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 Minstrel_Davyn on September 1, 2009 at 11:37am: In the recent past I have told someone who was praying for me that I would add her thoughts, energies and prayers to my magickal workings in order to utilize her energy to increase the energy raised toward my goals and dreams. This way, they are allowed to send you energy but you are using it in your own way.
Win win situation for me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nyx_DarkSky on September 1, 2009 at 11:53am: Hi Sweet Heart, as they say been there done that. I love ceramics, and ceramic class was at the biggest darn church house in town, upstairs in their meeting hall... So, when I first started they would invite me to this and that, and/or leave little *Have you found Jesus* booklets in my paint box. Like you, tried to be nice, respectful (older ladies etc, I was the youngest one there), I'd nicely decline, and leave the little booklets on the table after class...

I wasn't exactly in the closet either. Wore my jewelry, they would ask questions from time to time, I'd give simple little one liner answers etc.. LOL, didn't want them burning me at the stake in the parking lot, lol, and or thinking I was evil and going to turn everyone into toads.. (older ladies set in their ways and all)... Also to, I didn't want to stop going to ceramics, because I really enjoyed the class.. Painting is my therapy.

So, one day, I nicely stood up and said, Thank you, for the booklets, and thinking about me, but please stop leaving them in my paint box.. I don't practice organized religion, nor am I going to convert. I know exactly where Jesus is at, and I like me, just the way I am.. Also, if I may add, this is ceramic class and not church. Call me a odd duck, and if you want, I will leave. But, if I may respectfully request, this be one subject, we don't discuss in *ceramic class*. After that, there were no more booklets, and we didn't discuss religion in ceramic class. Darn I miss it to. Went twice a week for 4 years. They really were sweet ladies..

Anywho - Sweet Heart, just nicely, and respectfully ask your friend to take you off her email list when sending out her weekly little hello's. She most likely doesn't even realize she's doing it.. I bet you she's just clicking send to all, and with you on her email list, your in the *all* category. Personally, I don't think she's trying to convert you, more just doesn't realize what she's doing.

Hug
~Nyx~; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nodoka Phoenix on September 1, 2009 at 12:59pm: didn't want them burning me at the stake in the parking lot, lol, and or thinking I was evil and going to turn everyone into toads..

lmao nice; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nyx_DarkSky on September 1, 2009 at 1:13pm: HAHAH Nodoka, these ladies, were all sweet hearts.. But, if I had to describe them, think of a 60 year old, raised from birth, set in there ways, hard core Southern Baptist grandmothers, that would be them. Oh, and yes, if they would of known, lol, the first thing that would of popped into their minds would of been evil, toads, skinning cats in the back yard, etc, not to mention it would of most likely scared them to death.

Again, they knew one way of living, who was I to try and change them? lol.. Soo I come to love them for who they were.. I truly do miss them.. Once I got past the part of them trying to save my soul, they were all beautiful, kind hearted, sweet ladies, I loved dearly.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nodoka Phoenix on September 1, 2009 at 1:56pm: Ah... kind alike my Mum then lol
Southern Baptist as is my dad... *yikes* lol; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diana Redmoon on September 3, 2009 at 5:02pm: Likely so...and i haven't heard from her otherwise in a few weeks....
Just still...hard to keep seeing/deleting..... really want to- need to be up front and honest with her about my position on things spiritual.

Thanks so much all!
Diana; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by thomas price on September 2, 2009 at 3:14am: being a christian devoted and dedicated use or take the advice of her basis for being such , the bible , there it says like apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time.
love Tommy a big hug buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbeeman; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by morgaine1571 on September 3, 2009 at 5:59pm: be polite but firm.. this is my path, i am not going to change.. hopefully that gets the message across. youre not going to change someones mind if they dont want to , but stand your ground and your postition.

honesty is always the best policy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin on September 7, 2009 at 7:29pm: HI! I get a lot of those at work. Since it's at work, I tend to just ignore them. I never reply or forward them either. I'm thinking eventually, they will get some sort of message that those emails aren't my thing.

But, I don't have any friends who send me christian emails at home. But, I do believe I would just let him or her know that even though it is a nice thought, it's not what I believe.

Kind of a hard situation. Good luck with it. ~smiles~; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Strega Nona on September 8, 2009 at 10:29am: LOL Lillaine. I was just about to post a thought of my own, when I read this and giggled. I did so because I did just this. And how did it go over? Like a lead balloon! Oh it was ok for her to send incessant xian emails to me...but woah!
My other thought was for DALE. I want to point out a few things if I may.

1) You are not the average joe christian. Most christians would not even THINK of being involved in Pagan Space, or go out of their way to befriend a pagan in the first place; EXCEPT to try to convert them.

2) When you said "A friend has a different point of view or prespective and that means that their not my friend?" I would like to say that I know of no pagans who send their christian friends emails asking them if "They know the Goddess" or any other type of proselytizing material. I can only speak for myself, but I think that this is true for most. I have never once tried to push my beliefs on ANY ONE, ever. BUT my christian friends and from what I hear many people have the same type of christian friends; 'fear for my salvation' and remind me constantly of this, in one way or another. So to say that Pagans are unable to have friends with differing views is so not the point. It is, always has been, and always will be, the christians who feel this way.

3) One last thing, when you said that "Daily we strive to live our lives according to our faith. And that includes witnessing to others And sending gentle reminders." I do respect your faith! and especially your ability to be open to differing views, but how many others do you know who do the same of the christian faith? You are the exception to the rule. BUT don't you believe that if we here at PaganSpace are not 'saved' that we will not be going to 'heaven'? Do you 'conviction' to witness to us? and if not, why not?

This is NOT meant as a critical response, but a very sincere one!

*HUGS and Blessings Dale!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Strega Nona on September 8, 2009 at 2:34pm: ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Strega Nona on September 8, 2009 at 4:38pm: I also would like to add that for as long as I've known pagans, I've not once seen one put down another pagan for their beliefs. Oh I've seen people argue over specific topics but never have I seen them judge another harshly, ridicule how stupid they are for believing the way that they do, or end their friendships due to differing beliefs.
What I HAVE SEEN (and experienced personally on more than one occasion) is christians putting me down for my beliefs, judge me as a sinner, and called evil, devil worshipper and the like and ultimately have had the christian sever ties with ME.
I'm sure I will add more to this discussion later but I just wanted to add this.
Again no insult whatsoever to you Dale! I am just trying to show you how it feels to be 100% Pagan and then try to befriend a christian. You, being a professing christian, must understand what I am trying to say, being that you appear to be able to see both sides.
May I ask you how you reconcile paganism with christianity? Doesn't it conflict with your christian beliefs? With your belief in scripture? Maybe I am way off, but that is what most christians feel. They are not to be 'unequally yoked with unbelievers', are taught 'suffer not a witch to live', and 'to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures'? How do you reconcile these things with paganism? I hope you will share this as it would help me a lot to understand you better and maybe show me a better way to share my beliefs with those christians who are a part of my life.
I have had people find out that I am not christian and they turn their backs on me when I will not follow their god. This is not a one time thing. Not only this but my stepsister, who is an avid christian, keeps asking me how my 'relationship with god' is, and I dodge this question. I KNOW that she will no longer speak to me if she finds out who and what I am. And no I don't need to test this out to know that she will leave me in the dust.
Ok I'll shut up....for now anyways. LOL
Thanks again!; ▶ Reply to This