“Ask a Priest: What If My Friends Are Aggressively Atheistic?”

Q: I’m a young Christian woman living in an atheist-dominated city. My non-believing peers and friends upset me by telling me over and over that to believe in God is crazy, and they say the Bible is a made-up lie. I never force my views upon them; however, they always belittle my Christianity. How can I get over the uncertainty and distress they have caused? And will the Lord forgive them? – S.W.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: I’m sorry to hear about the situation.

My short suggestion is this: If you find that you aren’t having a positive impact on your friends, but that they are having an increasingly negative impact on you, then you might want to start looking for a new group of friends.

Being around unbelievers who belittle your faith and insult Our Lord will wear you down. At worst, it could start to weaken your faith. It also shows they aren’t open to giving an honest hearing to the Christian message, at least not yet. (If they are open in the future, that could lead them to repentance and God’s forgiveness.)

If you find the anti-Christian talk stressful (understandable!), it would be good to seek out activities where you will be more likely to meet other Christians who are serious about their faith.

You might look to volunteer in a parish activity or a Bible study or some kind of pro-life work.

This is the time when you want to be part of a Catholic/Christian network. Having friends who love their faith will help you live yours more easily.

An Internet search might lead you to the right activities. Look for lectures by guest speakers, for instance. And check the Catholic diocesan website to see if there are any young-adult ministries in your area.

Keep up a solid prayer life. And take comfort in the words of Jesus to St. Paul in Acts 18:10 when the apostle faced opposition in Corinth: “No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.”

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