I have a....friend.....who is exasperating me beyond belief. This person, who has flipped their political ideology completely since I first began having opinions about world events, (last presidential election was a good time, believe me) has newly re-found religion and is busily hectoring me with it.
I have nothing against religion. I believe, after my own fashion. I even sometimes wish I was better versed in the religion that I grew up with.
But this - this sudden 'the world is going to end! In mid-December of 2012, when the earth will be covered in fire! Get your children to a church so they don't spend eternity in a burning hell!'
is batshit crazy. And scaring me.
Cutting this person out of my life would be akin to slicing my own arm off - it would hurt that badly. It would bewilder my children, who have never heard the ranting and would not understand.
But where is the line between loyalty and distancing yourself?
I may have to find out. And it kills me to think of it.
20 comments:
That happened to my best friend from high school when she went to college, though it was more garden variety born again. The last time I saw her, she was crying because I was damned to hell because I (as a Jew) would not accept Jesus as my savior. It's been 15 years and I still think about her and miss her.
Have you tried talking to her? Could you ask her to stop the hellfire talk around you?
*gulp* what she's spewing, sounds a bit crazy. I understand that you are as close as you and say your arms but she's also not respecting your boundaries. I'm sorry you are dealing with this...it's too much.
Oh mah holy hell! Mr. Hot's boss believes that too!
Maybe we can put a mask of YOUR face on his and have him stand in for you?
I'm sorry, that's not very helpful, is it? I'm just so amazed that someone else knows someone like this.
Oh Jess that's so tough.
Oh my god.pardon the pun this just happened to me too!!!I really don't know what to say. I pray she dosen't have any kool-aid in her house. I believe in balance and this is way over board. If you get anything good send it my way.
2012? Could she be referring to the end of the Mayan calender which some people are promoting as a doomsday? (as in why did the super wise Mayans end their calender). It is completely hogswash but it makes for an interesting folk tale. Regretably, you are going to see this re-inforced because Hollywood is coming out with a movie on 2012 later this year. Perhaps if you read up enough to discredit the story, you might convince your friend its as out there as little green men.
Tricky, but I think you should speak to her and ask her not to discuss religion with you anymore.
I'd try to talk to her. I wouldn't really *want* to have that conversation, but it would be what I would do first. The outcome of the situation would depend on what happened next.
Tough situation...yikes.
It freaks me out how people are so intent on believing that their way is right, and everyone else's is wrong. This type of behaviour is not acceptable at all. I'd be absolutely petrified as well. Fanatical people bring about our combined downfall...
On the bright side, at least you'll spend eternity with most of your friends!! Imagine having to live in heaven with that kind of behaviour!
x
Hmm. Only three years to put up with this, then.
well I had this happen to me awhile back..my mom..OMG..and it was the born again swaggard style full throttle religion.Ishe scared me too.we had words, I stayed away and then we agreed to keep our religion opinions to ourself..to see her side I went to my own church more and really listened..I went to her so called church lol and really listented..she after a few years became less fanatic about her decision to be born again and has now gone back to the mainstream region we grew up with...we often go together...I hope your friend realizes any thing over done is not a good thing...but ya you really have to talk to her and say the topic is off limits...I know this was no help lol but thats my story..lol
I feel you. With me, I get the nutbars who demand to know if I've been washed in the blood of The Lamb. At least I can walk away from them. Far away.
I have no good words of wisdom for this, though I suppose I agree with those that recommend talking to her about it. The problem with that is that so few people who are "on fire for the Lord" understand when to keep their mouths shut. I always want to hear a sermon about all those people that Jesus told not to tell what he'd just done for them, but they went and blabbed about it anyway. Was Jesus pissed at them later? Or did they just look foolish and make people uncomfortable?
I also find it kind of hilarious that your friend is basing her world-ending predictions on a decidedly non-Judeo-Christian prophecy. Uh...what? As my dad would say, "What's that got to do with the price of ducks in China?"
Good luck, lady.
If I am correct, I don't think talking will help this situation. She seems very opinionated as of late, and is no longer the person that I used to know. I have dealt with my "friend" by being assertive with her and just agreeing to never talk about politics and absolutly her rekindled faith. Good Luck!
If she's that good a friend, she should agree to disagree and never speak of these things again. One would hope, anyway.
I feel your pain.
Yipes!
Sounds like she's hit the Amway of religious brainwashing churches.
Sorry this has happened to the 2 of you.
I don't have advice, either. You're smart; you've probably thought of everything to help keep your friendship going.
I hate to see friends divided by religion, when often political, economic or dog-training rants would be tolerated.
Communication is always the best solution. Talk calmly. THANK her for her concern - and really mean it. And then tell her you've thought about it and it's not for you - and you really don't want to hear about it anymore.
Good luck.
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