Is not caring the trick?

I have a lot of atheist friends. I enjoy spending time with them. At times, they are much more enjoyable to spend time with than my christian friends. I don't really care that they are atheists, though I do mind their character flaws that I believe may have some sort of cause and effect relationship with their atheism. But for some reason, I really don't care if they get "saved" or not. Maybe that's the sign of a bad friend but I'd prefer to just not bother with it. Don't get me wrong though, we talk about religion a lot. Usually it's more tongue in cheek on their end but still there are some serious conversations. Also, I like going to the SSA. There are some issues I have with some of them that again I believe probably stems from a lack of faith in a god (for one thing the pride can be ridiculous in some of them), but for the most part I enjoy listening to their critiques of my religion and arguing different points about a god that may or may not exist.

It must be dull for the reader at this point in time...the author doesn't seem to have much of a point does he? Well I'm getting to it and here it is: a lot of my christian friends don't have any atheist friends, at least not close friends. While a lot of my closer friends that I've had for years are either atheist or not really theist. Why? On my christian friends' side, I don't think they actually want atheist friends. They might say they do and even get atheist friends but they won't let them get close to them (too many pronouns James...). Or maybe the atheists would be pushed away by the concerned friend's attempt to save their soul. That's a common complaint I hear at the SSA, that their christian friends can't be real with them because the friends are too busy trying to save them and don't really want to be friends but instead want to play missionary. This is bad and I totally agree with the atheists. The christians may have good intentions but they aren't respecting the atheist's religious (of lack there of) beliefs.

I suppose that's where I differ. Not necessarily that I respect their beliefs (though I usually do) but more of there's nothing arguing is going to accomplish. Also, I'd rather live a life that showed them Christ as opposed to arguing if the guy exists or not. Especially since a lot of atheists have been christians at one point in time, so you're not going to blow their minds about Jesus saving them. But a lot of them were repelled by the hypocrisy they saw in the church and all the "good christians" doing bad things. Instead of preaching to them, I'd prefer to hangout with them. If they decide to come to me about it, that's cool. If not, whatever (again, I may not be the best friend with this mentality but at least I can be one).