As background, my friend is a zealous Christian. I’m Christian to but I’m better described as an agnostic that chose a god. And I’m gay. So polar opposites on that front. However he just keeps becoming more and more zealous and I try to be supportive but he’s not really thinking for himself anymore which is what bugs me because it’s the Christians that have lost the ability of critical thinking when it comes to the Bible I and most of my friend group have a problem with. And I’m the only one trying to prevent that I feel. Anyway, on to what I did. 

So out of nowhere he texts in the group chat that he’s getting rid of his iPhone and downgrading to a flip phone to help him stop watching porn so he can be closer to God who thinks it’s wrong. I’m fine with what he’s doing but I pointed out the Bible actually never says that it’s a sin to jerk it. I even tell him what my psychologist had told me about masturbation and how it’s actually healthy for people. He of course rebuttals with how the Bible talks about adultery and how he doesn’t feel he can separate watching porn from it. I correct him that I believe he means lust which I can understand so I suggest alternative methods of getting himself off, some of which I have tried and found to be more enjoyable to the point that I only watch porn if I need to be fast. He of course comes back with how he’d just rather not because God blah blah blah. 

So was I the asshole for not just outright supporting his decision? I do think it comes from a poor viewpoint. I’m also gonna say that whenever he says stuff like this I do usually support him but try to figure out where the hell he got his reasoning from because for some unknown reason he also believes the only way to get to heaven is to follow the Bible as closely as possible when the Bible makes it explicitly clear that that’s not how it works. 

