I'm worried about a friend of mine

[Hugabear]

I have a friend whom I've known since high school. We went to college together, where he served as president of the College Democrats, as well as on the Student Council. He's a pretty smart guy, a moderate Christian. But for the past few years, he's been attending informal prayer meetings with some very fundamentalist types, cut from the Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson cloth. These folks believe that they are going to be raptured at any time, that homosexuals are going to hell, that abortion should be outlawed, and that the US and Israel are God's "chosen nations". Many of these people are also quite racist, against interracial relationships, and want to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep "them" out. Whenever I try to point out to my friend that the people he's associating with are extremists, he shrugs it off and says that there's nothing to worry about. However, I have noticed over the years my friend slowly becoming more conservative, almost as if his relationship with these fundies is influencing his decision making. Lately I've even heard my friend praising John McCain over fellow Democrats.

Is there anything I can say to my friend at this point, or is he beyond hope now?

[Oleladylib]

1. casein point...we allow some of those "illegals" to fight for us in Iraq!

I believe they said 30,000 ...So fundies are not afraid of "using" people (homosexuals,illegals, etc.) in our war against terror but won't allow them to be among the "chosen" ...How ridiculous is that...I wish you luck.

[Hamlette]

2. She's beyond hope. n/t

[LSparkle]

3. You should definitely wait until we've sorted out who our candidate is going to be

Trying to advocate for Dems right now is difficult because, frankly, we're acting
like a bunch of disorganized, roiling toddlers ... and I say that in a COMPASSIONATE
way. Once we have a nominee, then you can begin to point out the differences between that
person and Bomb-Bomb McSame (which will hopefully shock her out of her trance!).

[Samantha]

4. Sounds like he has gone over to the dark side

I have the same problem with my family members. I have been working on some of them for 7 years now. One has made zero progress; one has made limited progress.

What I have learned: one cannot ditch their friends and family over politics. Try to hold on to the good points this friendship brings and continue to talk positively about your hopes for change in the upcoming Democratic administration! If you do not be pushy, perhaps the friendship can remain intact, and in time, your friend will see his way back.

Good luck, to you.

Sam

[DJ13]

5. sHe is beyond help at this point

sHe might as well register as a Republican and further praise McCain on the campaign trail.

[lisa58]

6. Unfortunately, fundamentalist thinking....

...has nothing to do with reason and they can justify anything they want by saying you don't understand.

My only advice is to remind him that Jesus was a liberal. Love for all, concern for the poor and disadvantaged, generosity, inclusion and mercy. If you keep pointing to what Jesus actually taught and not the "we're good and they're bad mentality" you might get somewhere.

Good luck.

[Speck Tater]

7. All that's left is to duct-tape him to the couch on election day. ;-) NT

[JimGinPA]

8. Sounds Like HRC's Prayer Group...

I feel bad for your friend - and you.

[FSogol]

9. Refer him to the Sermon on the Mount.

Also, ask him whose life work follows Christ's life work more closely:
Fred Phelps or Jimmy Carter?

Then move on to: "would Christ be a member of the Democratic party or the Republican party."

If he answers them wrong, he needs to review what Christ said and did a little closer.

[yardwork]

10. I don't know. Does your friend hang out with Donnie McClurkin?

[MagickMuffin]

11. Sounds like he's joined "The Fellowship"

:cry:

I don't think you can talk any sense into him. Sorry about you friend. Seems to me he needs to spend some time reading the New Testament, which to me really only means the Gospels. Not Saul Paul's version.

Good Luck.

[sudopod]

12. There's always hope

If I can break out of that mental box, anyone can.

The hard part is admitting that one has been so, so wrong for so very long.

[Barack_America]

13. You posted this in GD too.

Shouldn't you be discussing this with your friend?

No rudeness intended, but it's him who should be hearing your concerns, not us.

In the end, however, he's free to have whatever beliefs he chooses.

[Hugabear]

14. Psst...it's satirical

I re-posted it here because nobody on the GD board really figured it out. A few people here have.

Yes, I am a bastard! :evilgrin:

[Barack_America]

15. No.

Not a bastard. Just confusing.

I'm sorry, but I still don't get it. Is it Fundie Friday or something?

[Catherine Vincent]

16. That doesn't sound like satire to me. nt