Has religion ever facilitated your ability to have a conversation with someone of a different belief?

It is mostly with Muslim people that I, an atheist, am able to have the kinds of conversations you speak of and that’s why I have a fondness for Islam over the other two Abrahamic religions.

This isn’t exactly what you were looking for in the description, but a positive conversation I had that was facilitated by religion was with a boy when I was in middle school. We swapped stories about how our peers had antagonized us based on our differing religious upbringings (at the time, I identified as an Atheist; he is Buddhist.) We appreciated knowing someone who had gone through a similar experience, regardless of what we believed or didn’t believe in.

There was no winner or loser – it was about making a personal connection.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir

Have you rejected the other religions, out-of-hand?

Why have you seen Islam as user-friendly? Genuinely curious.

@ibstubro No, of course not – many of my friends are religious (all kinds of religions) – I’m just saying that those kinds of conversations have mostly happened w/Muslim friends rather than friends of the other two Abrahamic religions – it’s not that I see Islam as user-friendly, I see it as not so preachy.

In college, I, a Catholic at the time, had over dinner a very lovely discussion about religion and many other topics with a beautiful young woman who was a Seventh Day Adventist and who later remarked how she appreciated that we talked so openly and in depth. Following dinner, we took a walk in the rain and held hands. After that we went on to have a delicious, slow-burning little love affair that lasted until she got engaged to her boyfriend. So win-win thanks, in part, to religion.

Nope.

I find what facilitates conversation is the ability to list.

Anyone can argue. Few can listen.

Most interesting conversations with Buddhist Christians.

Diehard Christians are the worst because they “have a duty to help you see the light of Christ as the only way to god”. Deadend! I do not know any Jewish people, Muslims seem reasonable. Hindus and Buddhists are easy to talk to. Catholics are reasonable as well (at least the ones I know). Wiccans/Pagans are decent.

Fundamentalist Christians seem the least secure in their beliefs, to me. They brook no discussion, bristle at any question. I think the fact that they are closely affiliated with the Republican Party in the United States has made Christians particularly hard to take because they assume they are operating from a position of power.

The Eastern religions (Hindu, Buddhist, etc.) seem the most secure/serene. Also, the most positive in that it’s not take-it-or-leave it fire-and-brimstone, but a continuing journey of enlightenment and growth.

Once upon a time I would check three books out of the library every visit: 1 fiction, 1 biography and one on religion. I was once well versed in the subject. ;-)

I am an atheist and one of my best friends is a Muslim. She and I have some very interesting religious and spiritual discussions, but it’s a belief system I could never personally follow.

@downtide It’s great when you’re good enough friends with someone that you can discuss religion. My best friend in High School was a Jehovah’s Witness, and while she was reluctant to talk about it at first, she finally opened up when she saw that I was genuinely interested, not interested in passing judgment.

I don’t know where you all are finding all these Muslims to know. I’ve never known a Muslim in my life…one of the hazards of living in the rural Midwest, I’m sure. Although I’m generally open minded, I find that I have a mental stereotype of Muslims, and it’s not altogether flattering. Not BAD, necessarily, but a stereotype all the same. I wish to know a Muslim. :-)

Yes I have.

@ibstubro I’m in the UK and live in a city with a population of around 10–15% Muslim.

Ah, well, we miss so much not living in a city, and we miss so much living in a city.

I had a friend at work that was from St. Louis, and had lived in several large cities. We were talking about living in the rural Midwest, and she said, “It’s not that I’m unhappy here, it’s just that everything is so…white. I’ve always had a variety of friends and I miss the diversity.” I too, miss having diversity.