I think you have to be careful when talking to people about church. However just like you said it is really no different from talking about "curling or bridge". There is no reason not to talk about your faith you just have to make sure you are not forcing it down peoples throats you need to be accepting of their opinons as well. Just like when you talk to someone about "curling or bridge" you dont insists they need to love them you just expose them to your love of these activites and you accept that they may like different activities then you do.

A good examle is me and my best freind, he is a atheists I am a believer in Jesus. We both talk to each other about our views on faith and try to understand where the other comes from. A lot of people are surprised we can talk so openly about it but I believe a part of developing your faith is understanding the faith of others. We are however also very careful to never shove our opinons at each other or say we are right and the other is wrong and I think that is the key to bein able to openly talk about faith.

So yeah I think talking about faith with people of a different faith then you is a viable option. As long as A. both are open to listenng to the others opinons and B. neither person trys to say that they are right

If you found a great new restaurant you might recommend it to friends. If you read a great book or saw an amazing movie you'd tell people about it. Why not introduce them to a loving GOD? Not everyone will accept but extending an invitation is fine.

Like Pinga - if someone asks what I did on the weekend I would probably mention that I went to a really great event at the church on Friday night, that I was shopping Saturday afternoon and ran across a fabulous sale, and I went to church on Sunday and stayed for brunch.  Then if they were interested I might tell them that the Friday night event was a story teller, who showed us how we could bring scripture alive through telling rather than reading the story.  Depending on the interest, I might go on about the evening and follow up by saying he delivered the message on Sunday morning and it really opened my eyes to how it might have been with the crowds gathered around Jesus at the seashore.  But if they would rather talk about the sale at the Mall or what they did on the weekend - I would be fine with that too.

I don't hide the fact that I am a Christian, and that quite a bit of my time and energy is directed towards my church - but I don't push it either.  If someone would rather go boating or skiing on the weekends, that's up to them.  I don't criticize them.  But

'as for me and my house, we will worship the Lord.'   And we go to church whenever possible. 

I have a few friends in the church, attending other Christian churches, or of other religions, and a few with no religion with whom I feel comfortable talking about what I believe and what my faith means to me.  Some of my deepest and most spiritual conversations were with a young Buddhist man who I have mentioned before on the Cafe - he rented a room from me while attending university. 

Sometimes I know a person for quite awhile, say at bowling, without ever mentioning a faith issue; then something happens, her husband dies and weeks later she brings up something that is bothering her and I share what I believe about death or grieving or whatever and hope to bring her comfort.  Sometimes someone, knowing I am a Christian, will ask me to pray for them, and I might hold their hands and pray - or tell them that I will hold them in my thoughts and prayers. 

Yes, I discuss faith with friends - but mainly as a mutual exchange and sharing of faith, or answering their questions, and I hope always respectful of what they believe.

 Alot of my non-Christian friends of old have gone their own way. They keep in touch in a manner of speaking but it is plain that my stay at home mom, not smoking pot or drinking or going to the bars lifestyle leaves us without much in common. I am no longer 'cool' and therefore boring. 

Scripture says that the fragrance of the Lord can be as a stench unto death to the unsaved. I guess I smell bad.

I don't follow any religion in a formal sense, like belonging to a church or coven.  I  respond best to those who 'show' me what their faith means.  Christians talk about 'love' - but I have rarely experienced any 'loving action towards me' coming from their faith base.  When I was ill it was non religious friends who got my groceries, cleaned my house and checked on my safety and well being.  Same when I was grieving. 

I have had Christian aquaintances 'lecture me' on the 'rules of their faith' and it had the opposite affect to the one the planned.  I have been told that Christians believe that their god is love but it doesn't seem much use to anything or anyone if it isn't spread around outside the walls of churches.

 Sounds like a difficult batch of Christians, tied up in legalities. Next time they lecture you, call them a Pharisee. That'll make them think.

I wasn't thinking about a particular batch of Christians.  I thought about the people I know, family, friends, neighbors, people at work.  My experience is that people who don't go to church have been more helpful and caring to me when I've been having a tough time.  Those who go to church talk about being loving but don't show me what that means in practicle ways.

 I understand what you are saying.  My parents have been through plenty but I heard next to nothing about church members bringing them meals ect. The nuns were praying, we were told. 

My husband and I have been through alot and if there is one thing our church exels at is the practical help area. Meals, help moving, that sort of stuff. That is not to diminish the power of prayer because alot of that goes on too and spiritual support is every bit as important. But yeah, the practical realm certainly needs adressing. Prayer does not directly put food on the table. If everyone prays, who is acting on it?

I think that's a very valid thought, and I think you're going about it with the right attitude Pinga. You're treating it like anything else you enjoy and want to share with friends. It's not like you're pushing religion on them or you're going to dislike them if they don't convert. It's good to freely discuss things in your life, and not to be afraid to do so. Though some people might not like it and you might then not see them again.

