Sounds like a cheap cliche, but its true. We had great knock-down-drag-out debates, then like all guys, punch each other in the arm, share a few beers, and get on with our friendship. We've since moved far apart, and continued our debates by phone and email.
Once 6 or 7 years ago, I told him that sooner or later, atheism leads to despair, and atheists have a higher than average suicide rate. He really despised such a statement, and our friendship cooled, and never really recovered. I guess I had crossed a line in his mind. He crossed lines in my mind. He started joining pro-abortion protests, and dabbled in very hard core porn, and even contemplated "trying" homosexuality, just for the heck of it.
We just had no common ground left for a "friendship" and old drinking stories from college days can only sustain conversations for so long.
Three years ago, he tried to commit suicide, but failed.
I haven't heard from him for 2 years now. I hope he has not succeeded.
Strange....
I don't believe in God...
And yet I'm vehemently pro-life, don't "dabble" in hard core porn, and have never contemplated homosexuality for the "heck of it" or otherwise.
In fact, I know more homosexual Catholic priests, than homosexual atheists.
Go figure.
How nice of you to plant the seed and wait to reap the harvest. With friends like you...