Getting laughed at for being Christian

Miser · Nov 9, 2012

Hey everyone, and thank you so much for your responses. Your support means a lot, and that people do understand

Some people asked why I am friends with them at all, and its because I know, that there is good deep down inside them. Im very stubborn when it comes to friendships, and while they did hurt me, I dont want it to break us apart. I think perhaps that if you dont have faith, they do not realise just how upsetting it is when they mock it.

One in particular is quite a "Richard Dawkins" kind of atheist, He was the "ring leader" of this outburst, but I know he has had a troubled past, and am quite determined to stand by him. I know there is good in there somewhere

grasping the after wind · Nov 9, 2012

Paradoxum said:
I know how important it is. I was a strong Christian with non-Christian friends.

I guess I just doubt that it was really mocking, rather than a joke.

I take the word of the person that said it was mocking. She was there. Why do you doubt her?

I don't know what behaviour was displayed. I'm more inclined to think that because they are her 'close friends' it is more likely to be jokes that she took a little too seriously, rather than bullying. I could be wrong, but I don't think you have any evidence to call it bullying either.

From Miser's post
"They started Mocking God, Jesus and the Bible, and also me for believing in "fairy tales" and it went on and on. I felt really upset,"
This is the behavior that was displayed. Change the words God, Jesus and the Bible to something you had a passionate committment to and tell me how would you respond? Note the phrase "and it went on and on"

Maybe she should explain what she felt, but leaving her friends because of one incidence seems totally over the top.

She did
"I felt really upset,..."
I won't give her advice on her personal choice of friends but I think, if they wish to remain friends with anyone, they certainly ought to respect that person enough not to badger them and mock them about their belief system.

Dieselman · Nov 9, 2012

You can't counter their arguments. They won't listen to yours.
You can stand up for your beliefs. They won't listen. God will.
They have not looked for God and yet they proclaim He does not exist.
They have no faith and yet they think faith lessens those who do.
You don't attack them for thier ignorance, and yet they attack you for your enightenment.
Your friends are fools. The Bible says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God.'" Don't aspire to be like them. They are damned.

How, then can you reach them? You reach them by being happy when they fake happiness; by showing the love of God when all they have is the love of flesh; by not caring when they ridicule you because God affirms your value and their egos depend on the opinions of others; by having more love and happiness in your life then they have in theirs; by having a spirit filled life when theirs is empty and unfulfilled.

They won't accept your belief until they learn that their disbelief leaves them wanting and your faith makes your life meaningful. Only when they open their hearts and desire the inner peace that Jesus brings will they be receptive to your sharing of the Gospel. A closed mind is as much a waste as a closed book. You have the truth on your side.

The Bible says that they will hate you for your faith. Find other friends. All you have to do is to read the things atheists on this site write to know that they wallow in their ignorance and take pride in their rejection of the truth. Most will never open their hearts and most will continue to reject God until they stand before Him and their rejection damns them. It's not a rosy picture, but it's the truth. You can't save them until they are willing to be saved. Having inner peace while they attack you will do more to show the value of your relationship with God than your words ever will.

Genersis · Nov 9, 2012

Miser said:
Hey everyone, and thank you so much for your responses. Your support means a lot, and that people do understand

Some people asked why I am friends with them at all, and its because I know, that there is good deep down inside them. Im very stubborn when it comes to friendships, and while they did hurt me, I dont want it to break us apart. I think perhaps that if you dont have faith, they do not realise just how upsetting it is when they mock it.

One in particular is quite a "Richard Dawkins" kind of atheist, He was the "ring leader" of this outburst, but I know he has had a troubled past, and am quite determined to stand by him. I know there is good in there somewhere

I suggest you let your friends know to approach your beliefs with more respect. Or at least make them aware how their behaviour made you feel.

They may have their issues with religion, but I don't see that as an excuse to voice their issues in a way that personally upsets you, you guys being friends and all that.

King Mob · Nov 9, 2012

It displays your friend's ignorance.

If your `friends ` know that you are a religious person and take it seriously they should respect that -there are certain boundaries we shouldn't cross- It would be in a similar vein to sitting with a friend who is gay and belittling homosexuality. It is simply not fair and completely uncalled for.

Explain to your friends how you feel, if they cannot accept why this discussion hurt you then they should no longer be counted as friends.

Take care

Paradoxum · Nov 9, 2012

Robban said:
The whole point in Misers post was not about either joking or bullying,
she wrote, "the worst thing is I could not say anything, I froze and left"
not her precise words maybe, check it out in her op.
Also she had a question, Did I over react?
Firstly we should not judge others reactions, but she asked.
It was not her herself they were mocking, but One living inside of her.
Miser being sensitive got a cold feeling come over and left.
When one is on a higher level as she is, is was as if she was looking down on what could be awaiting those who mock the Lord.

All blessings and good to Miser.

I'm not really sure how I am meant to reply to this.

grasping the after wind said:
I take the word of the person that said it was mocking. She was there. Why do you doubt her?

