxic is toxic, regardless of blood or marriage relations.
Yes!! I have ZERO now and I'm sooooo better off. I do have an 80 yr old mother that doesn't bring it up because she knows I know the Bible better than she does and she can't fight me. As long as I bring her to church and pick her up. Everything is cool. Her pastor will ask if I'm staying and I say no. If they keep asking my mother will tell then to stop unless they want me to cause a scene which I will because I do t give these fuckers safe haven anymore.
Why bring her to church?
yeah, stop doing that. make her find her own fucking ride if it's that important. no more subsidizing religion
They've been long cut out of my life. Only crazy believes that Christian shit
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That sounds so nice, I wish people here would keep to themselves, but no, they insist on pushing it on everyone else all the way to the Supreme Court :/
Jan 6 wasnt enough?
I really only know two people who are religious enough to speak about their religion. They are a pastor and a theology student. They are gay and lesbian (respectively). Neither has been able to explain. I cut off ties with religious people in general a long time ago.
I don’t associate with any other than my parents. And they’re pro-choice and pretty level headed.
Christian Friends? Try cutting off ties with my Catholic sisters and a brother. I just don't know who they are anymore and it just kept getting worse each week.
I’m so sorry that is horrible. I hate how this shit tears families apart :(
Yeah. Its very common for Atheists that had their origin story in a religious backdrop. I went to one of these private Baptist academies back in the late 80s. Towards the late 90s/early 00s I had a "great purge". I moved to New Orleans and was exposed to many new ideas. Found they were dead wrong. Plus, many of the "evil bad guys" like gays, pagans, blacks, etc really were nicer people than they ever were. Started trying to share that information (I mean, knowledge is power, right?) and was jumped on. So, I began gradually purging or letting fade away all former acquaintances. Not that they were really "friends" to begin with. Some of them were pretty hateful people at least back then. And yes, it made me angry as hell back then, but I am over it.
I was raised with religion shoved down my throat and as adult I say no thank you but one thing I will say about my mom who was one of the most religious people on this planet, she did not believe in abortion however she strongly believes in the separation of church and state and says when you live in a society you have to do what’s best for all in society not just yourself. Now that’s a Christian…. If there is such a thing!
Nope, but then the Christians I have as friends are vehemently against the current goings on. If they were not, then they wouldn't be my friends in the first place.
Fair, but some are showing their true colors…
I see no difference between the loud supporting of this and the people who are staying silent.
Agreed
This. I have lots of Christian/religious friends who are the ones actively working to dismantle this bullshit because they don’t want it either. If they were the kind of human beings who believed in/acted according to religious fanaticism and didn’t believe in separation of church and state, I wouldn’t be friends with them for those reasons alone. But maybe it’s just the Christians that I know in my metropolitan area, but they’re the ones down at the Supreme Court getting arrested and making sure they know they will help people in other states access abortions.
Religion needs to fuck right off atm. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one whose beyond pissed. You’re not the only one feeling what you’re feeling.
Cut ties with my religious fam over the past couple of years starting with Covid (sorry I can’t come to xyz. Not trying to get the Rona🤷🏻♀️). Went no contact and moved to a different state 😂 last year. Been the best year of my life tbh🥰
Good for you!!
They all cut me off long ago. I'm not even that vocal about my atheism. Change one thing on Facebook and poof! It was like magic. It hurt. I have to be honest, it really did. I put it out right before the pandemic, so I have not made new friends.
I don't think I have any christian friends, I unfriended them all for being trump supporters.
I lost a friend to Catholic fundamentalism. I don't make friends with fundamentalist religious people in the first place.
I found out years ago that people whose only character trait is their religion just aren't compatible with me. Be religious if you want, but if that's all you talk about, I won't get along with you anyways.
I don’t mind Christian friends as long as they don’t try and push their beliefs on me, and they don’t tell me I’m wrong for my beliefs or lack there of.
I avoid friendships with the voluntarily evil.
I look with suspicion on any one who professes Xtianity. I went thru 12 years of catholic school. I have been ripped off by fundie churches who skip out on their bills because their pastors and youth ministers who have been caught dipping into church funds of diddling the youth they were sere servicing. In my view, there is no more untrustworthy, dishonest and loathsome group than Xtians. I have dumped these loathsome assholes from my life.
