Cultural and spiritual differences

[EtinOcadoEgo]

So this is incredibly difficult and I don't want to goad or inflame but rather seek some practical advice...
How do you deal with people who believe in evil, ghosts and demons, the illuminati and general superstitious clap trap? The background is that the 'believers' talk non stop about it and the non believer is a) bored by it and b) understandably rather freaked out. Any contradiction or attempt at countering these beliefs is taken as proof that the non believer is being manipulated by the 'evil one'
WWYD?!

[EtinOcadoEgo]

The non believer is Christian as well and strongly and happily so. Any advice? It's not me and at the moment I'm advising her to avoid it as a topic of conversation and stay strong in her personal beliefs- I don't want to give it too much credence by offering to pray for protection for her, although I am!

[RestlessTraveller]

As you've said you are praying for her assume you believe in god. In my eyes that's 'clap-trap' also. Your fairy-tale doesn't trump hers.

[headinhands]

I would make it clear I'm not interested in discussing it with her. But I'd let her know I knew she was acting out of love so wouldn't be offended. And then I would have a bloody good laugh about their beliefs with my DH

[thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts]

This one is cultural and is a bit mind blowing if you haven't come across it before. I would also advise her not to talk about this part of her faith as it is something that the British are really uncomfortable with. The late great CS Lewis (of Narnia fame) said that there were two major errors in dealing with the demonic which goes something like : one error is to ignore it and the other is to take too much of an interest in it. I would encourage her to pray for the person they are concerned about but not whilst they are present as this also freaks out the British.

[headinhands]

Gosh. Just realised both people are superstitious. And you can't, as a believer in one set of beliefs, call a different set of beliefs clap-trap. Don't you see the hypocrisy. Nether person has any evidence for what they believe.

[moonstruckl8]

I get your point here Op, do both people have the same faith? Im muslim so when you come across this in another muslim its usually someone obsessed with jinns and black magic and evil eye, everywhere they turn they see evidence of it and so they're freaked out by it and try to freak you out by it. I normally avoid such a person because their swivel eyed paranoia eventually starts to see you as an enemy also if you don't agree with them. Their baby gets sick or their favourite plate gets cracked and they say 'it happens everytime she visits' about you lol.

[EtinOcadoEgo]

Hello- I hadn't seen this was active!
moonstruckl8 You've got it exactly! Fortunately the situation has resolved- I posted this summer when DD was in a very remote and isolated situation- she got through it! Thanks, thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts too for your advice.

Restless and headinhands Any excuse for a little goady atheism, eh?

[RestlessTraveller]

Absolutely not! Just trying to work out why you think your beliefs are more important than hers?

[EtinOcadoEgo]

I wasn't there. My beliefs really are irrelevant. I was posting for advice for a third party who was getting increasingly spooked by talk of demons and possession.
BTW you do realise that you're fulfilling my claim in that last post!?

[specialsubject]

The simple answer is for both parties to get a life and find other friends and other topics of conversation.

I am also head in hands that a believer in one religion insults another yet gets upset when their own is mocked. Check that mirror, eh?

[specialsubject]

BTW pay for protection? Call the police ffs.

[RestlessTraveller]

So just by asking about your beliefs I have an atheists agenda?