Amongst Olive Trees an Oak Sprouts

[Xevelous]

So, since I've been around for a minute I figured I had better throw in my two bits.

My main question is mainly being asked because of my general area and the reactions that I have received. So...yeah, kind of an autobiographical question.

Let's say your child/partner/whatever brings home a new friend and you find that this person lives in your nearby area, possibly within your own ward reach. You invite the person over for dinner many times, you go to the park with out family inviting this new person, let your kids play with him/her, and have a lot of good yuks with this person until one day several months later lets say you invite this new friend of yours to go to church with you on Sunday and then have a nice dinner with the family and you are politely refused. Upon inquiry, you discover that the person you are speaking to is not Muslim, not Catholic, not Jewish, Baptist, or even Scientologist. You come to find that this person is an Atheist.

Now, this is all fine and dandy and can wind up fine. However, my situation wound up in a not so friendly manner.

My question is, then, how would you as, I would assume, very devout Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints deal with this sort of situation? How would you react mentally, emotionally, physically, and perhaps even socially? It has been a long time since I have followed this faith, and I also grew up in an small, extremely conservative, fiercely super-Mormon, and predominately LDS area (roughly 80-85% of the town and nearby city's populations), so I feel I have a skewed idea of what the majority of LDS people may actually believe on this subject and how they might take action, leave well-alone, and/or become violent or apathetic.

Thanks all, and I hope for your replies,

Xevelous

[hordak]

I would prefer the atheist friend as there should be less want to convert the child.

I think kids have enough trouble making, good friends that letting religion or lack there of, get in the the way is a mistake. Assuming it is a live and let live arrangement.

I don't know any of my children friends religious views because my kids don't play with them because of a shared belief in the afterlife, but a shared love of bokugon and ponies.

[Dravin]

Unless they are a militant atheist I'm not seeing an issue. That issue wouldn't be because they were atheist but because in my limited experience militant atheists tend to ridicule religious beliefs. I'd have the same issue with a Muslim or Baptist who wanted to make it a point of ridiculing my child's/wife's/whatever's belief. I like to think though that my whatever would be disinclined to be friends with someone who is hostile to them in such a manner.

Note not all atheists are militant (I've never seen numbers on what sort of percentage or anything), we've got a few atheists on the board that are fine people I'd have no compunction with me or mine rubbing elbows with.

Edited November 18, 2010 by Dravin

[pam]

If the situation was as you described, friendly, outgoing, social and everything changed because of the title Atheist; I feel more sorry for those that would do the snubbing than the one being snubbed.

[mnn727]

WHy should there be a problem? you're friends, you invited, they declined, why should that affect a friendship?

The atheist should not take the invitation as a personal attack on their beliefs.

The Mormon should take the rejection as a personal attack on their beliefs.

Sounds like someone got upset when there was no reason to and it escalated.

[Blackmarch]

So, since I've been around for a minute I figured I had better throw in my two bits.

My main question is mainly being asked because of my general area and the reactions that I have received. So...yeah, kind of an autobiographical question.

Let's say your child/partner/whatever brings home a new friend and you find that this person lives in your nearby area, possibly within your own ward reach. You invite the person over for dinner many times, you go to the park with out family inviting this new person, let your kids play with him/her, and have a lot of good yuks with this person until one day several months later lets say you invite this new friend of yours to go to church with you on Sunday and then have a nice dinner with the family and you are politely refused. Upon inquiry, you discover that the person you are speaking to is not Muslim, not Catholic, not Jewish, Baptist, or even Scientologist. You come to find that this person is an Atheist.

Now, this is all fine and dandy and can wind up fine. However, my situation wound up in a not so friendly manner.

My question is, then, how would you as, I would assume, very devout Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints deal with this sort of situation? How would you react mentally, emotionally, physically, and perhaps even socially? It has been a long time since I have followed this faith, and I also grew up in an small, extremely conservative, fiercely super-Mormon, and predominately LDS area (roughly 80-85% of the town and nearby city's populations), so I feel I have a skewed idea of what the majority of LDS people may actually believe on this subject and how they might take action, leave well-alone, and/or become violent or apathetic.

Thanks all, and I hope for your replies,

Xevelous

I'd be fine with the refusal.. i'd probably ask if they'd just like to come over for dinner then.

[beefche]

I had dinner with an athiest friend once. He even ordered a beer--that I paid for!. I'm with Dravin--as long as each mutually respects the other's views, what's wrong with it? I have many friends who are not Mormon and we have common beliefs/interests that make our friendships real.

Sounds like you had a bad experience. I'm sorry for that.

[MarginOfError]

Wouldn't bother me at all. I've been rejected a few times.

Reminds me of a time I took a friend with me to a regional YSA conference. At the dinner, one of my acquaintances plucked up her courage and asked, "so Bill, why aren't you a member of the Church?"

Bill looked her squarely in the eye and replied, "Well, there's the fact that I drink, have sex with whatever woman I want, and swear more than you'll ever be comfortable hearing...oh, and let's not forget the fact that I don't believe in God."

The way he said it left her with a stunned look on her face that had me laughing for a long time.

[Xevelous]

Wouldn't bother me at all. I've been rejected a few times.

Reminds me of a time I took a friend with me to a regional YSA conference. At the dinner, one of my acquaintances plucked up her courage and asked, "so Bill, why aren't you a member of the Church?"

Bill looked her squarely in the eye and replied, "Well, there's the fact that I drink, have sex with whatever woman I want, and swear more than you'll ever be comfortable hearing...oh, and let's not forget the fact that I don't believe in God."

The way he said it left her with a stunned look on her face that had me laughing for a long time.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

As for the above quoted post, I'm disappointed in that person you describe. Just because you are an atheist does not ascribe you to stupidity and Ill-Ethic. It sounds like this person is an atheist for the benefits and not the freedom of the world view. And he was quite rude about his stance. One thing I have found at least with atheists I speak with and enjoy company with is that we ascribe to a personal code of logic.

Just because you can have sex with every woman you see...doesn't mean it's a very logical decision.

[Xevelous]

WHy should there be a problem? you're friends, you invited, they declined, why should that affect a friendship?

The atheist should not take the invitation as a personal attack on their beliefs.

The Mormon should take the rejection as a personal attack on their beliefs.

Sounds like someone got upset when there was no reason to and it escalated.

Heh, well, it was a little more interesting than the story I describe. And yes, unnecessarily so did it escalate.

Thank you for you response

[Xevelous]

Wouldn't bother me at all. I've been rejected a few times.

Reminds me of a time I took a friend with me to a regional YSA conference. At the dinner, one of my acquaintances plucked up her courage and asked, "so Bill, why aren't you a member of the Church?"

Bill looked her squarely in the eye and replied, "Well, there's the fact that I drink, have sex with whatever woman I want, and swear more than you'll ever be comfortable hearing...oh, and let's not forget the fact that I don't believe in God."

The way he said it left her with a stunned look on her face that had me laughing for a long time.

Wouldn't bother me at all. I've been rejected a few times.

Reminds me of a time I took a friend with me to a regional YSA conference. At the dinner, one of my acquaintances plucked up her courage and asked, "so Bill, why aren't you a member of the Church?"

Bill looked her squarely in the eye and replied, "Well, there's the fact that I drink, have sex with whatever woman I want, and swear more than you'll ever be comfortable hearing...oh, and let's not forget the fact that I don't believe in God."

The way he said it left her with a stunned look on her face that had me laughing for a long time.