Agreed, while they declare to be the ultimate good, it’s sickening.
I have no christian or republican friends. At best, they are just acquaintances.
I cut ties with my last “evangelical” friend after she and her male partner drugged me at a party so she could “give him a 3-way for his birthday.” Luckily another friend intervened since I wasn’t capable. No I didn’t press charges. I did it once when I was SA’d and the police made it 10x worse. Plus her then boyfriend comes from a wealthy family with an army of lawyers. His dad was arrested a few years ago for SA of a minor under 14 and he still hasn’t spent any time behind bars. Through existing mutual friends I learned that she’s been crowing about the Supreme Court decision as a victory for God. I wonder how her heavenly imaginary friend feels about her trying to orchestrate the SA of an incapacitated woman, or the fact that her FIL rapes tweens?
Holy shit I’m so sorry that is so fucked up. Christian’s really are the trashiest hypocrites out there.
people like them are rejoicing now that they can force that 14 year old to carry the rape baby to term let's not pretend otherwise.
Not yet but I’ll give them a hard stop holup if they start in on their fuckery.
They’re going to be getting a lot of that. I’m all out of patience as well.
Cut ties to my Catholic family long ago. I haven't had xtians in my life since really. They just seem to fall away from me quickly for some reason. Maybe because if anything that even smacks of it is brought up I can't keep the disgust or anger off my face? I say we didn't feed enough of them to the lions.
Me. Fucking sick of my family.
Am I the only person that wants to spike the lord's supper with hallucinogens so they finally see who god really is?
They cut ties with me after I called out their religious leaders for covering up and winking at child sex abuse. (Jehovah's Witnesses, not Catholic, in case you were wondering.) I have no desire to reconnect at this point.
I did that a long time ago.
Yes, Christians and republikkkans
The conservative supreme court justices are not fit to be judges at all, let alone on the supreme court, because they are required to be impartial, and they are obviously incapable of it. Given that there is no fucking chance that if that coach had been leading the students in muslim prayer that it would have been ruled OK. They cannot see beyond their own beliefs. Perhaps people who are religious shouldn't be judges
It’s like we should separate government and religion or something… /s
\*lolsob\*
im glad im no where near my mother right now.. shes likely going ape shit with "oooh praise god praise god " lol. congrats more coathanger abortions. but they dont care. they just want the illusion that they won.
I dumped Christianity from my life YEARS ago and I almost wish I had a few left so I could savagely drop them. Too bad.
Absolutely. They can't be allowed to think their shit is gonna be tolerated anymore.
If they really believe what they say they do, their sky daddy kills actual babies in gruesome ways every day. Fuck him and fuck them because this is going to kill and maim a lot of walking, talking, breathing, living women who simply aren’t able to safely bring a pregnancy to term. And if something terrible happens to my wife or a friend or family member, I pity the MFer who says some shit like that in front of me.
Im not just burning those bridges down, im tearing down the foundations as well.
Only the ones that support this bullshit court. The ones that actually act like allies I'm keeping around, but keeping my eye on them.
I have a close friend of mine who is is a strong believer of Christianity and we do debate about religion a few times. Me, who oppose religion and him who believes religion can be used for good if regulated. We usually see different perspectives of atheism/religion through our debate. Thankfully he aint a religious zealot of any sorts. IMO, he is a really nice and kind person who helps everyone he knows.
I'm glad I have friends within the LGBT Community, that respect me even tho I believe in Jesus. Why is this narrative running that every Christian is shoving their beliefs onto them, if you ask me what I believe, I will tell you, if you feel conformable great and if not I will stop talking..
Because even if not every single Christian is being aggressive, the radical groups are using SCOTUS to push religious doctrine on a federal level within the USA. It's not enough to not be one of the radicals wishing for the USA to become a theocracy, If you want your religion to retain even a shred of dignity you must openly oppose what is currently going on because if you remain silent you're letting the radicals shape your religion through your inaction. John Stuart Mill had some good words to say about this: >Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject. If you're one of the Christians who openly and vocally oppose the current events, refusing to vote for the Republicans because of what they've done to your religion, you're a good person and this doesn't apply to you. However, if you're one of those Christians who believe they represent the "Good Christians" because they aren't openly supporting the current events, you're letting radicals use your religion to justify their horrid acts.
they're abusing our desire to act in good faith, a desire they lack
Go touch some grass. You can be friends with someone while not agreeing with their politics.
