To feel sad and like the friendship is over due to flat earth belief

[UprootedSunflower]

Friend is a nice person. Comes across sensible, though has had a deepening religious conviction over the last 5-10 years. I’m Christian myself, but I’m talking a bit more fringe. We don’t talk about the fact she probably doesn’t consider me a Christian anymore. I ignore it.
But today I overheard her get really animated and happy in a flat earth discussion. She believes in flat earth. An intelligent woman who’s travelled the world and is from a country in the southern hemisphere. I’d certainly say she is educated and far from stupid.
Aibu in finding this a bit of a final straw moment for being friends? It just felt like something snapped inside that I could t ignore tbh when I heard her. I don’t feel like I want to expose the children, and I don’t feel I can keep the pretence up. It’s just a bit too far, and it feels like it’s gone over the edge.
Aibu, silly to give up on a warm and pleasant person? Or would you be drawing a line?

The comment about "having a pulse" was mean.

I am probably more open-minded than you are. Someone having a weird belief, I would just put it down as a quirk and not let it bother me. It's harmless. That same person might have skills or something I don't have.

I have some ridiculously bright friends. Famously rewarded for their achievements. I have absolutely no doubt that I can be called stupid in comparison 😂They somehow still talk to me 😂

I would not go into a relationship with a flat-earther, it's not enough to stop me from having them as friends. I'd probably draw the line at them trying to convince me and being obsessed by it.

I woud be bemused, but then you consider yourself a christian so IMO I’d probably have the same opinion of you that you do of her.

Consider her harmless entertainment.

My best friend is a Brexit supporter and votes Conservative. I'm a life long left of centre Remainer.

As soon as she hit 55, she sold her house and moved into a retirement flat. I totally get the downsizing but thought moving into a retirement flat was a bad idea as they're difficult to sell.

We've had discussions about our different opinions but while neither side will budge it hasn't affected our friendship at all. We've been friends for 40 years. A few differing opinions ain't going to change that. We just agree to disagree.

@bluewaxcrayon

I would just put it down as a quirk and not let it bother me. It's harmless.

Going to have to agree to disagree on this: I don’t think it is harmless.

I don’t think believing the world to be flat is harmful per se: but a mind that is so easily manipulated into believing something to be true when there is abundant evidence to the contrary isn’t one I would enjoy engaging with. Particularly when it’s such a pointless thing to commit yourself to. I just wouldn’t trust that person to have sensible thoughts on things that really matter.

I don’t require my friends to be huge intellectual giants; but I do want them to be intelligent and mentally robust enough not to fall down exceptionally pointless rabbit holes.

Some extremely intelligent people are eccentric and quirky and have different beliefs about different things. The way I see it life would be really boring if we were all the same. The belief isn’t harming anyone. And I don’t think it automatically means the person is stupid.

Totally agree with this comment

‘Several people have made this point, however it’s a false equivalence. The earth is demonstrably not flat, however science doesn’t rule out the existence of god.

Its not a false equivalence, it’s just a petty insult. Makes the Godless feel superior on a Sunday 👹

No I wouldn’t be friends with a holocaust denier . That’s a whole different kettle of fish. Come on

YANBU
I've recently fallen out with a very well educated friend who has decided climate change ia a myth.
I can't separate the person from a belief like that - it changes how I feel about her.
The bad thing is I know she never used to think this, but has got it off the Internet.

I had a friend who fell down a hole during Covid, as others did. They went from anti-vax to serious woo, believing energy fields in the body could cure cancer etc, and in recent months have gone full anti-immigration and racist.
All influenced by Facebook rubbish.

I can’t associate with anyone like that.

I would struggle to be friends with someone like that. Not because of their beliefs as such but because I would have no respect for them at all and I prefer relationships with people I consider to be an equal, not someone I pitied

This is an excellent point. I view devoutly religious people as delusional, and flat-earthers are just extension of that delusion. Except we can prove that the Earth isn't flat.

@MarvellousMonsters

I’m an atheist. But at least religion has a moral snd ethical code. Whatever you think of it (and I don’t think much), there is at least a bigger goal to religion.

As far as I can tell there’s no point to being a flat earther other than being awkward and deliberately misinformed. And boring people to death.

God talking to her is not just a believe. She is likely an undiagnosed Schizophrenic. I’d suggest they get help and make sure they tell their medical professional God talks to them all the time. God is not that talkative.

I thought of that line about two seconds before I saw your post! 😸

Love this!

People having different beliefs to oneself is what makes the world go around. I don't believe in a lot of things that people normally believe in, that doesn't make me unintelligent, I just have different views on things and share them with like minded friends.
I find all sorts of "rabbit hole" topics fascinating, it doesn't mean to say I blindly believe them!
Personally, I find xenophobic people with narrow minds and tunnel vision the type of people I wouldn't want to be around.
But if OP's friend isn't ramming her belief down her throat, or talking about it every time they meet up, then I'd keep the friendship going. They may not share each others views, but if they enjoy each others company, that's what makes for rich, diverse and interesting friendships.

'it feels like it’s gone over the edge.'
😂

If you want to find out just how utterly bizarre Flerfers can be just have a look at any Facebook group that involves astronomy. One of the central tenets of their delusion is that NASA lies about everything and all their photographs and videos are faked. This very frequently then expands into other conspiracy beliefs including but not limited to anti Vax, chemtrails, deep state mind control, New World Order, anti semitism, holocaust denial, climate change denial etc etc. My advice would be to avoid them.

This nails it. Like a gateway drug? You’re probably hanging out with and condoning all of that on a wider scale.

Yes. If you’ve flown anywhere you cal look out of the window and see it’s bloody curved.
Honestly she’s nuts. What on earth can she bring to a friendship?

Idiots like them are not worth being friends with

Flat earth theory isn't really any more out there than believing in a god, it's just not quite as common. Unless there's other reasons I'd just treat it the same as any other belief and explain to the kids that some people believe different things from the past but that you don't because of science we know nowadays, and then just smile and change the topic when she brings it up.

To be fair, you believe in god and he doesn't exist either.