Original post link in the first comment!
UPDATE: 5/18/25
I had to post an update because one of them just reached out to me a few days ago!
It’s been about a year and a half since everything went down, and a few of them have tried to reach out.
One even messaged me months later asking if I wanted to go to church with them because they “felt called” to ask me. Yeah… okay.
The only person I really responded to was someone I felt a bit guilty about—mostly because they probably wouldn’t have been involved in the drama if Sarah hadn’t dragged them into it. I kept it simple and honest:
“I felt ganged up on and completely ostracized. That’s why I have no interest in reconnecting right now.”
Their response? A half-hearted:
“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.”
You know the type—vague, noncommittal, and a little passive-aggressive. Then they threw in the usual “I’m here for you,” “I love you,” blah blah blah. It felt more condescending than comforting.
That was the moment I realized the hope of genuine accountability was pretty much dead. No one said, “Yeah, that was shitty of me. I messed up. I’m sorry.”
Maybe it’s an ego thing. Or maybe admitting fault would mean they’re somehow going against their faith? I don’t know.
Then—almost exactly a year later—Sarah reaches out. Says she’d “still take a bullet for me,” then adds, “Sorry if I ever did anything to make you feel that way,” and wraps it up with “I’m rooting for you from a distance, always.”
As if I’m some tragic trainwreck who needs saving.
I never asked for help. I don’t drink, I have a full-time job, hobbies I love, a healthy lifestyle, and I pay my own damn bills. I’m not sure why that message rubbed me the wrong way so badly, but it did. It felt incredibly patronizing—and honestly, kind of insulting
Comments
Original story: https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1kihmfq/aita_for_cutting_off_my_entire_friend_group_after/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Good riddance to bad “friends”.
FYI, it was patronizing. Maybe they/she feels threatened by you having your life together without their help. Because you don’t need their help/input. So, a little passive-aggressive message to sooth her ego.
NTA, it’s pretty clear that you were barely given the respect you deserved… and yeah, it’s really okay to cut ties with people who act like they’re above owning up to their crap.
Wait wait wait. You ALLL did mushrooms together, ands she’s blaming you?! Yeah no. Someone is feeling guilty and can’t take responsibility for her own actions. Plus everyone knows mushrooms can cause crazy things to be seen. I bet this last yr and a half has been peaceful without all the judgement. Tell me was she one of the fundamentalist Christians?
I would respond “don’t waste your prayers. God will judge you for your choices. I will not be ashamed when I stand before him for the choices I have made.”
I’m not Christian, and as a non Christian in the southern united states, I often have to allude to potentially being Christian just to avoid a lot of uncomfortable conversations where I am either going to get very angry, or I’m going to very much hurt someone else’s feelings.
Christians have a tendency to not be able to mind their own fucking business, and it can be a problem.
Not all of them mind you, I have met some that follow the words of Jesus closely and are absolute sweethearts, and others I wouldn’t stop on the side of the road to piss on them if they were on fire.
It looks like the only demons you had in your life were this bigotted group of so called friends – now you have exorcised them, you are absolutely fine.
Sarah is a bully and you still would have been ostracized even if you had gotten an exorcism or gone to church.
Your friends sure were the AH
well, they made you the crazy one in the sick group. Now that you are gone there is no one they can point to. I assume the glue that held the group together was gnawing on you and is probably disintegrating. You do you. You don’t need that crazy.
If you’re possessed, no. They’re good friends and looking out for you and your mortal soul.
If you’re not possessed, then yes, ditch them as they are insane.
I think you are better off without a group of friends being led by someone with delusions of grandeur surrounding you. And Sarah seems to need some serious mental health treatment. She’s has serious main character energy meaning that she seems to have to center herself in other people’s stories.
NTA
Eff these faux-Christians.
People like this is why there are times I struggle to not turn my back on the faith.
If Jesus came back today these are the people that would call him a socialist and demonize him. They do not know God’s word. They have let themselves and their intentions get twisted by the world and until they accept this there is no coming back from where they have gone.
Eta: NTA had left that off and accidentally submitted
Just block them, move on and live your life. No need too keep any communication open. They’ve already shown you who they are.
You’re NTA
You already have your way to get rid of them. Be happy and start living your life and forget they existed. NTA!
TBH, my petty behind at that message will be like you were right. There was a demon attached to me and it was you. Thank you for showing me who you are so I could remove you from my life. 🫢
I hate when people say I’m sorry IF I made you feel such-and-such. That’s not an apology. The bare minimum should be I’m sorry THAT I made you feel that way. I shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong and I hope you’ll accept my apology, but I’ll understand if you don’t.
The first post was 12 days ago yet everything went down “a year and a half” ago
This is AI.
AI uses the phase:
“Or so I thought.”
As well as:
””_
It’s so formulaic that it is a giveaway.
