Being surrounded by people can be the loneliest place in the world. Knowing there are a small number of people out there who understand you without judging you, wherever they are, is the most comforting feeling in the world. Having a common interest with other folks is enjoyable.
Only your true friends can bring comfort. You wouldn't go down Devils Bridge to discuss your marriage break-up with another bloke just cos he rides the same bike as you, would you? Of course not, you'd find your best buddy. You don't go to church to sit with your closest friends, you go because of your individual belief, to a place where other individuals can share a common belief. These are not your friends, you can do without them. You cannot do without your true friends.
You do not need to see or speak with true friends every day. Sometimes I don't see mine for months and months on end. Yet when we do see and talk to each other we carry on where we left off. True friends stand by you and support you through thick and thin. They don't question what or why you do things. I have 3 such friends that I would trust my life with, and vice versa. Everyone else is an acquaintance.
I have two very close friends, people I'd risk my life for. I've not seen one of them in over ten years (he emigrated), but I know for certain I can count on him in a crisis, and he knows the same. That is the mark of a friend. I put up a mate for 9 months after his employer shafted him and left him potless. Would your happy clappy god-bothering buddies do the same? The ones you meet every week without fail? Like fuck would they.
Aptly illustrated by the USA. One of the most religious and "God fearing" Christian countries on earth. Yet despite being "Christian" most cannot and will not help those that are in a worse place than they are. Their attitude to a health service is prime example of that.
fig, i get your point but isn't it a bit hard to judge on people we don't even know who they are... and to the US : isn't their volenteering/foundation/benefactor system amongst the most developped in the world?
As far as the US goes - I agree... Funny that it's the "god-fearing" Americans that are determined to stop free healthcare for the poor folk who really need it - not a very "Christian" attitude... As for organised religion - standing in a church does not make you a Christian (or a good person) any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. The same applies to most other religions. Of the "Christian" people that I know a few are truly nice people who do, litterally, practice what they preach - but most of them go to church because it gives them a feeling of self-righteousness. Once again I agree with Fig - I have a few real friends and I met them in a variety of ways - because of work, because of motorcycles, purely random meetings. I know people who have a lot of shared interests who I wouldn't give the time of day to. I know people with very different views and iterests to me who I find very interesting and a plesaure to talk to... Live and let live - let those people who enjoy being alone be on their own if they so desire, and don't judge them...
No, the fact that they are always there for me if I need them, without question, without judgement. An vice versa. Posts #45 and #46 capture what I meant very well.
Not at all. You judge every single person you see, within a split second of seeing them. This is human nature. Either you click or you don't, and forcing the issue doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Forcing yourself to go to a congregation of like-minded people every week doesn't make them better friends, it makes them people you see more often... Brilliantly put
Except one can become a christian, one cannot become a car. So utter tosh But then I have no great friends, am not religious and really enjoy being around people, whether just met them or not. Shocker
