Nature's God

Reason I am starting this thread is because of a certain very good piece of information that I gained tonight.
When I was first contemplaiting Deism I imagined that one of the bigest obstacles would be others excepting the fact that I am a Deist. I am talking about the ex Yugoslav comunity that I keep contact with over here as well as my family. Years ago when I told one of my Montenegrin(orthodox christian) friends that I don't consider my self to be a Muslim because I simply don't believe in it. He asked me have I read the koran and I said no. I told him that I didn't need to, just by observing what they and others do in a name of those religions is enough for me. I believed in never returning anger for anger but I didn't practice it, at times I could have temper. He actualy got realy upset with me and he is not even a Muslim. He preaty much indirectly told me that I have no honor and that I am sort of a traiter. But I didn't feel like what he told me. He didn't convince me. Imagine the hard time I would have with some Muslims from over there. So years later I learned a lot about the Koran, hadiths and the bible and eventualy I stil rejected it(I am also familiar with Budhism). So now that I am a Deist my sister has found out some time ago and tonight when my brother in law spoke about it I have found out that my sister is cool with Deism(and my brother in law is cool). So that was the most important since I live in their house and of course because they are family. Now how do I go on about teling my Muslim family friends?(who are very secular but they call them self muslims and thats it) You see they will look at it as a very bad thing(most of them anyway). Should I loose all the contacs that I have with these people? My answer is keep it quiet for as long as I can and when the time comes be honest. I couldn't do it any other way. What do you think?
Thanks

Hey Ervin! You shouldn't have to rid yourself of any of your friends, especially if you care about them. That said, you shouldn't have to just come out and tell them your religious prefrences, as they are personal.If the subject comes up,you need only discuss this if you feel you're comfortable or have a need to. Just be sure you don't say its for any other reason than you found something that feels right to you, not for the above things you mentioned. If there is a bad reaction, just gently remind them you are the same person and hold the same morals you always have,just you're method of belief in God is different.Maybe it would also be good to say just because your beliefs are different you still feel theirs aren't any less valuable for people find it fulfilling.

Hi Ervin,

Julie is right. Just remember that even though you have rejected their religion you must still respect their decisions and their rights to their own individual beliefs. I wouldnt openly announce that you are a deist, but if they ask you any questions then just be honest and say that you have found a religion that you believe in. You cant control their reactions and comments but you can control yours.

I know this can be hard with friends but just be honest and if they do get heated or angry just try and politely change the conversation or ask them to respect your choices like you respect theirs.

You cannot worry about acceptance as we are all on our own individual paths and you can only be true to yourself and hopefully your friends will be cool with that, but if they are not then just hold your head up high and continue on the path that is making you so happy! Be proud that the decisions you are making are your own based on your own reasoning!

I am proud of you mate!

I don't see where you would want to do it any other way. If you are separated by distance, you can take things in stages. Although the following ideas are numbered, I wouldn't suggest any strict order:

1. My faith was never really strong, and I am finding that I have a lot of questions and doubts lately.
2. I need some time to read, study and think things through.
3. I am examining my beliefs in comparison with other paths to find out what works best for me.
4. I find that as I get older, and I learn more, things are not as simple as they once were.
5. I am beginning to see things from a different perspective that I find spiritually satisfying.
6. My beliefs are hard to explain, because they are so personal. They don't fit any traditional mold.
7. I am beginning to think that the answer for me is found inside any book that claims to be the only truth.
8. My beliefs have changed since my younger days. I have a great deal of respect for other people's beliefs, and I expect the same in return.
9. My faith is very much my own. I suspect that my beliefs are not precisely the same as anyone else, actually.
10. I would consider myself a Freethinker. My faith is based on reason and nature. It is still growing and developing.
11. The closest term for what I believe is Deist, but I am still learning. Deist is a good enough label for now.

And so on. I don't think any of these answers is much different than what the real Ervin believes, and this gradual approach does not slap anyone in the face. If you are not comfortable with a suggested response, cross it out. Does some other order work better for you? Change the order. If someone wants to push the issue, just say you are still figuring out what you should believe. Don't play their games. Respect their beliefs, and insist that they treat you the same.