I have an Aspie friend who has converted to Christianity

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I think he's getting kinda carried away with it, personally. The fact that his uncle and aunt are conservative (and he gets along with 'em better than he does his own parents) doesn't seem to help things (IMHO) I remember he said something like "I'm so dedicated to Jesus Christ that I'm giving up watching 'South Park' and denouncing Trey Parker and Matt Stone as my heroes". When I heard that, a little fuse went off in my head, and I was like "OK THAT'S IT!!" I was pretty disappointed. I actually don't like "South Park" much at all myself, but I know that the reason I liked him so much was his sense of humor, and that seemed to be one of the shows that influenced his sarcastic, edgy, but still accessible sense of humor. I LIKED that!! Then he said that this was "only the beginning" (what next "Family Guy"?! "The Simpsons"?!? The typical "Adult Swim" shows?!?) He assured me he was "still the same guy", but I talked to a really close friend of his that's become a close friend of mine, and honestly, I don't think he is the "same guy".

He was the first (and best) friend I made when I moved to Northern California this year. I feel like crying, and have felt like that for about a day or so now I've known other Christians who listen to music and watch movies/TV shows that a (stereo)typical Christian church would probably not approve of, and I think that's GREAT that those people are able to be who they are yet still keep their personal beliefs. Long story short, I'm worried and feeling just a tiny bit lonely too (though the latter will probably pass more quickly). If you guys could I'd like some comforting words from whoever wants to say them. Thank you for reading this, and have a nice day!

I LOVE that this is where you draw the line .

Seriously though, it certainly sounds to me like he's taking it a bit too far. This reminds me of a dear friend I lost to AA. When she got out of rehab she wouldn't hang out with me anymore because we used to drink together on occasions in the past.
She had to avoid all people, places, things, blah, blah, blah. I think both of them have exhibited a cult-like mindset. I don't have any advice, sorry.

A footnote of sorts: In the book, Pilgrim's Progress (science fiction religious book) by John Bunyan, Christian left his wife and four children to go on a walk to Celestial City. Christian didn't just leave his girlfriend behind, he literally left his wife and four children behind (in the City of Destruction). In Part 2, his wife, Christiana and their four children also leave the City of Destruction and go on a walk to Celestial City. Some people do get carried away by what they perceive to be the message of the Book (Bible). The Bible may be the most imaginative book ever written which is one of the reasons some people can change by reading it/becoming aware of the stories in it. I don't have any advice.

This is not surprising. I mean, no, your friend isn't the same person, and they won't be back until their faith wanes or explodes.

Btw, funny stuff here. Here's a relevant article:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/stuffchristia ... music.html

If you don't share their level of faith then you have another thing coming. If you think street evangelicals were annoying, you have not met an aspie who's obsession is religion. They will incessantly quote scripture, judge you, try and get you to go to church/youth bible study, thank God for everything from having good weather to catching a green light. Imagine the biggest Jesus freak you have met and multiply it by 5.

I would minimize contact with your friend until he switches to another obsession.

ugggghhh...unfortunately I think you're RIGHT!! ! Which is tragic 'cuz he was my best NoCal friend and THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD DRIVE!! !! Now I'm gonna have to have my MOM drive me everywhere this SUCKS!!

There was an Aspie I met on WP who is Christian but not "radically" so, so that's not completely true. But for my friend in question I think you might be right If I were the type who drank, I'd literally guzzle 99 bottles of beer!! But I'm not. I just wanna have a good day to be by myself and cry, but I haven't had the opportunity yet!!

Most Aspies DO have obsessions, though - mine is music - so my current song I have in my head is "Losing A Whole Year" by Third Eye Blind - it's about a sexual relationship and not a friendship, but I still feel like I can identify. Stephan Jenkins basically sings about a "good girl gone bad" in "Losing A Whole Year", but by the end of it he's so frustrated by who his girl has become (with oblique references to The Great Gatsby in some of the lyrics), that he has this tortured scream of "GO AWAAAYYY!! !" twice in the end!! This isn't the kind of annoying (IMO) screams you hear in heavy metal songs, more like the ones that just make you wanna say, "Wow, I feel your pain, dude!"

I am speaking from experience. While your friend may continue to be Christian the intensity will settle down to an appropriate level, it took my friend about 6 months and every once in a while he will say something batsh*t crazy about spiritual warfare or something ultraconservative and bigoted but it is no where near the extent as when he first acquired the obsession.

Why not learn to drive?

I am not a believer but I think that religion (in moderation) can be a very positive and rewarding thing in a person's life.

The question is "how much is too much?" We all know that past a certain point people turn into wild eyed fanatics and that is not a good thing. That leads to the Inquisition and Suicide Bombers.

It's impossible - I have bad peripheral vision

Exactly - in MODERATION it's good - my friend seems to be taking it a bit TOO seriously though, and that's why I'm worried

My child, the Lord doth work in mysterious ways. Look not upon this as the Cross thou must bear but as the fruit of His prayers. Let He who hath seen the Light of Day drive thee where thou may. Look at this blight as a tide for embracing Christ's awesome, redeeming, verily sexual love.

I don't know what that means

Exactly, just like all religious gobbledygook.

sooooo....your comment was sarcastic?!? It's a little hard for me to tell

My condolences to your friend. With any luck he will wake up soon enough.

ruveyn