Because on this website I heard alot of false persecution and pointless outrage. I believe her more than most people like that, but the question was whether she over-reacted (ie: was she too thin skinned about it), and the answer is maybe. It is hard to answer without knowing what happened.

But if she tells them how she feels then hopefully they can be more sensitive towards her.

From Miser's post
"They started Mocking God, Jesus and the Bible, and also me for believing in "fairy tales" and it went on and on. I felt really upset,"
This is the behavior that was displayed. Change the words God, Jesus and the Bible to something you had a passionate committment to and tell me how would you respond? Note the phrase "and it went on and on"

That doesn't really tell me what happened. Those words can be relative to how one takes it. But I don't know how I would react... I would need an example. But when I was a Christian I would have got them to explain themselves and argued with them that God was real. But I know not everyone would be able to do that in an effective way.

She did
"I felt really upset,..."
I won't give her advice on her personal choice of friends but I think, if they wish to remain friends with anyone, they certainly ought to respect that person enough not to badger them and mock them about their belief system.

I agree that they should consider her feelings, but to say she should get rid of her friends it just to throw the baby out with the bath water.

savedbygrace05 · Nov 9, 2012

King Mob said:
It displays your friend's ignorance.

If your `friends ` know that you are a religious person and take it seriously they should respect that -there are certain boundaries we shouldn't cross- It would be in a similar vein to sitting with a friend who is gay and belittling homosexuality. It is simply not fair and completely uncalled for.

Explain to your friends how you feel, if they cannot accept why this discussion hurt you then they should no longer be counted as friends.

Take care

Or...Miser could take advice from the One who is central to her faith;

Mk 12: 29 - 31 "The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

grasping the after wind · Nov 9, 2012

Paradoxum said:
I'm not really sure how I am meant to reply to this.

Because on this website I heard alot of false persecution and pointless outrage. I believe her more than most people like that, but the question was whether she over-reacted (ie: was she too thin skinned about it), and the answer is maybe. It is hard to answer without knowing what happened.

Seems to me she did not overreact since she really did nothing negative in response to their words.

But if she tells them how she feels then hopefully they can be more sensitive towards her.

They don't even need to be sensitive just refrain from being obnoxious.

That doesn't really tell me what happened. Those words can be relative to how one takes it. But I don't know how I would react... I would need an example. But when I was a Christian I would have got them to explain themselves and argued with them that God was real. But I know not everyone would be able to do that in an effective way.

I'm am a Christian and I would not try to argue or convince I would just ask them why they feel the need to denigrate my beliefs and ask them if they found that I have ever been so impolite as to do the same to their beliefs.

I agree that they should consider her feelings, but to say she should get rid of her friends it just to throw the baby out with the bath water.

I am not advocating that and she has said she will not do that. However, if I were in the same position and that sort of thing continued happening, I might well decide to take my friendship elsewhere.

justhappeneduponthis · Nov 9, 2012

We are told by Paul that Christians have a savour, a smell unto others. To the ones who are inclined to consider the light it is a savour of life. To the others it is a stench unto death. Just live with this truth and look for opportunities to give an answer to the one who asks the reason for your hope, as Peter says. We do not live to be approved or liked by everybody. When the rebels look at us, particularly as they age, they know that they are being confronted with the questions of eternity. Yet they still try to live for the gratification of the present moment, of the so-called "fun and friends".

savedbygrace05 · Nov 9, 2012

justhappeneduponthis said:
We are told by Paul that Christians have a savour, a smell unto others. To the ones who are inclined to consider the light it is a savour of life. To the others it is a stench unto death. Just live with this truth and look for opportunities to give an answer to the one who asks the reason for your hope, as Peter says. We do not live to be approved or liked by everybody. When the rebels look at us, particularly as they age, they know that they are being confronted with the questions of eternity. Yet they still try to live for the gratification of the present moment, of the so-called "fun and friends".

Syrokal · Nov 9, 2012

How do you think I feel, I have to tell people I worship a statue of a Four armed Blue man, who occasionally incarnates as a lion-man.

But in all seriousness, living in England I to have dealt with a lot of ridicule about being religious, there are a few ways you can go about dealing with it.

1)Brush it off and move the discussion away from your faith towards soemthing else, they won't belittle your faith if it doesn't come up in conversation, im personally not a fan of this as it seems a bit cowardly for me.

2)Swat up on a few philosophical arguments and get some Apologetic's done, as a Christian there is no shortage of material online or in libarys to help you with this, next time they bring it up...fight back, at best you will convince them, they may even respect you for standing up and fighting back, but at worst it will just prove to them that your up for a good debate and gives them more excuse to lash into you

3)Punch them in the face

4)Tell them your not comfortable discussing your faith, that it's a personal thing and leave it at that

5)Insult there football teams.

6)Tell them your God could beat there football teams

7)Don't hang around with people who are going to tear down your faith, but since you have made it clear in the thread that you don't want to do that (after all friends are friends..even annoying ones) make it clear you don't like being insulted like that.

