Maybe an explanation will help...

Do you understand what bothered me? I'll try to explain. It's something that kinda matters to me.

"We both need to realize...."
Was that just some idiomatic expression? Because it sure didn't come across that way to me. We don't both need to realize anything. You have certain opinions, but just because you draw a particular conclusion as a result of our discussions doesn't necessarily mean that I will agree or even understand it. It doesn't necessarily even mean that it is logical or self-evident or correct! Not only is this not an apt way of saying things, but statements like that impose your frame of reference on me, and it simply can't fit.

To reverse it as an example, I'm happy for you to realize or understand something, but it's not true that we both need to agree, just because I think it's correct. I simply refuse to impose my viewpoint on you. If you comprehend it, wonderful. But I will not under any circumstance impose it on you or try to define you by my viewpoint. That type of imposition is what bothers me.

It doesn't bother me that you see me as a man of faith. It seems crucial to your mindset. I wouldn't try to deny you that. But it bothers me for you to try to in some manner impose that on me or back me into a box or logical corner where you feel like I have to admit it. There is nothing to admit. It is simply not the case.

Does this make sense at all? Is it something that we can work with? I'm not about making stupid rules, like "we can't say this" or "we can only say that". I'm mostly just asking you to help me figure out ways that we can communicate that don't try to trap or box the other person in, that actually allow for the other persons perspective to potentially be true. I'm working at doing that, and am asking for it to run both ways. If you don't feel that it is feasible, no problem at all, but I will probably want to end the conversation on this blog, at least for the time being. Otherwise, I'm willing to take a stab at continuing.

And just so you know, our friendship isn't even remotely at risk here, at least from my perspective; I think it's safe to assume from your response here that the same is true of you.

I wish you well, Jason.