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A muslim acquaintance is fascinated that I don't believe in god.
He wants to talk to me about it over breakfast someday.
I couldn't help feel there was a part of him that was insulted as he asked me questions about my lack of belief.
Couldn't do the breakfast hangout today because he's "day fasting" for Ramadan.... ? I enjoy talking to him, he's a great person with a family in Yemen he's trying to relocate here.
Really hoping the fact I'm not Christian or anything else either bodes well in my favor. Just very fond of the guy as a friend only.
/thinking outloud

#Christian #muslims #belief #god
Qualia 8 June 3
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0

Level 4

Before you begin, you might ask him if he's willing to change his mind. If not, I think it's a waste of time.

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind tho. He just started picking my brain over whether or not I was religious.

@Qualia I guess I'm not sure what the point would be. Maybe I need a learnin'.

@danh2os We've become friendly acquiantances is all. He's the one that got all wound up about religion.

@Qualia That's great Qualia. I have a not to talk about or politics with friends or aquaintances. It's caused me nothing but trouble. hehe

@danh2os I hear that! lol
1

Level 9

It's fine..

2

Level 8

It can be hard to explain to people who rely on "faith" why one finds that insufficient, or why the "holy books" on further examination turn out not to be "holy" at all. It's my experience that most believers don't have any experience with textual criticism and history, don't know the history of their own religion's books, and don't realize that pretty much all three Middle Eastern religions stole their mythologies whole cloth from other pre-existing mythologies. (Okay, "borrowed", no need to be antagonistic.) Their books were not committed to writing for decades and centuries after the supposed events.

I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know, but your friend might be surprised to learn these things and even deny the facts. But if he's truly open-minded, exposure to some history might, best-case-scenario, open his eyes to the fact that there is no "true religion" and get him thinking about things. That's how I started my journey from "generic unchurched Christian" to where I am today.

Worst case scenario, he wants to try to convert you, in which case be polite but firm.

Thank you for the insight Paul. I'm not versed enough in the history of various theologies to argue the point, altho he did touch on that. I don't think he'll try to convert me, he's just fascinated as it's one of the regular places I go.

@Qualia
Then, without discussing things you don't feel comfortable discussing, just be prepared to explain why you believe the way you do. He may be examining other belief systems; he may just be curious; he may, possibly without even realizing it, be unsure in his own beliefs.

Good luck.
3

Level 6

I hope you can be good friends with him, Qualia. The only advice I would give is to be extra sensitive to respecting his beliefs, as he possibly has never met someone like you before. Yemen is very conservative even for a Muslim state, as I understand it. He will be not only Muslim by faith, but by ingrained culture.

What I am trying to say is breaking bread with a nonbeliever probably is considered an insult to his Islamic faith and his country. He has met a unicorn and wants to know more about this strange creature, but is very wary of your nonbelief. I do hope he can accept you as you are. Good luck!

Thank you Hemingwaykitten. We've been on friendly terms for oh what, 2 years now? A year or so ago he gave one of our cars a jump and didn't want to let me pay him for the favor without argument, but he acquiesed after I insisted.
I will try my level best to be careful. He is VERY candid with me about some things LOL! So it would be shocking to me if he's pulling my leg about this curiosity.

and FWIW he's not hitting on me. He knew my husband and met someone I was seeing.... he's never given me "vibe" like some have in the past. (the owner of the place he works is a disgusting pig of a man however)
2

Level 8

You're braver than I am. Here in Songkhla, Thailand, religion is never discussed and Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists just get along as though they were the same.

He's so brutally curious about everything though. I mean EVERYTHING!
And such a good person. I'm terrified of offending him with my personal philosophies, which i've never shared with him before and can't even recall how it came up except that I don't bring that up typically so he must have.

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