I find this to be a bit of a thorny situation. I’m trying to form a stance on this that’s consistent with my principles.

You probably know me. I’m an atheist, and generally opposed to religion. I think religion is bad. (Let’s take this as a given. I won’t elaborate on my reasons here.) This issue is important to me.
I also have friends who are religious, including some to whom their religion is very important, but whom I would still very much like to continue to get along with. But we will always have a profound disagreement about the fundamental nature of the universe and of the human condition – and on a deeper level, about how to handle beliefs. Which is most important to me.

I think we all know what happens when religion is brought up between religious people and atheists… It’s probably the most effective flame bait known to man.
And on top of the risk of getting pissed at each other, there is the risk that they will embarrass themselves by trying to attack my position with the usual straw men, emotional arguments and other fallacies. And I may lose some respect for them for using arguments like that. This has happened before.
I don’t want to lose any friends.

But I can’t respect their religion, either. That goes against my own principles. I think religion is a manifestation of a way of thinking that is all wrong. I think it’s a flaw. One they could mend, in principle.
I feel like I’d disregard my principles if I pretend I’m cool with it, if I just look the other way so as not to rock the boat. I don’t think it would be the right thing to do.

The same applies to other superstition. I’m a rational sceptic with loved ones who are chronically superstitious. I can’t respect or condone this, either.
For that matter, it applies in general to ill-supported yet disproportionally strong beliefs.

I think the only thing I can do is forgive them. Accept that they’ll probably never change, and feel sad.

Thanks for listening.

Topics: religion, friendship, beliefs, disagreement, superstition, disapproval