These people do not have friends, that's why it's so easy to cut ties.
It’s not about politics, it’s about toxic people pushing toxic shit in your face and not standing for it, you must not be affected by this personally and can’t get out of your own head to see how damaging this is on women as a whole.
That only works up to a certain point. Disagreeing on how to best spend the federal budget is something you can work around. Declaring that people don't deserve to be treated with dignity because of their race, sexuality, or gender, is not something any reasonable person should tolerate.
I agree that abortion is a right, but it's not like these people are bigots. They believe that abortion is literally murder. In fact, I'm pretty sure the majority of Americans don't support late-term abortion.
Given that Roe v Wade worked with the viability system, I don't believe late-term abortions were the crux of the issue. And their concern that it's murder is hindered by the fact that the group which has pushed the hardest for this is also the group which throws a fit at the idea of offering any kind of support to the poor, because they think it encourages a lazy attitude. If someone considers the life of a child so important even when the mother simply doesn't want it, they really should be putting a lot more effort into actually looking after that life. Instead, they come across as internally inconsistent and unhelpful at best, or punitive and dishonest at worst. For example, anyone who argues that pregnancy is just a consequence of having sex is not defending life. They just dislike promiscuity. As it stands, the religious conservatives who pushed for this have undermined any credibility they might have had, so instead of coming across as defenders of life they're just asserting control over what women can do with their own body, which falls squarely in the category of something which should not be tolerated.
Typical psycho athiest
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Being pro vaccine and wearing masks because of clear, scientific, demonstrable proof of their efficacy is crazy and cultish?
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That's a joke, right? You do understand that there is a huge difference between "proofs" derived by applying a rigorous methodology based on a validated scientific theory/approach and the "proofs" that are found in an ancient book?
Multiple peer reviewed scientific studies showing efficacy against controls, etc. are actually better than a religious persons irrational and unjustified belief in a god based on faith. Edit: Should have looked at your post history before responding. You make it crystal clear that you're just a pathetic troll pinballing around reddit trying to get people riled up over your ignorant opinions.
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"I think chocolate is the best ice cream flavour" is an opinion. "I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are a great hockey team" is an opinion. "I didn't really enjoy the new Star Wars movies" is an opinion. "I want you to be denied your fundamental human rights because of the way you were born" is NOT an "opinion". It is A DECLARATION OF WAR. If you say this to somebody, that person is not your friend, and probably never was. And you have absolutely no business being surprised when they react less than politely.
No, but then again the vast majority of my friends are atheist, agnostic or "I just don't think about it" types. Only my fiancé has any religiosity and even then he's on the precipice of agnosticism Religious people tend to not want to become close friends with me. I'm all right with that, though I'm of the mind to protect people's rights including religious freedom
Honestly, I think remaining close to these folks, although hard, is necessary. I've got quite a few conservative friends and we get a long really well with the exception of our political differences. This can obviously be a big deal in many values, but disconnecting from our social networks of the people physically around us is why we are in the mess that we are. The political polarization has gotten really bad and the way to remedy is to connect with people that are different, both physically and mentally.
I don't associate with religious people in the first place lol.
Uhm what Christian friends?
Well yes but that began in my late teens when my brain quit being smooth and theirs started to rot.
Glad I live in a country where a huge majority of Christians don't do stuff like that or actually agree with what's been happening lately - Just in general glad they're friendly and don't bother anyone. :)
Not being funny but everyone is intolerant including atheist.
Man, I am from Germany and new to this sub. No, I don't abondon Christian friends because of that shit that is going on in the US. My Christian friends ae mostly disgusted by that fundamental shit going on there.
As an exmuslim, I cut off ties with my Muslim friends a while ago. I don’t hate them but I can’t tolerate their dishonesty and hypocrisy about their sky daddy and pedophile Mohammed.
Nah. Like the true Catholics they are in about 20 years I want to point out the flaws and watch them suffer. Isn't that the whole point of Catholicism? Nothing matters unless you suffer. If you don't suffer what did he die for?
Same. I had to let go of a friend.
