A Christian friend.

[skwurll]

Hello everyone. I have a friend that is a very strong christian, everytime I speak to him the subject of christianity is brought up. I used to be a very strong christian too, and I would talk to him about religion often. After I abandoned christianity, I told him I was atheist and hoped that things between us could stay the same. Unfortunately they didn't. He believes that I have made a mistake and that I am going to hell. I believe that he is wasting his life trying to please a god that isn't there. The hardest thing about talking to him is that he never even gives the slightest bit of credence to my views and blindly spouts whatever is taught in church. Whenever I make a point he cannot counter, he simply says "It's faith, that means we believe without evidence." I really care about him and don't want him wasting his life. He's very intelligent, but he's almost completely brainwashed into following christianity. Does anyone here know anything I can say or do to make him doubt his religion? I know that if he is given a reasonable doubt he will slowly realize he is wrong.

I guess what I'm looking for is a blatant example of a contradiction in the christian faith. I've tried using some of the old testament examples, but he just says "That was different, that was back then." Please guys, I don't want to lose his friendship over this.

[Ellainix]

1 Samuel 15:29

"Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind."

Hell: An excessive punishment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaL7CkQaQpU

In the beginning: God created injustice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQBDGMj2h-c

The problem with anecdotes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqerbz8KDc

Putting faith in its place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wV_REEdvxo

If Jesus came back from the dead, how was it a sacrifice?

Absolute Morality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn4DT5sHNWs

[Dretlin]

"That was different, that was back then."

Yet be believes it today? A murder is a murder, a rape is a rape, incest is incest - regardless of when it happened.

Maybe suggest to this person how there sense of justice is eroded by time. Which is highly immoral.

Do you want some interesting bible quotes?  I doubt they will have any impact, yet an interesting read. God was on the mountain, then the sky, now in the 21st century God isn't even in our plane of existance. How much further can God get away? By this I mean even when we do find the answers to the "big questions" it is highly likely many humans will turn around after refuting and twisting every piece of brilliant knowledge and say "...Well I still believe anyway...".

I should start a betting poll for this.

Anyway Exodus 21:20!

"If a man takes a stick and beats his slave, whether male or female and the slave dies on the spot the man is to be punished. But if the slave does not die for a day or two, the master is not to be punished. The loss of his property is punishment enough".

I will stop at just one - as I could go on for a long time.

[G-Roll]

Please guys, I don't want to lose his friendship over this.

then let him be a christian and request that he let you be an atheist. why are you beating your friend over the head with something he doesnt believe? you are a disbelief thumper as opposed to a bible thumper.
if your world views clash that hard than you need to live and let live to keep your friendship.

[joeactor]

G-Roll: +1

Horse, Water, Drink (etc...)

Humans are not rational beings.
There's a mistaken belief among both atheists and theists that if they could just explain their view well enough, the other side would have to agree.  Nope.  Not gonna happen.

If you like being his friend, then be his friend.
Try leading by example.
Show by the way you live that religion is not needed (well, for you).

Perhaps he is wasting his time, perhaps not.
The time he spends may help him in his life.
... and it's his time to waste.

I'll second "Live and Let Live",
JoeActor

[Whitney]

Please guys, I don't want to lose his friendship over this.

then let him be a christian and request that he let you be an atheist. why are you beating your friend over the head with something he doesnt believe? you are a disbelief thumper as opposed to a bible thumper.
if your world views clash that hard than you need to live and let live to keep your friendship.

^agreed

And...sometimes people grow apart.  Tell your friend that you think his preaching is hurting your relationship and that if he agrees to not preach Christianity to you, you'll not push non-belief on him...agree to disagree and if you can't do that then maybe the friendship wasn't based on anything other than shared religious views before.

[skwurll]

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess I'll just tell him that we need to agree to disagree. I appreciate your honesty, I guess I was pushing my views on him a little too much. I'll have to try not to.

[Albino_Raptor]

And...sometimes people grow apart.  Tell your friend that you think his preaching is hurting your relationship and that if he agrees to not preach Christianity to you, you'll not push non-belief on him...agree to disagree and if you can't do that then maybe the friendship wasn't based on anything other than shared religious views before.

I would agree with precisely that statement.