She’s guilty of spiritual abuse, big time. You did the right thing ending that friendship. She reminds me of the bat poop stuff my ILs pulled before we cut contact. People like that usually are too sucked into what their pastors and “study groups” spoon feed them to wake up.
Block them completely so they have no access to reach out.
I left evangelical Christianity as a teen. My parents and siblings are still involved in the movement. Unfortunately these are coercion strategies used in such movements (even though many are brainwashed to not see it that way). It won’t ever change with them. I’m sorry. For me, I had to cut contact with everyone to get peace from them. It was the only way to move on with my life and make a healthy break from the cult mentality. It won’t likely get better with them, but it will get easier for you as you begin to accept the situation for what it is. I highly recommend looking at organizations such as Journey Free with Dr Marlene Winell, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and people like Dr Valerie Tarico.
Because It was? Sarah aparently only belive that one should live according to her views or rules and all other ways are wrong, there is no redemption with that kinda of mind set, good luck to you
Dude, if you answer at all, answer with a Bible verse like Matt 7:22 or similar. Some Christians are not Christians at all!
Wild how they think “I’m rooting for you from a distance” hits like comfort. Nah, it’s pity dressed as kindness. And ur life sounds just fine without it.
The only response I’d say is that you gave Sara and her cohorts names to Satan as you feel they are more his flock than anyone in the upstairs department. Tell her a candle flared when you did to acknowledge their acceptance of those names, and you wish her well among those with whom she truly belongs. Bonus points if you photoshop a candle with a demonic face just BARELY visible in the dark background.
Just because you don’t go to church doesn’t mean you don’t believe in God. As long as you believe in him he will always be there for you. I can’t stand people who try and push you to go to church it gets annoying. I’m sorry you are going through this prayers going your way to keep people like that out and for your peace and kindness.
These people are weird. You’re not the weird one.
Time to move on with life and new friends. You’re not a portal to hell.
I hope you have branched out and replaced these past friends with more healthy and sane friend groups.
Was the entire friend group in lock step with her? I think she should be held to account. She might be creating a cult. I would not let her get away with it. She has had no consequences. She might have some mental health issues. I bet she is the one in need of an intervention.
Had to go back and read the original post. If you replace ‘friends’ with ‘extended family’ that whole story would be me. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sage, crystals or intentions. However, my own spiritual journey has opened my eyes to just how much bigger, more complex and convoluted this whole spirituality/religion/universe/you-in-verse topic is. By taking on the ‘sins of the world’ (sin isn’t what you think it is), Jesus placed himself as a door/blockade between earthly humans and the unseen realm. People usually don’t consider the magnitude of that action. Jesus placed himself as a shield and while it limited people from accessing the unseen realm directly, it also protected them. He made an agreement on behalf of humanity that protected us. Then the 2000 year reign of Christ ended, CERN fractured the time/space continuum , and now otherworldly entities are more and more reaching across the invisible curtain into our realm. And yes, they can and do possess/attempt to possess us from time to time. They can also attach themselves to us like barnacles on a ship and harvest energy from us. The fact that your friend saw a demonic possession in/near you is not surprising or unusual. That’s also not an indictment of any type. Your friend likely has her own demonic barnacles. And remember, when Jesus cast out demons, he first asked the name of the demon and he was told ‘legion, for we are many.’ (I’m taking huge liberties with the paraphrasing here. you will just have to look it up). The good news is that we have the power to cast out demons ourselves, just like Jesus did. I’m not trying to go all Christian on you. (Trust me ex-Mormon here). I’m just saying that there’s probably something to it and there’s also something you can do about it. I might also add that there are trickster types in the unseen realm and it’s entirely possible that one of them was playing head games with your friend. This can all be a bit freaky and overwhelming to a person when they first awaken to the extensive reality’s we’ve been shielded from. But in no way should it be scary. The bottom line is, you/we are all creator beings. We all have the divine spark within and we all have sovereign authority over our bodies. And if you think/feel that you are being acted upon by an outside influence you can command it to stop. And it will. Because it has to. If you think I’m nuts, keep scrolling. If you want more info I can share that too.
They called me possessed and now a year later they “felt called” to take me to church? Lmao. You don’t get to gaslight someone into isolation and come back talkin like you’re the damn messiah
I’ve had a bit of experience in my younger years with fundamentalist Christians. It’s never about genuine concern, it’s about power and control. In a way it’s as bad a witchcraft – they feel “called” and “led’ to manipulate you into going to church or getting exorcised or accepting Jesus. A lot of woo-woo nonsense.
“Rooting for you from a distance” is one of the most patronizing things a person can say in my opinion. I’d be tempted to reply “thanks for keeping your distance.”
You’re so much better off without these hypocrites and manipulators. Enjoy your life without them!