Pod People
Sep. 1st, 2010 02:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tinhuvielThere's been something bothering me for some time now, and that's friends who've suddenly "found Jesus" and become drones of the church. I've had two friends do this. I don't normally mind it when someone finds their way closer to a higher power but, when you have a total personality overhaul, I have to wonder if what has happened is healthy. One friend mentions church every chance she gets and the other friend talks about nothing but his church. He is completely unrecognisable from the friend I once had. Why do people do this? I mean, I can understand a person wanting a personal relationship with deity, but why are some people prone to giving over who they are for the chance to get nearer to god/dess? It's baffling to say the least and saddening as well, because I'm not sure our friendship can survive this if it lasts for any length of time. I'm not being superficial here, as this has been going on now for over a year. You found god? Good for you. Just don't lose friends because you've turned into a pod person.
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Date: 2010-09-01 06:58 pm (UTC)I have very deep religious views. They are my views, though, and not ones I tend to foist off on others.
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Date: 2010-09-01 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 07:04 pm (UTC)She and I used to party together when we were single. I can even recall her mentioning a chance to relax with some chemical aid only a few years ago, after her daughter was born.
She started church before she had her daughter, attending with her mom, and her husband went along as well. But in the last year or so, it's become all she does, and it becomes the end of almost every conversation or visit we have. I appreciate being invited, and have tried to attend events when her daughter is participating. But I'm bordering on being offended by her constant invitations!
And this is the same deity that I follow! I feel like I'm being prosetylized, or that she's finding fault with me because I don't attend somewhere. It's breaking my heart to feel so distant from her.
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Date: 2010-09-01 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 07:33 pm (UTC)Yes, I do understand. And I think certain religious groups are worse than others, personally.
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Date: 2010-09-01 07:33 pm (UTC)Then one day we helped her move into a new apartment and started talking to one of her neighbors. He seemed like a pleasant guy, so we introduced her and they started dating. Then my friend disappeared and became a church-goer to where she sort of dumped me and the hub after they got married, because he thinks we are Pagan weirdos. Granted, we are, but ...
We started talking again on facebook, but her posts almost always center on church stuff... it's hard to see that much change in a friend.
Hopefully they'll all find a middle path soon.
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Date: 2010-09-01 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 08:13 pm (UTC)Contra-wise, I've lost a slew of pagan friends who were "more pagan than thou" as well. Didn't know we had our own brand of evangelicals, but apparently we do. Oy. Don't have a problem with any faith. Respect them I do. But don't try to strong arm me into your way of believing. I tend to get surly.
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Date: 2010-09-01 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 08:35 pm (UTC)Oh well, I'm not going to change for them, and I know that I can't expect them to change for me.
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Date: 2010-09-01 08:06 pm (UTC)For some people it is like any other addiction. Talking about their religion, proselytizing, obsessing over it--it's all a fix to keep themselves "high." These are often people who have had other addictions in the past.
Addicts usually shut out anything inside or outside themselves that doesn't fit with the addiction including personality traits, friends, activities, etc.
I've known people like this and ministries that cater to them. AA can even function like this for some people.
I'm not sure it is "good" for people really, but as addictions go, they could do a lot worse. I don't think there's much you can or should do about it unless there's physical harm involved. Like other addictions for some it is a life-long thing, while others are soon on to the next high.
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Date: 2010-09-01 08:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-01 08:45 pm (UTC)in short, I getcha.
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Date: 2010-09-01 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-02 02:42 pm (UTC)ie.
"JesusFrk likes _Jesus loves everyone_ and _Kill all the immigrants_ and 10 more things" (Like, Share, Shut up!)
"You told JesusFrk to SHUT UP!"
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Date: 2010-09-01 10:09 pm (UTC)But I know plenty of people (more than the average Pagan, methinks) who have become god-spouses (or even god-slaves), etc. and it hasn't turned them into drones. It does, however, transform their entire lives... but it makes them more who they are (themself only moreso) rather than less.
It can still make it hard for others to understand or relate to them. That's one of my jobs, it seems... being a bridge on occasion.
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Date: 2010-09-01 10:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-02 01:39 am (UTC)I think it has something to do with extremes; i.e. the once wild person now insanely conservative. It made me so angry that my ex-friend used to do this kind of stuff, or was at least accepting of it, but was now trying very hard to make it illegal for others to have the same rights. (abortion, gay rights, etc.) I have no problem with religion; I truly understand the need for it. But do NOT get hypocritical on me. Sad, indeed.
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Date: 2010-09-02 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-02 02:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-02 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-02 02:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 11:58 pm (UTC)I can soooo relate.
Weirdly, people think I'm conservative. I guess it's because the extremists think they can't discuss their religion with everyone the way they want (yea, we can manage not to shove our believes down their throat, we don't want to hear it from them 24/7 either! *cough* better now...) so naturally that's the first thing they think of when I say "I don't discuss religion or politics". :)
It's when people find out I'm NOT so conservative that all hell breaks loose...
You found god? Good for you.
Yea, they can put a finder beacon on him since they keep losing him so often. *ba dum tish* :)
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Date: 2010-09-09 12:19 am (UTC)