How to gently correct a friend

Greetings every One! I have a problem-- a very delicate situation. I have a DEAR friend-- who is in all Christian, very devout and dedicated. She has never been questioning of me and my beliefs-- but once asked my path... I replied to her truthfully- yet as simply as I could. We seem to have no problems, therein. even though we do not share the same "faith" as she put it, we are still friends-- good friends, indeed. But here is the crux of the issue at hand. She is forever sending me emails-- forwarded emails mainly-- that ARE directly Christian and God/Jesus, etc. etc. etc. related... It's getting to the point that it is driving me nuts! I love her like a sister-- but I want and need to tell her to STOP sending me these kinds of emails, forwards, etc. How do I do that ? politely, gently and so as not to offend...

With much appreciation-
Diana

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Permalink Reply by Mistral Hart on August 31, 2009 at 6:24pm: If she is a truly good friend simply saying that you appreciate the message that she is sending, but the Christian overtones make you uncomfortable, should do the trick. Maybe do this while you are together (not over email) and when the subject comes up, like "hay that email you sent the otherday was sweet" She would reply with something like 'I'm glad you liked it" then say "you know the only part that bugged me was the bible verse, made me a bit uncomfortable" A true friend will understand, if she presses the subject, it might be time to put some distance between you for a little while. Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diana Redmoon on August 31, 2009 at 10:45pm: Distance has already been added...in the form of My family having had to relocate due to my Husband's transfer....so in the last 90 days, I have moved 1200 miles away from her.....
Hence, of course, so many Emails- i believe.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arcane the WhiteRaven on August 31, 2009 at 6:34pm: ooooh thats tricky.

btw this is mostly a bump; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wolf Starhawk on August 31, 2009 at 6:53pm: As Arcane put it so eloquently...tricky.

You know her best and how she would react. Would simply deleting do the trick for you? Just a quick open and hit X or whichever key your email uses. Some have set on auto open so is quite easy.

If she is open and not overly sensitive perhaps a thank you for sending me the nice emails but unless they are chat emails and with all the hackers and viruses out there I do not want to risk a meltdown since it is how we stay in touch with one another (paraphrasing).

Only you would know the best way to handle. I can only make suggestions as to how I would.

Mostly I get strangers at door which is adorned with a red pentagram with bells on it. That should be their first clue. The second is thank you but no thank you . Have a wonderful day and close the door. Much easier than your situation.

Best of luck

Wolf; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PamWiccan on August 31, 2009 at 7:04pm: I guess I am different as I get these all the time from others. Instead of worrying about hurting their feelings I quietly just delete. It only takes a second to hit the button. If it got out of hand I would just tell them that I get so many emails and would they please not send them. If they are true friends they will respect your wishes.

Oh and when Jehovah's Witness come to the door I politely tell them I am a witch. They don't come to my door much anymore:)

Brightest Blessings :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mistral Hart on August 31, 2009 at 7:14pm: This is my favorite Jahovahs Witness story:

http://www.sanfords.net/Pagan_Humor_and_Thoughts/Other_People.html; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PamWiccan on August 31, 2009 at 7:46pm: LOL, that was a good read. Thanks for sharing :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aidann Greenwolfe on August 31, 2009 at 7:09pm: A co-worker of mine had a very similar problem. She asked me what I thought... and I told her to just tell her friend the truth...." Be gentle and caring, let her know that you still want to be her friend"
She did, very sweetly... and her friend said "I'm just afraid that when we die, we won't see eachother in heaven". She comforted her, and told her that in her belief they would always be friends. Everything seems ok. My co-worker has stopped getting christian e-mails and such from her. The best part is that they are still friends.
It is a tricky one, good luck to you! Hugs; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nodoka Phoenix on August 31, 2009 at 7:23pm: My mother and Grandma both do this, I just smile to myself knowing that it is out of their love for me. They don't cower me about my path in person, and we get along great, but when they are sitting in front of their email and about to send out something they believe in and find motivating, they think of me, and even tho I am not into their stuff, and really don't read them most of the time, I smile and know I am loved.
Is there a reason you want them to stop, I mean is it like 285624359823957 a day or do they just bother you for some reason? Perhaps you don't need to mention anything to her, just lube up your email's delete button lol
Blessings.
N.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Toadpipe: the Soylent Magi on August 31, 2009 at 7:31pm: Um, do it exactly like you just explained it, "I love you dearly, like a sister, but please stop sending these emails." Be direct, yet not unkind.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Scarlet on August 31, 2009 at 7:44pm: I have a personal rule that I make sure all my freinds know... No forwarded emails... I don't care if Bill Gates is going to give us all 20,000 dollars each time we forward or some horrible guy is spraying poison "perfum" in women's face in a nearbye shopping mall parking lot and abducting them or if they want to send me cute pictures of puppies... no forwards.
It's a pan-freind rule and includes all forwards that arn't specifically about a mutual friend.
This cuts out all the bs abut defining which forwards are OK and which ones arn't and who can send me stuff and who can't. You send me stuff once, you get a polite warning detailing my rule. You send me twice you get a polite reminder. You send me three and I block your address after telling you to "Hey, why don't you give me a call if you want to get ahold of me from now on, kthanx," email back.
People seem to catch on when I make it a pan-freind rule.
-Scarlet; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Boadicea Manyspears on August 31, 2009 at 8:01pm: The truth is that she is not your friend. She does not respect your beliefs. She continues to send you her bloody jesus emails that she believes that at some point will convert you and save your soul. If she were your true friend she would drop it. Do this... email her tomorrow and tell her that any email that mentions jesus, heaven, angels god etc will be rejected by you and you will consider a slap in the face so pleases stop now. Let us all know if it stops or are you just her Sunday School Project? I bet she gets a bad grade; ▶ Reply to This