To Cut Off Or Not To Cut Off

[abysmal]

I’ve been thinking about this issue for some time now. I’ve been thinking about cutting off a few people from my life. But the problem behind this is that I’ve known these people nearly all my life. It would appear selfish if I do it over religion. Also, it would show how close minded I’ll be towards other ideas.

 

But some of their ideas are pure nonsense. They believe that the end times are here because of the climate in the weather and politics. I’m not just addressing Christians but also Muslims. Sometimes there paranoia rubs off of me and I become skeptical of the world and my future.

 

I sometimes question myself and ask if I’m doing the right thing. If not, should I go back to God? Or, rebuke him? Either way, I would feel that global warming might rob me of a future because of how docile people are. Then I ask myself is it me? Or, is it because of the people who’re around me at the time that makes me feels this way. I don’t know.

I know that this isn’t what mainstream religion preaches. But as soon I mention that though, I get heckled and told that they’re water down versions of the main doctrine. And, I do believe this because religion promotes fundamentalism. But that’s not here or there. I’m trying to figure out as to what I should do with my friends.

 

Here’s a list of beliefs of what they think on a daily day basis:

 

1. Satanic groups have taken control over governments on a global scale.

2. We’re in the 7 year period before Christ comes back and reigns for a thousand years (millennium reign)

3. Global Warming is bullshit. God is punishing the US because of its high abortion rates and for legalizing homosexuality. ( Or, the US government is using its top secret weapon that controls the weather patterns to fuck us over)

4. The US government is slowly becoming a Nazi government for having healthcare, so that, they can slowly poison the masses and kill them off.

5. People are going to see demons and mistake them for aliens instead so that the devil can fool the masses yet again and bring closer the end times.

6. there’ll be modern day prophets who’ll apostatize about the coming end times and would bring with them the powers of God

7. there’ll be nephilim (children of fallen angels who slept with humans) who’ll inherit the earth when the devil and the anti-Christ are out in the open who’ll kill believers and nonbelievers

8. That the earth is only 6,000 years old

9. –Insert whatever Kent Hovind will say—

10. –insert whatever John Piper, Chuck Missler, the way of the master will say--

 

(I separated 9 and 10 because of the level bull shit that one spews out)

 

Should I cut these people from my life to keep myself sane? Or, should I limit my exposure to them?

What’s your take?

[Margee]

abysmal, you are the only person who can know in your heart how much of these 'beliefs' you can sit and listen to. How much do they talk about it? Is it all the time? Is there other fun things that you all do together without the religious chitchat?

 

Personally, I treat everyone with as much respect as I can, but I can only hang out (on a regular basis) with 'like-minded' people. Religion has to be a closed topic for me now, because I am not a 'debater'. I don't want to talk about Adam and Eve and the talking snake. It ends right there for me. I don't want to try and convince the believer ... not to believe. I do not have the energy for it nor the 'fight'.

 

I could never sit and listen to this stuff now.... (only for a very short time) After an hour of it, I make an excuse as to why I have to leave. Now, if you only have to see all these friends a couple times a month... maybe you can tolerate it for the other pleasures that these friends bring. But what are those pleasures?

[mcdaddy]

Tell em you'll hang, but if they start talking crazy infuckingsane bullshit, you're out.

[Positivist]

I personally only cut people out who are energy-suckers. I passively remove fundagelical lunatics by just not returning phone calls and letting the relationship die a natural death, if that's where it's headed.

[Eugene39]

To me, it's more of a decision I make based on how stupid the person behaves. I know some nice people who probably believe most of what you've mentioned, but don't push it on other people. I can handle a friendship with them. But the others - nah. Like Positivist said, cut out the energy suckers.

[blackpudd1n]

Grab a few atheist t-shirts and start wearing them. The harder-core fundies will probably weed themselves out. Because, you know, no-one wants to catch atheism

[Deva]

We all have different tolerance levels. You are really the only one who can decide to cut someone out of your life. Just be aware of how you feel when you are around these people. Life is short. Do you really want to deal with it?

 

If you told them such topics are not up for discussion, would they respect that?

 

If they are not all the time in your face with the nonsense, I would be inclined to stay acquainted, otherwise, forget it.

[florduh]

Tell them you joined the Church of Scientology.

[3DollarBill]

My take...I definitely wouldn't want to hang around such nutjobs, but no reason to be the antagonist either. So don't make a thing out of it, just casually avoid them and eventually they'll drift away on their own.

[raoul]

 

Should I cut these people from my life to keep myself sane? Or, should I limit my exposure to them?

What’s your take?

I believe you answered your own question with that last comment about keeping your sanity. I've done this in the past and never looked back. But as others have noted, it's your decision to make.

[stealth44]

Same here. I'm sort of addicted to these type of videos on youtube but trying to ween myself off. Some of their endtime/conspiracy theories seem real at times.

[TheBluegrassSkeptic]

I cut a lot of people out of my life recently, mostly because their belief system encourages homophobia and other intolerable bigoted behavior. I won't entertain people in my life that won't treat others as human beings. It's that simple. If it were as simple as having crazy end time beliefs, I might handle it, but to see people treat others as inferior because they are prejudiced pieces of shit that refuse to acknowledge the roles of those different is insufferable. These hypocrites will deny their rights, but at the same time gladly take their tax money and vote. Screw that. These people are pieces of crap in my book and I cut 'em off.

[London]

I posted this in another thread, you should read Toxic People by Lillian Glass, very helpful, check your public library.

 

I would also add, that creating your own life is like creating a beautiful garden, how many weeds would you choose to plant there? People who lower your standard of living are unhealthy. A friendship is a relationship where each person should contribute. Having people around who get all up in arms about the latest "fear" tactic news story is a waste of time. It's like a dog with an anxiety disorder, barks at every squeek. No one can live in that culture. Satan & aliens are not interested in this planet. Satan spends his summers on Mercury and aliens have other galaxies to build.

 

It's one thing if these people are 95% normal and 5% woo-woo nut jobs, that's not so hard to deal with. But if it's the opposite numbers then it would be like wearing shoes on your hands all day. It's not comfortable, or rational and it's never gonna work out.

 

There is nothing wrong with letting yourself grow. Those people are immature and stuck in time. Don't feel guilty that you are maturing beyond all that high school mumbo jumbo. Give yourself permission to move forward. If there is someone you don't want to let go of, challenge their thinking and see if they want to join your journey. Good luck.

[JoshB0XX]

Have you have made it clear to these people that you have new beliefs, that you don't wish to hear their opinions any longer, yet they continue to subject you them? If they are well aware that you don't want to hear about it, and you feel that it's bringing you down, I personally would. That is up to you though. If it's your sanity at stake, get them away! Very little is worth your peace of mind!

[Guest wester]

Yo baby, I up and left the whole friggin' country. Told 90% of my fundy republican family and friends and their enablers to go F themselves. The rewards have been tremendous. It was touch and go at first, but now I wouldn't trade it for the world.