I don’t have any friends that believe in god :(

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This is true, but the OP specifically states that she wants a feeling of community. She wants someone to pray with her. She is facing homelessness and wants the support / spiritual kinship of another person. The role of the church is to administer to the weak, the forlorn, and the needy -- to be of service. It seems that she misses that connection:



I would suggest again that you reach out to your church or the bishop online. Explain how you're feeling, and what type of prayer group you'd like to join. My church has been very active in community support during the pandemic. Perhaps you are eligible for food and clothing support, or perhaps you'd also like to volunteer in some way to meet and help other people as you deal with your depression.

I've been alone most my life.. but I rarely feel alone.. because I keep my self busy.. lots of things interest me. The only time I feel really alone is when I try to convey my thoughts to others.. and they are either not interested or don't understand.

The best thing I ever done in my life (i'm 70) was to practise hours and hours of meditation.. I did it obsessively for some time.. sessions of up to 3 hours or more (but taking a break to stretch my legs ).. You can walk while meditating too.. once you get the hang of silencing your thoughts.. and concentrating entirely on what is going on around you at this very moment.. YOU WILL FEEL FANTASTIC.. but you have to work hard at it to get into your inner worlds.. amazing dreams and visions.. and then one day.. if all goes well.. you will experience a transformation of consciousness.. and for want of another word.. you will refer to it as God.. and you will understand what Buddha was talking about.. The New Testament teaches GOD IS INSIDE.. and exists.. or does not exist..in human hearts and minds..

Ask your Atheist friends if they believe in.. Loving kindness.. Righteousness.. Justice.. Wisdom.. Peace.. Truth.. and Freedom.. if they do.. then they believe in the concept of God that was revealed in the words.. and actions.. of Jesus.. the Godman.. Son of God originates from Psalms 82:5... which says.. we are ALL a part of God.. there is no separation.. The WHOLE is GREATER than the sum of its parts..

“They have not known, and they do not understand; In darkness they keep walking about; All the foundations of the earth are made to totter. I myself have said, 'You are gods, And ALL of you are sons of the Most High.”... says the POET.

"Do you not know that you people are God's temple, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? The temple of God is holy, which temple you people are." - Corinthians 3:16


"The end of life is to be like God, and the soul following God will be like Him." -- Socrates


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I'm not sure why not believing in god would be an issue for you, I don't have an issue with people who believe in god. This shouldn't be a deal breaker for friendships unless you were looking for church buddies, then this makes sense. You mentioned you wanted someone to pray with, so for emotional support, you would like someone to pray with you.


Your OP sounds more like The Haven post.

^^^

Amen,

'A Gardener',

And Please Don't

Go Away, No Matter

What Anyone Else

Says Here...

A

Breath

of Fresh Air i Feel

In These Words You Bring As Wind Will 'See'...

Welcome to A Greater Planet Within You BRinG iNdeed..

Please do not comment things that are not nice or necessary.

She said nothing un-nice or un-necessary.

1) Does your religion exclude people whose personal beliefs deviate from your religion's accepted doctrine?

2) Do you have an objection to this thread being in The Haven; and if so, what is that objection?

How is anything she said not nice?

She simply stated that she doesn’t really think believing in the same God or god(s) needs to be a criteria for selecting friends. I tend to agree with her. People’s religious beliefs, or lack thereof, are personal & have no bearing on whether I would hangout with them or not.

Same almost goes for prayer, too. I’ve gone to Gurdwaras with an old contractor boss of mine when he’s wanted to stop in and pray. Didn’t bother me at all to take off my shoes, cover my hair, and join him.

I didn't meant to come off as insensitive, stupid autism trait. Thanks for the support fnord and goldfish and agody (sp).

No worries.  I saw nothing insensitive in your post.

That feeling is totally understandable.
And uncomfortable.
A hunger for connection which is not getting fed.

I'm not sure my messy health as it is today will allow me to concisely detail the thing about why it is an issue, but it is, and it is a big one and I am going to say something.
The kind of belief, of faith, in God, which I expect that Immensity is speaking of inhabits a person's entire being and in a way which becomes, to employ a computer term, their operating system.
It figures in to their priorities, their thoughts, their feelings, their values, their identity, and more that my brain won't pin specific words on right now.
And those, especially the ones closer to the core of a person's being, will be very different from those of a person who does not believe, enough so that the for all practical purposes believer and the atheist inhabit different universes.

You guys zero percent understand my post.

I will not be attacked.

I will not be posting anymore. This is outrageous.

Thank you for actually understanding my post and giving a heartfelt reply and not just attacking me.

And yes, what you described is 100% what I feel.

Obviously to everyone I called them my friends so how can I exclude someone from my friendship based on their beliefs when I already called them my friend...

Feel free to explain yourself.

No one attacked you.

Ok, that’s your choice.

That makes it sound like someone’s faith isn’t very strong if they’re codependent on the confirmation bias of someone else’ presence & belief in order to feel religious.

That saddens me.  The only friends I have ever banished from my life are those people who either betrayed me (or mine), physically assaulted me (or mine) or committed a heinous crime against someone else (i.e., murder, rape, et cetera).

I have friends who practice Atheism, as well as Christianity, Judaism, Mohammedism (Islam), Paganism and other religions, because we accept the parts of our belief systems that call for acceptance, rather than rejection.  Sure, we discuss our various points-of-view, but more to be informative than to convert (although conversion has happened).

I wish you well.