To think that this friendship prob won't last

[KitWillDoodle]

I've only discussed this with my husband and am genuinely keen to hear what you would do or indeed have done in my position. Will try and keep it short. Met a fellow Mum and we hit it off, had similar ideas on raising our children and always managed to have a laugh together. She is a strict Catholic, I was raised Church of England, went to a Catholic school so would consider myself Christian if pushed on the subject, but it's not something I think about day to day.

Anyway, I was around at her place one day and she got on to the subject of homosexuality...well, fire and brimstone!! I got the full sermon, it's immoral, the bible says its wrong, homosexuals should deny their feelings and not act on their sexuality, and so on it went, on and on... it was all a bit awkward, however I wasn't about to sit in silence, I had to stand my ground. For a start my Uncle is gay and I've known this from about the age of 7 or 8, my Uncle lived with his boyfriend and all of us kids called them Uncle and Uncle, our parents never made an issue of it and so it never was an issue, none of us really thought twice about it, we just loved the fact that they took us driving in their camper van and had a really house! And that was easily over 30 years ago! I have gay friends and colleagues, as I'm sure most of us do, and I just don't think anything of it. I mentioned a friend of mine who has adopted a little boy with his partner and she said that shouldn't be allowed, it's wrong, etc etc. They're easily two of the best parents I know and I often ask him for advice on parenting, the thought that if she had her way their little boy might still be in foster care....well, what can I say. I also have a friend who's father is gay, it was the 70's and he repressed his sexuality, married and had a family. However as time went on her parents couldn't keep up the charade, the truth is now out and the effect on my friend and her brother has been devastating. Do we go back to those days?

We agreed to disagree and moved on to dining room furniture or a more neutral subject! My husband said the other week that I hadn't seen this woman for a while and I told him I just didn't know how I could continue the friendship, can you be friends with someone with such opposing views to you? I don't know. Interested to hear your thoughts, would I be unreasonable to let this friendship die out?

So Jesus said to completely discount everything in the Old Testament?
Despite being a Jew.

They never mentioned that in my 5 years at Catholic School!

Sorry Meirasa, I'm not trying to start an argument with you - I'm just trying to understand why so many people follow a religion (in fact the majority i've met) which is basically "love each other" yet use it to judge and condemn other people.

Dealbreaker for me.

TheBloodManCometh :-)

I think the problem is too often people who aren't properly educated in it or how have their own bias to contend with teach RE. Some schools take the view that anyone can do it, and to be honest I think it needs to be very well taught, not evangelized and taught in the correct context.

I know all the quotes 'Christians' use from the Bible to back up their bile. Each one can be refuted by something Jesus said and did. This was a guy who came for the marginalized in society- bugs me how people have twisted his message to suit themselves.

Sorry, sounds as if you have fundamentally opposed values. This friendship is doomed

Kleine -- Acts 10:15: God tells St Peter in a vision that it's OK to have a prawn cocktail.

OP -- It would be a dealbreaker for me. I don't think I could get past that sort of bigotry.

God tells St Peter in a vision that it's OK to have a prawn cocktail

And lo, and Angel from above said to Mary "A packet of them there Walkers Crisps will sort those cravings right out"

Heaven forbid people should love each other.
Friendship probably not going anywhere unless you feel she might change her whole worldview with a bit more chatting!

I've had similar today, chat to a mum who's ds gets on the same bus as mine nice kid, nice woman, or so I thought.

I was saying how I'd like to get back to work, and she said...Yeah problem is all those bloody immigrants taking all the jobs and houses isn't it?....I didn't manage to say anything back, was just

I won't be taking up the coffee offer, even though I've not one friend in this new village.

Life's too short to spend it arguing or biting your tongue with supposed friends.

Of course there is the notion that we could all be nice to one another without needing a skyfairy to tell us to.

Or is that too heretical ?

Surely in Christianity, it is just as 'wrong' to hate Homophobes as it is for them to condemn homosexuals.
You can hate someone's views and yet still see their good qualities - they will have some.

LurkingHusband I wasn't going to say it but yes, that is my view

Nope, I'm also of the opinion that, while it's difficult to argue with 'love your neighbour as yourself', a purely secular morality, without the reward of angels playing the lute on a cloud or the threat of hairy demons poking you with fiery pitchforks, is the adult thing to aim for.

Davsmum, I don't think so. Biblically, Jesus has an excellent record of sticking up for the marginalised - the woman about to be stoned to death for adultery, prostitutes, despised tax-collectors, the sick, the mentally-ill - over the professionally-offended establishment righteous, like the Pharisees. (Though I always have a sneaking sympathy for the Prodigal Son's well-behaved brother, working his ass off for his dad and understandably passed off when the black sheep gets a hero's welcome home after blowing his inheritance on booze and hookers...)

You can stick up for for people without hating the people who are 'attacking' them.
I am not into any organised religion - but I don't think you can beat hatred with hatred.

Louise the prodigal son is a parable though! pointing out to the devout that they shouldn't be envious or unwelcoming of the Johnny come latleys to faith.