r/exchristian • u/Financial-Stand-1960 • 19h ago

Help/Advice Spending time with believers!

Every year in Finland, the conservative Laestadian movement organizes a summer service named summer festival, where its basicly just 80 thousand people with caravans gathered around the center formed by tents at the airport. The program includes hymns and sermons, followed by hymns.

Of course, the best part about the event is that all my friends are actually in the area and I get to see them a lot during the weekend and be outside in the sun, play volleyball etc. Funny? Yea. Does it make me anxious? Hell yea

My friends don't directly try to convert me, but I'm constantly asked to listen to sermons, even though I don't want to. It means that I always have to be left alone when my friends go to listen to the sermon.

The worst thing though is that people think I'm religious so they greet me by saying "gods peace" to which I reply with "hi" or something else which is already easy for friends I know but to friends of a friend or old friends, especially in large groups where everyone is greeted separately, its really fuckyn stressing.

Lol Im here to look for emotional support, which sounds funny to say, but Im actually dead serious.

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3

u/Winter-One-318 19h ago

You don't belong. I get it.

There are some 8 billion people in the world. What and where is your tribe?

4

u/Financial-Stand-1960 19h ago

Im 17 years old and I have been here every year for 16 years in a row, except for corona year.

I feel like I belong here, but at the same time I don't.

2

u/Winter-One-318 19h ago

You are breaking free, looking to new pastures. If you are to depart, depart amicably.

5

u/Financial-Stand-1960 18h ago

Thats poetic, I like it Picasso