re an agnostic s question in article apr geneva rutgers edu jdt voodoo ca boeing com jim tomlinson jimt ii writes pardon me if this is the wrong newsgroup i would describe myself as an agnostic in so far as i m sure there is no single universal supreme being but if there is one and it is just we will surely be judged on whether we lived good lives striving to achieve that goodness that is within the power of each of us now the complication is that one of my best friends has become very fundamentalist that would normally be a non issue with me but he feels it is his responsibility to proselytize me which i guess it is according to his faith this is a great strain to our friendship sorry to disappoint you but i m afraid your friendship is in danger perhaps you should examine in yourself why as such a good friend you are unwilling to accept this imortant part of your friends life why do you call into question his faith your friend has changed he has found something that fills a need in his life you need to decide if you are still his friend whether you can accommodate his new life it sounds as if you are criticizing him for a fundamental belief in the bible yet you are quick to reveal that your fundamental belief that it is superstition perhaps if he knew you at least took him seriously that you at least took an interest in the light he has found that you at least tried to understand what has become a special part of his life you could together decide to become fundamentalists respect each others differences and remain friends or part ways maybe even if you stuck it out with him you could help him to un convert of course if you go in with that attitude he will surely see through your intentions and begin to resent you i happen to be a person very tolerant of fundamentalists because i know that the idea of a simple black and white approach to life is appealing i don t happen to share the beliefs of fundamentalists but i am not offended by their prosyletizing i had a few good conversations with some witnesses who came to my door i didn t switch my beliefs but for those at home who maybe need a friendly face to invite them somewhere the witnesses provide a wonderful service you may have been conditioned to believe that religion is unimportant and witnessing is obnoxious but why are you afraid you might be converted and become one of them that you will be swept up in fundamentalism that you will become a weirdo friendship s a two way street you must respect your friend all of him including his beliefs if you want the friendship to continue joe moore
