Your "friend" isn't paying your bills.
Whatever they think is irrelevant.

You run your life how you see fit.
None of us are here to live up to anyone else's expectations.
Family, friends, or otherwise.

If your friend can't accept how you live,
they really aren't much of a friend.

I think you're right, what you choose to do with your time is up to you-not him. I enjoy christmas music-I know the reason behind it is a bunch of bull-but the music is beautiful in it's own right. If he does
n't like what you do -well too damn bad, he's not the one pulling your puppet strings.

"What fear within you is driving you to tell me what to do with my life?"

I have no problem with religion. I have no problem with religious people. I take great exception to any asshole who tries to ram his belief system or his value system down my throat.

Tell him to fuck off, and get a life. But, hey, that's me. I don't put up with any one's bs any more, life's to short and what I do with my shit and my life is no one's business but mine.

He's being arrogant about his beliefs, which are just as dearly held as any Christians'. Who is HE to say he's right, and they're wrong?
It'd be one thing if it was a fundamentalist Evangelical church, but these people are very tolerant and open-minded. Your 'friend' should be open-minded and tolerant himself.
But unfortunately too many atheists are as stubborn and judgmental as the worst of the Christians. That's why I'm agnostic: I admit I don't know and will never know the truth.

Fortunately, after long contact with the atheist community it seems that such people are rare, and I have had few contacts with them.

I always describe myself as a "broad church sceptic", meaning that I am happy with anyone who has rejected the dogma of religion, and happy to support any views outside of that, be they atheist, agnostic or even deist, since it is dogma which does the harm, the none existent, none communicating or inactive god never harmed anybody, only the dogma of his followers did that. So that it is all important not to start pushing dogma of our own.

Firstly, I suppose I could well be classed as being 'militant' at times because I am quite out-spoken about being an Atheist and I ridicule religions at every available opportunity.
I hold very little ,though, against those who choose to believe religion and its proven twaddle, EXCEPT when they try to FORCE FEED me with it, then I will fire back with everything I have.
It is NOT the believers as such that I see as my opponent it is the RELIGION/s themselves that I detest and will continue to ridicule, etc, etc, until my dying breath has left my body.

The Agnostic Front is a racist movement. There's a skinhead racist rock band by that name. Their music is banned in most of Europe. Sometimes I think we might have a few of them show up on this site.

It is unlikely that your friend is a pure as driven snow. Does he not use products produced by utterly corrupt corporations? As an organist, with most or all employment coming from religionists, that is your gimme. You get that pass just as he gives himself a pass on those instances where he sacrifices his scruples.

Tell him to think of how money collected in the name of religion is redirected to an atheist. He should want you to stay...

Simply to fuck off. You have the right to do what you're doing and it seems you're not causing any harm and the same for the people you play for. You have different beliefs? So what? That's normal.

I consider myself fairly militant within the realm of decency. I honestly couldn't care less what you do with your free time lol. That sounds crass but it's not. It's not my business.

Oh, My (not)-God! Even great “militant atheists” like Chris Hitchens or agnostics like Bertrand Russell enjoyed and appreciated the music, art and architecture produced by christian culture over the centuries. I think the kind of intolerant and preachy tone of your “friend” tends to be based in a simple-minded, literal thinking that can infect any world view, and sadly seems to be very popular at the moment.

I would avoid the subject completely, or him......

1. It is my employment
2. Provides income to donate & help my son
3. Is a religious bigot tolerable?
4. It is music where ever its played & the greatest composer who ever lived J. S. Bach wrote music for the
   church, so one should not revel in his genius?
5. It satisfies me to play music
6. It is your choice not his
7. He is out of line not respecting your decision
8. He is projecting/imposing his values onto you
9. Your finances should be private & not his concern
10. I'm with you. You win!

I'd tell your friend to get over it.

You're right that it's not any of his business. If you enjoy doing it, then do it. This seems like it's more about your friend wanting to control you than about any level of ethics. Perhaps tell him that he has crossed a boundary when it comes to telling you what to do. Make sure he understands where the exit is if he chooses not to let up about it.

I am a woodworker and work for a company that remodels builds custom homes. These have to be owned by people who have money as for most the prices are above half a million dollars. Should I stop working for this company and try to get by on welfare and Medicare? I think not, it is not my fault that people with money want things that are custom made and designed. I have been doing this for over forty years, woodworking that is. My politics is about the same as my boss and the others I work with, but when it comes to work, people have to be able to afford what people do. A waiter serves people who can afford to buy the food that is served in the restaurant the people have visited.
If we are going to get pure and work only for those who have good politics and think the same as I, then I am going to starve. Anyone who has a skill that is liked by another has a right to perform that for the other and get a fair wage for the effort.
Personally, I would sit in any church in the world and listen to a good musician, most churches are built with great acoustics. One should take care of the skill they have, perform it for those who want to hear or see, or sit within or live in. If one does not like this then the society has to change and have a good time doing that especially in these times.
Play on!

I have encountered very few who are militant about their atheism. My biggest peeve is about "free-thinking" atheists who continually proselytize their regressive leftist indoctrination.

Sounds like your friend needs to allow you your life...

I would say, buzz off. Like you, I am not into hassling or battling believers over religion. I just want to be left alone on the subject and for them to not back or push theocratic laws against me. Otherwise, live and let live. There is nothing wrong with your organ playing gigs and whatever you do with the money is your business only.

I am a militant atheist. My weapon of choice is a word processor. How you react to things is your business.

I would let this “friend” know that while I respect their right to their beliefs, I do not allow their beliefs to dictate my life choices. And I would distance myself from this intolerant dolt.

Great speaking i love this

Be happy because you are doing what make you feel good and think that the people in the building is paying. you for your talents . You can not stop or control your friend's intolerance. But you can control your emotions.

I agree with you. What harm is it doing to him. Is he afraid you might get sucked into the congregation?