My best friend of 15 years has been a staunch, anti-religion atheist for as long as I’ve known her. She has been supportive of discriminatory secularism laws and has been very open about her disdain for religion and her belief that religious people are foolish and misguided. I am an atheist too, but I’m more of a live-and-let-live type. I respect others’ beliefs, and I think everyone should be free to practice their religion as long as they’re not harming anyone else. Over the years, I’ve pushed back against her more extreme anti-religion views many times.
A few months ago, she confessed that she had been having doubts about her atheism, and that she actually does believe in God. She even joined a church. She has jumped in headfirst and gotten very involved with the church very quickly, and often tells me about it. She seems happy, and I’m glad that she has found the community and purpose she told me she was lacking for so long.
However, I am also deeply annoyed. I have no problem with someone changing their mind, but this complete 180 has been bothering me for reasons I can’t fully articulate. I’m struggling to be supportive and interested in conversations about her new church, when just a few months ago, she was, frankly, kind of an asshole about religion. I know she was terrified to tell me about her change of faith for exactly this reason, so I don’t want to tell her how I’m feeling. She is happier than I’ve seen her in years, and I want to be genuinely supportive. How do I get over my judgment and irritation so I can support her in her newfound faith?