Interfaith friendships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and find that I can be ok friends with people of any religious belief as long as we have something in common. But my closest friends all believe in some religion. Faith is such an important component of life and not being able to share this with someone really limits how deep the friendship can go.

Sounds like faith is such an important component of YOUR life that (unfortunately) you feel you can't have a deep friendship with someone who doesn't believe in some/any invisible supernatural being.

[Anonymous]

I’m Jewish and have a bunch of non Jewish friends. We have other things in common, whether it be our neighborhood, our kids, our jobs, our political views, where we like to vacation, etc.

religion is one of the things we don’t have in common, but we’re very open to each others traditions and will invite each other to various holidays in each others homes. I think we can certainly appreciate other family’s religious traditions and heritage even if ours is different.

[Anonymous]

What prompted the question? Did you meet a Jewish person for the first time and never previously thought you would be friends with one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't a friendship be able to handle any of these exchanges?

S: I believe vaccines cause autism
Q: What is your evidence for that belief?

S: I believe Joe Biden is a better candidate for president than Donald Trump
Q: What are your reasons for that opinion?

S: I believe the Christian god exists
Q: What is your evidence for that belief?

Not saying there isn't disagreement, just that if a friendship can't handle exchanges of differing ideas, then it might not be much of a friendship.

And yes, I am atheist and like most atheists the majority of my friends are believers and it is never a problem.

I have friends from many faiths.

You might be surprised to know that even people of the same faith might disagree on your questions. I belong to a smaller Christian denomination and some of my church friends have very different political beliefs from mine. We may discuss them--but we don't debate. We agree to disagree. Obviously we believe in God--and I believe God is not just for Christians as do other members of my religion.

It sounds like you have a negative view of Christians and do not understand that there are many, many different views within Chrisitanity.

But, as for making friends--they are made on common interests and experiences. I have many experiences and interests far beyond my church.

[Anonymous]

The fact that OP has to ask this question tells you everything you need to know about why it's difficult for OP to maintain "interfaith" friendships.

If people's religion is such a dividing factor for you, OP, that you feel it affects your ability to be friends or friendly with someone, then religious dogma plays an unhealthy role in your life.