Uhm, be glad and run.
This cutie pie in a college photography class & I took a shine to one another. He was sweet, cute and kind...bonus I thought he was into me too.
One night, in the days before I was a fully gelled atheist, at the 11 1/2 hour in bed found out he wouldn't because "religion" . He was all over me but wouldn't let me 'touch' him--gave me a BAD case of blue ovaries!
After that I was done.
One day he showed up on my doorstep "missing" me. I'm all ok cool but yeah nice seeing you. My thought bubble said "you're too crazy for me".
I've never experienced that before or since.

His loss,...If you have sincere mutual feelings for someone, it shouldn't really impinge on you, I married a catholic, she knew my feelings on the church and all organised .
She is still Catholic I am still Athiest..we are still married, ...she is suspicious of this site though, she says we are all heathens,...which of course we are..and proud of it too. ?

He’s being honest, that’s all. I think that he knows he would be uncomfortable, and fears it could get ‘awkward’ over time, if you were to get heavily involved.
I have to say that in my experience, fundamental differences in belief or outlook can cause conflict in any relationship. Even if they’re swept under the carpet, they mature and fester.
On the other hand, he may just not be into you beyond friendship, and this difference between you both allows him to avoid mentioning that, and possibly upsetting you.
And, finally, if someone doesn’t ‘want’ you, they don’t, whatever the reason. We all just have to accept that.

I don't think I'd be keen to go out with someone who believed in unicorns or any other superstitions.

I'd feel happy that we had the conversation sooner than later. Relationships have to work both ways, also what was a deal breaker for him may not be for the next chap.

Good to know it straight off the cuff like that; at least you can cross him off the list - There is no accounting really for what folks, act , think, feel or speak; its all random to themselves - You sound as if you expected him to be a bit better than he turned out to be - Sad but move on quickly- Nowt so queer as folks " (as they say in Yorkshire)

Next contestant, please!

A relationship is a two-way street. It's not just all about you. He's given you his reasons why he doesn't want to date you. They're valid for him. You can either be a good, well-balanced person and accept his reasons, no matter how much you disagree with them. Or you can be an asshole, refuse to accept his reasons and continue to push for a date, which is something he doesn't want. My suggestion? Don't be an asshole.

I'm at a point in my life where I don't think I could seriously date a devout religious person, so the reverse of that I'd have no right to get offended by. I'm simply not going to waste my time building a relationship on such a mismatched foundation.

You’re better off without him. Chances are he would have other issues down the line as well.

Could you handle being with someone so religious that they won’t date who they like? It’s a sign of how far gone he is. You were ok with him being religious and that needs to be mutual. As for how I would feel, crappy for a bit I suppose.

It's better for him to lay his cards on the table now than to string you along and demand that you recant your beliefs later on, when leaving him will be harder!

Whenever I meet people for the first time, I find a way to let them know I am Atheist....if they react in a negative way I let few minutes go by and, then, I say I need to use the facilities....and I never come back.

I used the same technique whenever a man approached me and I wanted to know if he had kids; if he said "yes"...I went to the ladies room and I never returned.

That one is easy. You are obviously incompatible and you should run not walk away with no regrets. For me, excessive religion is an immediate deal breaker.

I wouldn't want to date someone super into religion,so I can't blame people if they are not in to me for the opposite reason. Sounds like the dude was pretty up front and honest about it.

Yeah had this happen to me.. Women rejected me because I don't go to church. Butthurt about it for about a day, but moved on...

I refuse dates because of their religion, so I would expect it from them.

why would i want to date someone who was prejudiced against atheists?

g

I'd feel exactly the same as the men I won't date because they have a religion. Glad to get out of it fast. So should you.

He is doing you a favour, move on. Anyone who can think that about beliefs is not worth knowing.

Think you got away from someone who if they can't accept different beliefs probably has control issues, personally it would not bother me as I believe we are mostly inherently good, it's our actions more than our beliefs that define us, Good luck with the rest of your journey, as we say in Scotland, whit's for ye won't go by ye, good things will come

Others have put things very well about it being good that you found out early and the perils of being in a relationship with someone whose core values are very different (opposite?) to yours. I fully agree with them. I don't know if he is a horrible person who thinks atheists are the lowest form of scum (there are many who do), but since you started by saying that you're good friends with him, I'll give an alternate reason, just for you to think about. When I was a very strong xtian, the possibility of being with a non xtian in a deep loving relationship truly scared me because I knew I couldn't live for eternity helplessly watching my loved one brutally suffer in hell. It is very crazy, I know. But, that's what religion does to one's thought processes.

I'd date an atheist, agnostic, or person following any religion, just so long as don't try converting me!

Thats a bummer. Happened to me many years ago. Lots of snogging and touching, then "You'll have to let Jezues into your heart"! Well, that relationship didn't last long. On the other side of the coin, I'm not likely to take to a god botherer either. At some point views on invisible friends crops up and bang! One person is packing their bags and much wailing and gnashing of teeth results. My late wife was an open minded pagan athiest, and knew that from the start.

Move on, he is not worth wasting time on.