How to avoid losing respect for friends

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You believe in GOD, and believe that we were all created to which makes you feel like you have a purpose in life..It makes you feel special. I believe that we are uniquely emergent beings without prefabrication or creation by another being.. However, in either case we are still amazing, unique, and living lives with a sense of purpose. So despite the differences of how we think we got here, we are friends, and we should value that as deeply as we value our personal beliefs.

It solved the problem, and I've been friends with my friend now for over 8 years.
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I like your conclusion and I will try and learn from it, but I still find issues because your viewpoint is not a "belief", whereas your friends is a belief.

His/hers is based on belief without evidence, yours is based on evidence and is therefore fact (not a belief).

Thus, you are a person who has the energy to research and the brains to think logically and your friend does not. I know this is black and white but that is how I see it. I would think you are smarter than your friend because of this.

Perhaps I am too stuck in my mind set. I have never ever believed in the Bible or religion so maybe I should leave a small window open for the possibility - that way the evidence I see can become mere belief and we can all believe together in naivety!

To be truthful, I think anyone who claims to know anything about the universe is naive, we're stuck in a slither of three dimensions and (in my mind) really don't know anything - apart from my friend of course, who knows everything!

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If, on the other hand, he believes that 90% of all black people commit crimes then he is objectively incorrect. There is evidence to show he is wrong.

Thats the kind of stuff he would tell me.

Do you see my point. I don't mind peoples opinions, so long as they are based on fact!

I see your point but if some of my friends converted to being creationists I would be kinda pissed that they had been tricked but on the other hand they are my friend regardless of how stupid or wrong they are

I think you are helping me actually. If I had a friend who was generally stupid, but sweet in other ways, I would not worry.

This may sound over the top, but I need to think of creationist as "thick" or simple, instead of cold blooded deniers of obvious evidence.

My friend therefore is a sweet guy, a good laugh but has done zero research into his most treasured beliefs (which is odd) - his delusions, laziness and arrogance (to presume he knows the answer to the universe without research) is a reflection of his overall lack of intelligence. I should not judge a man on his intelligence.