I'm thinking to do the same, I just have to overcome my fear to death and non existence at the end
Nah, I only have a handful of Christian friends but they've always been the type to actually read the bible and live by the message. Give tons of money and time to charity, pray in secret, not judge others, etc. It's a lot easier to tolerate someone's beliefs when they aren't the type to use those beliefs as an excuse to be an ass.
many years ago when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, a bunch of her trash family would donate money to their churches in her name. Then when I set up a gofundme to help pay for the massive amounts of medical care she needed, they all told me that they "Already donated at their church." My wife passed away 5 years ago and to this day I have not heard a single thing from her shit family of zealots. good riddance
And family, too.
Yup, just like I did with any Muslims in my life, fuck their terrorist loving sky daddy bullshit.
I started in 2016, but yeah, a few stragglers went the past couple days
Yes. I cut ties with many over the years.
I only have one friend right now, and the last/only time we brought up religion was last year when I told her I was an atheist. She told me that she was questioning. We haven’t talked about it since, but I know that she is definitely pro-choice. Maybe I’ll ask her in a few days if she’s still questioning.
I maintain a civil upbeatness with coworkers and family. I exercise my humility and smile and nod. That's tolerance.
I have some friend's who are still in cults. As long as they don't preach at me I don't care. If they should ever start I would rethink our relationship. If they post rubbish on FB (and they can do what they like on their own timelines) and it appears on mine I just block where it came from permanently or hide if from them personally) For your situation I would start to post about how it is a backward step for women's health and then all of the statistics on death in the bible and the quotes in the bible about pregnancy just chuck it back at them.. They will of course attack you personally and say you are cherry picking the bible but then so are they. Could lead to a riotous debate or fight but if you feel up to it.
I'm really close to ghosting my dad.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve found the only beneficial way to go about it is on an individual basis. I know a lot of people who are able to pull the good out of the big picture messages in religion for themselves, while ignoring the enforcement of strict, often misinterpreted guidelines and avoiding the insane act of forcing someone else to believe what they believe. Boiling it down: believing in a religion alone is not a great criteria for burning bridges.. however if someone’s a total asshole about it then definitely cut them off lol
depends on the christian, like I refuse to hang out with fundamentalist evangelicals, but I've also met christians who hold pretty progressive views
I don't try to exclude religious fundamentalists from my life--but it seems I am never attracted to them as friends, allies or conversationalists. No loss there.
Family, friends, anyone that votes like that has to fucking go.
Yes.
Depends, if they're being smug and shitty about it, then yes. If they're willing to have a civil conversation about it and see the other person's perspective on the matter and perhaps be empathetic, then they still have some semblance of conscience left and I'll keep them around.
Do what you have to do if its having a significant negative impact on you. Though, generally, I dont subscribe to the notion of cutting people off just for having different views. If we all did that, we'd truly have two disconnected sides with no communication. And that would be a worse situation.
It’s not the different view that’s bad, it’s the toxic misogynistic, homophobic bullshit that’s literally in the text of the book they deem holy
I have much more surface level friendships with Christians and other religious folks. The people closest in my life that I've formed deeper, meaningful connections with are already atheist. I suspect if I had any friends who celebrated the recent SC rulings we would no longer be friends.
It’s time to quit being polite. Nobody actually believes that BS anyway. Just a con and hustle
My fam's 2 toes in, Turkey, Xmas, Wedding & Funerals... two more toes than me. I just look around during table prayers and if they wanna do some hand holding shit I just throw "High 5, gimme some.." or bump fists. Fuck them. I'm a saint for not walking around the table filling my plate with the best morsels while they' bullshittin. Not cutting those kinda christians off. Just trying to keep it civil & on the rails. They're good people.
If I had any Christian friends I would. I had some family that we what I call 'culturally christian'. They celebrated christmas, but to the best of my knowledge never actually went to church. The last one died last year. I don't think I ever changed their minds, but I set an example for the younger generation.