DavePotter · Nov 9, 2012

I do understand where you are coming from. I had a similar though a bit different situation recently. I was talking to a girl friend of mine about religion (she was interested in what I believed) Then my best friend got all stropy and angry.. I asked him what was up and he said i was forcing religion on him etc etc.... So I said No I`m not. I am answering a question that someone else asked me... (he is very anti religion, he blames god for his mother and father dying of cancer.).

Strong in Him · Nov 10, 2012

Paradoxum said:
Maybe she should explain what she felt, but leaving her friends because of one incidence seems totally over the top.

She didn't say she ditched her friends, she said she walked away from the situation.

It may have felt like the wrong response, Miser, but it was wise. You can't argue someone into belief and having a slanging match may have upset you further and given them more ammunition. If they really do count you as a friend, at least one of them should have had the decency to say "I'm sorry we upset you/made fun of something which is important to you." But you never know; your calm reaction may have made some of them think.

justhappeneduponthis · Nov 10, 2012

We know that the Word of God begets life. Our words, however sincere, do not accomplish this. The faithless, ignorant and rebellious do not consider the scriptures to be authoritative. They see them as just another form of cult language for the weak. They see their strength in conforming to the world and enjoying the praise of other earthly-minded people. But conditions are worsening. The old pillars are proving increasingly inadequate. "At the end of themselves" comes Christ, just as in the parable of the prodigal son. On my blog here, see the poem entitled The Crumbling Clan.

Paradoxum · Nov 10, 2012

grasping the after wind said:
Seems to me she did not overreact since she really did nothing negative in response to their words.

Overreact in the sense of perhaps taking it harder than perhaps she should have.

They don't even need to be sensitive just refrain from being obnoxious.

I don't consider it bad to joke or complain about beliefs, but if it harms a friend then that should be considered.

I'm am a Christian and I would not try to argue or convince I would just ask them why they feel the need to denigrate my beliefs and ask them if they found that I have ever been so impolite as to do the same to their beliefs.

Well one answer they might give is that Christianity is (in some cases) oppressive and immoral. Not that that necessary justifies mockery.

I am not advocating that and she has said she will not do that. However, if I were in the same position and that sort of thing continued happening, I might well decide to take my friendship elsewhere.

Perhaps.

Strong in Him said:
She didn't say she ditched her friends, she said she walked away from the situation.

I know, it was in reply to others.

paul becke · Nov 10, 2012

Miser said:
Hey everyone!

A few days ago I was chatting to some of my closest friends, who know Im a Christian. They started Mocking God, Jesus and the Bible, and also me for believing in "fairy tales" and it went on and on. I felt really upset, and the worst thing was, I couldnt say anything, I literally froze up, and left.

Do you think I overreacted? I think I should have tried to defend my faith, and I feel really bad that i couldnt speak! I guess I just need a friendly hug

I'd relish it. Take it in good part, but tell them they're as daft as a brush!

Just refer them to this video and the blogs linked below it:

The New Atheists are Not Intellectually "Bright" - YouTube

Uncommon Descent - Serving the Intelligent Design Community

ud

http://feeds.feedburner.com/yahoo/zPEr

Strong in Him · Nov 10, 2012

Paradoxum said:
I know, it was in reply to others.

Ok.

Robban · Nov 10, 2012

Laughing and joking and messing about in general is one thing, and it is fortunate for us that we allowed to laugh, (Even the Holy One laughs, Ps 2)
The person in question named closest friends, if this is so, should she not be able to sense if they were joking or not.
Could it not have came as a shock, to hear those who she considered as close friends mocking that which is Holy?
These were not casual friends or just anyone off the street.
Her reaction tells a lot.
It seems like she was dumbfounded, (right word?)
What was there to say?

And then a sense of guilt?
Should I have stood my ground?
Have I over reacted?
Away with that, it comes from the evil one, he was always religous.

Nabobalis · Nov 11, 2012

paul becke said:
I'd relish it. Take it in good part, but tell them they're as daft as a brush!

Just refer them to this video and the blogs linked below it:

The New Atheists are Not Intellectually "Bright" - YouTube

Uncommon Descent - Serving the Intelligent Design Community

ud

ud

Yes, lets use WLC to prove how stupid atheists are. Then, lets mention ID.

Gadarene · Nov 11, 2012

Generally, I'd tell them that if they're serious about being friends not to do that.

Some events in various bits of the atheist community online have encouraged me to try and make more of an effort to conduct myself more politely, if nothing else because it's more effective for changing people's minds overall. It's only really ever an issue offline with my best friend, who is both politically and beliefs-wise across the aisle from me (Christian, Tory).

There are some things that I still will make my feelings quite clear on - I nearly defriended this person when she said that even babies deserve to die for their sins, which is an absolutely sick and immoral thing to claim. For someone to then go and claim they have some inner track on morality while still claiming that - sorry, not standing for things like that.

But in generally, merely having a difference of opinion should not be enough for mockery - of course, given than some Christians have a tendency to equate criticism of Christianity with mockery, I'm not certain which is the case here.

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