Can you give me some more details on the book you recommended? What is it about, specifically?

You said:

What does it mean to be someone’s “friend”? Does it mean that we try to make them like us? Does it mean that we fear that they will make us like them? Can one be “friends” with those that he believes are espousing a less truthful image of God? Does this not imply a hierarchical relationship? What kind of “friendship” is that?

I don’t understand what you mean. I have friends who are atheists and agnostics (or extremely lukewarm Christians) and it does not affect our relationship. Can it not be the same with Muslims, Jews, and so on?

By saying “friend,” I was not implying one tries to form an artificial relationship with a hidden agenda. I simply meant “friend.”