My best friends mom just died an hour ago.

[Lemonvariable72]

Dude forget the fact of him being a theist and remember he is your friend. If they wont let you leave work then fine, but you get to him asap.

?What? he's going to bring this stuff up to me, I'm not. Did some of you even read the OP and follow up posts?

Of course I did, and I've been in exact position before, except it was my fiance's dad. Look if does ask you those questions be honest with him, just don't use his mothers death as debating point. Chanses are if he knows you he may not ask because he knows you disagree.

[MJ the Skeptical]

Let's all cool our jets. I haven't seen anyone here being presumptuous; we're all going by the information you shared. Also, nobody's trying to be a dick to you. We're all basically advising you to separate your friend as a theist from your friend as a vulnerable human being.

See, that's the presumption. Of course I separate him as a person from being a theist, but he is going to bring this stuff up to me, guaranteed. I was looking for advice for what to say when he brings it up.

[Cyberman]

Say "dude, sorry about your mum".

[MJ the Skeptical]

That's it? when he asks me theological and philosophical questions, I just say, hey man, sorry....Okay then, thanks...

Anyway thanks to those who were supportive, I'm off break now gotta please the bossman.

[Jenny A]

You are the friend he called. That suggests you are the friend he wants. Not too difficult really.

Not too difficult? no offense, but you're being kind of a dick to me about my friends mom dying. He is a theist, he didn't just call me and I wish I could just ditch work but my boss just told me no so I had to tell my friend to wait a few hours. You're making a lot of presumptions about the situation that you have no business making. I'm surprised you're getting kudos for your presumptuous tone.

The question you asked is whether you should behave differently because he's a theist. The answer is really no. He needs comfort not a theological debate. If you can't go right now, you can't. But it isn't a theist/atheist question. If you are the person or even one of the persons he called, you are one of the persons he wants.

I'm assuming you are a good friend and he knows it because he called you. Good friends tend to be good people. I'm assuming you're good people.

[MJ the Skeptical]

Not too difficult? no offense, but you're being kind of a dick to me about my friends mom dying. He is a theist, he didn't just call me and I wish I could just ditch work but my boss just told me no so I had to tell my friend to wait a few hours. You're making a lot of presumptions about the situation that you have no business making. I'm surprised you're getting kudos for your presumptuous tone.

The question you asked is whether you should behave differently because he's a theist. The answer is really no. He needs comfort not a theological debate. If you can't go right now, you can't. But it isn't a theist/atheist question. If you are the person or even one of the persons he called, you are one of the persons he wants.

I'm assuming you are a good friend and he know it because he called you.

I really appreciate your clarification, but it still doesn't change the fact that he is almost certainly going to ask me tough questions. Pardon me if I overreacted, I'm sort of overwhelmed right now.

[Cyberman]

That's it? when he asks me theological and philosophical questions, I just say, hey man, sorry....Okay then, thanks...

Anyway thanks to those who were supportive, I'm off break now gotta please the bossman.

What sort of timescale are we talking here? The guy lost his mother not more than two hours ago. Right now he's bleeding inside. Discussions like that aren't even the last thing he needs right now.

Later on, when time has healed and all that, that's when you can play it by ear. Whatever you do, don't even try to invoke his loss with whatever you find yourself discussing in a theological context. It's been four years and counting for me; should anyone even think about using my Sam as a debating pawn, I've already murdered them in my mind a dozen different ways. If he wants to make that connection, let him and then go with whatever arguments you think are relevant.

[MJ the Skeptical]

Stimbo's post really made me side with not talking about this with him right now when he brings it up. If some time passes and he asked me again, maybe I will oblige.

But seriously, I'm leaving this time, I almost got caught not working just now.

[ShaMan]

EDIT: I was looking for advice as in what to say when he brings it up.

(bold added)
And you've been told more than once... Just listen.

If he asks you to comment on his beliefs, just reassure him that you love him. Just as it would be wrong for you to take advantage of his loss to promote your views, likewise, it is wrong of him to do the same. Just be there for him.

[Cyberman]

Further to my last post, I'll just add that he's going to want to vent all his grief onto you. He'll most probably just talk and talk like he can't stop. Just let him go all he wants, just soak it all up. From experience, it's like he's in a storm at sea, emotionally; he'll want you as a rock to anchor to.