AIBU to find this slightly odd behaviour from atheist friends?

[handsandknees]

I am an Evangelical Christian. People who know me well know that. I am happy to talk about it if people want to, but I don't go on about it.

Last Easter one of my friends posted a long status on facebook basically ranting against the Christian Easter message and saying that she didn't want or need Jesus to have died for her, thank you very much. Up to her what she writes of course, but the tone was very aggressive and I wondered why. I didn't comment but later she sent me a personal message asking me what I thought of her post.

Then this week another friend posted a photo on my wall which said "Proud to say I'm an atheist". I haven't responded but just wondering why would someone do this? I am not offended just find it a bit strange.

Why do you think they would do this?

[DreamingofSummer]

block the bastards - simple!

[mrskeithrichards]

If she put it straight onto your wall she sq being antagonistic and spoiling for a fight to make an arse out of you.

[cutegorilla]

On the flip side I'm an atheist and I get Christians posting about their beliefs on my FB. I just ignore it. Perhaps they've experienced similar (not from you) and were reacting to that. Some people are just very in your face about their beliefs or lack of. If it irritates you then don't have them on your FB.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I can understand. So many of my Facebook 'friends' seem to think it's fine to post ikky fridge-magnet-style 'Click like if you love Jesus!!!!' status updates that, as an atheist, it's easy to feel like it's being rammed down your throat.

[Terrywoganstrousers]

They sound very weird but as long as you're not imposing your views on then then it's them with the problem.
This sort of thing is one of the reasons I hate Fb tbh, I deleted my profile a log time ago

[MsVestibule]

This does sound rather rude and odd behaviour. But are you sure you don't go on about it? I don't mean that in a nasty way, but your Christianity is obviously a big part of your life - is it possible you talk about more than you think you do?

I can only think they're doing this in a very immature "she goes on about her Christianity, so I'll go on about my atheism" way. If so, time to get new friends. Or at the very least, delete these friends from FB.

[bruxeur]

lolololololol at being evangelical but not liking to go on about it. Brilliant!

[Wallison]

Sounds like they're spoiling for a fight for some reason. Have you pissed them off?

Anyway, I would ignore both although maybe delete the photo, which is an inappropriate thing for her to put on your wall.

[CSIJanner]

Thinking the best of people, maybe someone pointed out to her that her aggressive post might have offended a good friend..?

But I find when people post aggressive assertive statements, that they are reassuring themselves as they feel it's them against the world. It's not a good thing nor a bad thing, but it's either something you have to just accept or maybe just request FB hide their posts from your feed. It doesn't mean you have to defriend but spares you from the rants.

[CSIJanner]

Sorry - misread. Posted to your wall? Did you allow this on timeline? Delete and send them a PM telling them that whilst you respect their beliefs, it would be nice in light of your friendship to respect yours.

[Goldmandra]

I don't understand TBH.

I am an atheist but my DH and DCs are not. I am happy to support them in their beliefs and, because I see the value of the church in many ways, I am happy to support church activities and fund-raising.

The only reason for it I can think of is that the first person wants someone to argue that God does exist because she secretly wants to believe. It is an invitation to convince her maybe?

Perhaps the second person is responding to having someone else's beliefs rammed down their throat.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

It's the ready-made copy/paste ones, often attached to some schmaltzy photograph, which go off on some toe-curlingly sentimental reason why we should praise Jesus for.... mothers/children/partners/the dog/the dog's mother/the success of our brave soldiers overseas (US-origins those).... that make me stabby.

[doobiedoobiedoobie]

Gosh, that sounds bizzarre behaviour are they good friends?

The first friend, as you say, I'd have thought a bit angry and odd but hey, she can write what she likes on her own page. But then to pm you asking about it? And for the second friend to post something on your wall

Do these friends know each other? Have up you discussed religion with them recently? There's not a chance you're slightly more evangelical when with them than you make out? If not, I'd block them,nseriously. They're rude and they're not your friends if they can't respect you and your beliefs in the same way you can theirs.

[FushiaFernica]

Nowadays it has become almost embarrassing to admit that you believe in God.

[doobiedoobiedoobie]

I am suuuuuuuch a slow typer

[HeadfirstForAMistletoeKiss]

I would perhaps reply that I didn't post Christian messages directly onto their wall, and that I was confused as to why they would post this onto yours. Then maybe add that you don't have a problem with people believing in what they want to, including atheism and that I hoped they didn't either.

[FromEsme]

I thought the point of being evangelical was that you went on about it a bit?

[dreamingbohemian]

Are you sure she posted it on your wall specifically? If so, that's pretty rude (presuming you haven't been going around posting on her wall about Jesus).

Your other friend's rant, well, that's what people do on FB, be it about politics or whatever. It seems aggressive to you because it's rejecting what you believe so strongly, to those who agree with her it might just seem like a normal statement.

Some evangelicals can be very aggressive themselves, and this is probably what they are reacting to, not you personally. Assuming you really don't go on about it?

[Wallison]

^ Nowadays it has become almost embarrassing to admit that you believe in God.

Yes, you are very much a persecuted minority. There is no state church, there are no bishops in the HoL, there is no requirement for all state schools to indoctrinate children in assemblies etc etc etc.

Poor old you, eh?

[Anniegetyourgun]

The more I hear about Facebook the more I am convinced it is the work of the Devil, and putting half-witted things like "click if you love Jesus" (I thought you were supposed to be at least 13 years old to use FB!) doesn't prove otherwise.

Also laughing, like Bruxeur, about the evangelist who doesn't.

[FromEsme]

Surely it's only embarrassing to say you believe in God if you're embarrassed by your beliefs. Isn't that a bit against your religion? I thought people were meant to be all happy and non-embarrassed by believing in God.

[dreamingbohemian]

Also, are you all in the UK?

I'm American and I kind of understand why atheists get a bit aggressive there, as religion intrudes so much into politics and government.

I'm actually curious why atheists would be so strident in Britain, as in my experience anyway it seems a much more secular society. (sorry for the tangent)

[FushiaFernica]

wallison I wished I had added to my message that I am agnostic. I just meant that society currently favours non-believers in God.

[Wallison]

How exactly does society do that, FushiaFernica?