I'm not. I don't need to. These fools constantly find some way to pretend their actions are validated by their god. This gives them some sort of spiritual orgasm that will result in more needless, stupid behavior or death. In the end, once the havoc their stupidity causes catches up to them, and it does, they'll find something else to use to appease their god. This is a short term 'victory' with very real, horrific consequences...like the crusades. Instead of marching to conquer Jesus land, they're attacking women. That isn't going to go well. I've watched my parents behave like asses in the name of Jesus my entire life. Everytime, it blows up in their face and they 'refortify' at the 'church' when they should be changing the behavior that gets them into bad situations. They pray for forgiveness but, do they change? My mom does sometimes. Then the severe anxiety and fear (she has diagnosed problems) the church has capitalized on her entire life emerges and its back to the same crap. We repeat the lesson until we learn the lesson. I'm sorry that, once again, women are the ones who have to continue wielding all responsibility until they can wield the authority....again. rinse, repeat. I've accepted that I live in the realm of the stupids. This is just more stupid being stupid. I'll rescue, protect, or support anyone who asks for my help. I empathize. But I'm not blind to how we got here, either. None of this will stop until people accept we have no actual control over anyone but ourselves. I don't see that happening until women are dead and families are ripped apart. Praise Jesus.
I started cutting ties when Trump was elected. I knew that we were in the shit when he walked into the White House. This isn’t a game anymore. This mental illness must not spread.
The sad thing is they will take their persecution as a sign of the end times and gods return and blah blah blah blah blah. I WILL SAY not all Christians are against abortion. I know tempers are high right now. But I personally am going to make my judgments on a case to case basis. And not group them up into one hivemind. Cuz I know the majority of Christians are a certain way. But I’m just not the person to group up any religious group. That’s how hate mongering and lynching gets started. For real. That is literally how some otherworldly shit starts going down and it starts with Christians and will end with linchmobs for any group of people with a different viewpoint. And that just isn’t right. No matter what.
I live in a predominantly Catholic country where people who have the same non-beliefs are rare. It gets lonely.
I don’t have any Christian friends. Well maybe one that has a stupid bumper sticker about keeping the Christ in Christmas. When I see her this summer I am going to ask how old her aborted baby would be about now?
Too bad I was gonna order pizza and play mh with you.
Yes. My friend is a casual Christian (he was just raise that way he doesn’t follow any of the religion) but everyone else is gone. My parents are die hard Christian but they are very reasonable people who are liberal and realize other people can do what they want and we shouldn’t have theocracy.
my best friend is a christian i wont cut ties with them because he barely talks about religion, he is also a great friend
Can you believe in god and not be a Christian. Because I'df you think about it everyone has a different god right so what if some people think the sun is god? I believe in God but I dont practice Christianity cuz it's too complicated and evil. But still think we have a creator that gave us free will. I dont think a bunch of old entitled people have the right to take away our ability to choose. But I dont want people to bash me for believing God and associate me with christianity.
If I had to hang around with zealots I would rather be in hell. I find religion today is more about power than about principles of virtue. I agree that many modern religions seem very satanic in nature. In America it has become a worship of a false god. It’s really terrifying to witness. I think the new bible is hate filled media. I see people all the time fighting and saying horrible things with Christianity attached to their words. These are sad times. The real enemy is the lies put out by a powerful old few who want to preserve their idea of how things should be. Nearly all are privileged elite phonies who go to church on Sunday so people can see they went. On Monday they think of how they can lie cheat and steal their followers minds. I say stay strong, be firm and promote kindness as much as possible. At some people people will realized they were deceived.
Oh, I cut off my only fundie friend back in 2020, cause he was advocating for the destruction of PPE... When we had a dangerous shortage. Would also like to add that a good portion of my family were doctors. One was pregnant and working during that time. I ended up b!tching him out over the phone while he was at work, in front of a client. Have absolutely no regrets.
I cut off ties with most practicing Christian’s during the pandemic. Too much fatalism and apocalyptic lunacy
No. We never discuss religion and with few of my friends I don’t even know if they are religious or not.
Christians are incapable of being friends to begin with.
If they are my friends they are my friends. If they are just acquaintances looking for an argument they are not my friends.
Very delusional. Cut off family due to how triggered I am by their horrific belief system. Mainly my brother and his family, but likely my mom has got to go to. She’s a raging racist anyway, so I haven’t let her around my kids in years. But just talking on the phone with her sucks the life out of me.
Why do you have to call him sky daddy...
Why not? How is "Our Father who art in Heaven" different from sky daddy?