In my life I have certainly been afraid to share my religious views with people. I have seen it as personal, and only started talking when I figured out that that person would accept my views and likely share them. I alienated a couple of friends once when I told them I celebrated pagan holidays and not christian ones. He felt I had been lying to them all along, and she felt she should accept it if she was a good friend. I no longer talk with either of them as of a couple years ago. There were other complications as well though, that wasn't the whole story, or so I believe anyway.

When I was a pagan, it was pretty lonely, and I did quietly look out for other pagans. I only found one. I never expected to make anybody else a pagan.

Now I am a little more open as a non believer, but I know when to button it so as not to offend people, or at least, I'm successfull at that most of the time!

Oh, and I still celebrate pagan holidays, and I still keep fairly quiet about it. It upsets some people. I supose I haven't really changed that much, just become more realistic. WHen people used to ask me about the charms I wore years ago though I would explain. Sometimes they thought I was kinda loopy. Maybe I was! Maybe just a dreamer~

 so one should keep their eyes open on solstices for Elanor running about the hills, skyclad?

Followed by Billy Connolly - equally "skyclad"!

 That would be the SUMMER solstice I imagine.

Why is Billy Connely a pagan? Chuckle chuckle...no I never ran about naked! Just the run of the mill egg painting, tree decorating in December, watching Midsummer Nights' Dream every summer solstice. I don't do a darn thing for May Day. Putting up a maypole is just too much work! ; ) I did decorate a BC Hydro pole with a friend one may day though! ; ) The BC Hydro guys were in for a big surprise!

Interesting post! Really interesting! It's my first hour of joining this websites community. I have a lot to share, however not ready to share it yet! I am a Muslim who lives in Dubai (The Gulf Region) I was always affraid that if I go to America, Canada, or even Europe I would be fought against, for action that others have done that wouldn't relate to me in anyway. So by reading this post, it had definitely eased some of those worrisome thoughts.

Have a great week people!

 Hi Realist.  I am a fellow realist, married to an idealist.  We balance each other out but it drives us both nuts sometimes, haha.

Welcome to Wondercafe!

Hmm...I just got asked about my faith and got into a cheery discussion a while back about 9:30 tonight.

It was good to explain.

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

 I have a good friend who is a Christian like myself. He worked in a factory line setting with alot of Middle Eastern Muslims and became very good friends with them.  To the point of getting invited to the odd wedding  (yum yum). He said  he would trust those guys with his life and, even more importantly, with his kids' lives.

Omni, explanation is always good. Promotes peace and understanding. Glad you had a good conversation.

I had a friend in elementary school who was muslim. I didn't end up going to her wedding, but my best friend did. A really neet experience for her (my atheist/pagan best friend).

 I love the movie Bend it Like Beckham.  I assume the family  were Hindu  or Sikh but the wedding looked like a helluva good time.

Bend it like beckham is one of my favs as well.

Oh, and on the topic of religion, i've official made contact with a Muslim family.  I'm not the only Muslim in my town anymore!  w00t!

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

 Glad to hear it Omni.  Enjoy your newfound fellowship.

Hi SG

When I say, it made me a better person, I mean...it made me a better person than I was before.

I do not imply it made me better than anyone else.

My sense is you read it the latter way....or thought that is what I was implying...

Not at all Pinga... I understand what you meant.

For some, the experience makes them better. For others, the opposite can be true.

I have found myself to have been both. =)

 What I hate is when someone who didn't grow up with money GETS money (marries it in this case) and it does NOT make them a better person. They lose all understanding of the way people have to live. "WE"  are struggling to make ends meet and are driving a piece of crap. "THEY are planning the pool they are going to put in. And if you are living lean, they think you must be somehow incompetent in life.

OK that's my rant. I had to tell somebody.

I've always wanted to share my faith with some of my freinds but I've always been too afraid to sound preachy as I know how awkward it feels, seeing as that was how I felt before I became a Christian. Any advice on how to do it without sounding like you're trying to convert?

I recommend not saying anything til people ask, or if you'd have to lie to conceal it. In that case do say, "I can't come on sunday. I go to church." Then if they want to know more they will ask. But don't tell them more than they are open to hearing. The other thing you can do is seek out other believers to let it all hang out with.

I remember friends going on about Jesus when I was in grade 9, and it really weirded me out. I flat out asked one friend, "Do you really believe Jesus existed?" He was quiet, then the next day came back with his well deliberated answer, "Yes I do. " That was the end of that friendship. He thought I was a wicked sinner sent to test him, I thought he was overly led by his parents and self deluded. My other church going friends talked amongst themselves about church things but not to me. It was simply a world I was not a part of.