Christians, would you stop being friends with someone if you found out they were

1. 97

   peeplesposted 13 years ago

   Christians, would you stop being friends with someone if you found out they were atheist?
   
   Even if they were still the good person you knew them as?

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2. 78

   kuttingxedgeposted 13 years ago

   Honestly, that would be the least Christian thing a person could do.

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3. 61

   MickSposted 13 years ago

   I don't  have any problems being friends with, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Siks, Hindus, and old uncle Tom Cobbleies an all, so if I were a Christian I would have no trouble with other faiths, or lack of, we're all human beings making our way as best we can.

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4. 61

   KeithJKposted 13 years ago

   As a Christian but more importantly a human, I have been friends with many atheists. They are no better or no less than believers, and if you are a true Evangelical Christian, you can show him or her first hand the power of a believing in a higher power.

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5. 0

   Phelckyposted 13 years ago

   I would never ever end a friendship because of religion.

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6. 60

   Civil War Bobposted 13 years ago

   Nope.  The sad thing is that a few atheist friends have asked me to walk away, so I've had to honor their request.  Doesn't stop my Acts 26:18 praying, though!

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7. 61

   duffsmomposted 13 years ago

   Not at all!  I am a Christian and if they were interested in my faith, I would share it.  But they are entitled to their beliefs and I hope they would give me the same courtesy.

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8. 79

   tigerbaby777posted 13 years ago

   Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself."  He didn't say only if they are Christian or if they pray as we do. I think our neighbors include all people we come in contact with.
   
   As long as they didn't say disgusting things about my faith in God of course.

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9. 61

   wilmiers77posted 13 years ago

   By no way would I stop loving that person; out of the question.

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10. 59

    Joseph041167posted 13 years ago

    thank you for asking this question. this is a huge mountainous issue in my personal life lately. I am the Atheist. I have lost many friends, relatives, and long term friends. I am socially isolated.

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11. 60

    anancelesteposted 13 years ago

    Never! Even if my own "faith" would ask me too. Most of my best friends have been hard core atheists. I cant do that. My love for them is too great.

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12. 85

    ii3rittlesposted 13 years ago

    No! We are suppose to love all our brothers in sisters as Jesus Christ did. If you do not love or care for another person because they do not believe in God, what does that say about Christians?

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13. 78

    phillippeengelposted 13 years ago

    That would only serve the interests of the terrorists who aim to spread discord between communities. Friends have no specific religion, ethnic origin, nationality and geographic location.

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14. 97

    peeplesposted 13 years ago

    Thanks for all the answers. I asked this because I live my day to day life as a closet atheist and I am 100% sure that many I know would no longer be part of my life if they knew. They however are inlaws not just friends.

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15. 74

    Anne Burlinsonposted 13 years ago

    Interesting question... Just out of curiosity, what made you think of such question? I find the definition 'Christian' and 'atheist' when solely focuses on God or religion is rather limiting. Any Christian, who admits as a follower of Jesus, can still commit even the most sinful sin, like proclaiming oneself to be God and initiated mass suicide. An atheist, on the other hand, who truly believe there is no God, can be doing meaningful work like a saint. Given such combination then, can we truly limit our friendship by the 'tag' we carry?

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16. 92

    ercramer36posted 13 years ago

    Absolutely not. I would continue to be friends with them.  I would try to demonstrate my faith through my actions but it is silly to not be friends with them.  I would treat them as any other friend.

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17. 0

    RTalloniposted 13 years ago

    No.  A true Christian would only want to become more of a friend to you. 
    
    In-laws are a sticky situation.  For all their quirks, they are generally important to your family.  Treat them with respect no matter what they say or do--never respond in a provoking or unkind manner to them.  There's an old saying about how we may be sorry about many things, but we are never sorry if we are kind.  If they behave in an unChristian manner, rise above it and love them anyway out of love for your husband and goodness to your children for you want them to be able to navigate a world that is filled with all kinds of people.  Extended family provides many opportunities for life lessons. 

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18. 61

    seoknowposted 13 years ago

    Of course not. I hangout with them because I love their personality that doesn't change because my knowledge of them change. Especially if they are not trying to push their views on me. A are you really going to stop being friends with everyone that doesn't agree with you.

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19. 0

    Catzgendronposted 13 years ago

    Our God is an awesome God and loves everyone one of us, no matter who we are, no matter what we've done. We disappointment yet, his love never waivers. read more

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20. 81

    Catherine Kaneposted 13 years ago

    As a Christian, I love my friends, regardless of their faith. It's following Jesus' example.
    
    Would I stop being friends w/ someone because I found out they were an atheist? I haven't so far, and probably wouldn't.
    
    For me, this question is a bit tricker than it first appeared. I have a number of friends that are atheists, and that has not had any significantly had any effect on the quality of our friendship.
    
    I do, however, have a couple of friends who belong to what seems to be a subset of atheism. From experience, there seems to be a small group of atheists who aren't content to just believe what they believe, but also find it appropriate / necessary  to sneer at people who don't believe the same thing that they do.
    
    Loudly.
    
    Agressively.
    
    These folks are my friends, but when they're rude to my faith, it feels disrespectful to me. I've talked to them about this, so its not like they don't know.
    
    Some of them backed off. Some didn't.
    
    And, if an atheist "friend" continued to be deliberately rude to my faith, when he knows that its hurtful, that could eventually end that friendship.
    
    The atheism would be a contributing factor, but not the cause. The cause would be disrespect...

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