Christians: why do you engage in discussions with atheists?

[Astrid]

Is there something you dont think you understand,
do you feel a moral obligation to try for conversion,
just like to argue or...??

 

[Hammster]

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
— Matthew 28:18-20

 

[BCP1928]

It depends on the Christian. I enjoy engaging in discussions with atheists because they often know more about what's really happening in the world than I do and they even sometimes know more about the Bible and Christianity than I do. I rarely learn anything from the other Christians here which helps my faith.

 

[bèlla]

The answer is found in Romans 10.

But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?

And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

~bella

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Is there something you dont think you understand,
do you feel a moral obligation to try for conversion,
just like to argue or...??

Atheists help me to challenge aspects of may faith, put it to the test and purify it.

 

[PloverWing]

I enjoy interfaith discussions, and that includes discussions about religion with people who are atheist or agnostic but are interested in religion. We learn from each other.

 

[Astrid]

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
— Matthew 28:18-20

So..your focus is on conversion. Fair enough.

Is it all one way?

 

[Laodicean60]

Is there something you dont think you understand,
do you feel a moral obligation to try for conversion,
just like to argue or...??

Yes, we are told to spread the good news. I think a forum is a bad place to preach the gospel because I would bet some atheists have heard this a million times. We all know biblically that not everyone wants to be saved and it's not my job to bible bash someone into believing because Paul says shake off the dust and move on if people don't want to hear the message. I say on the streets here it t is take it or leave it. No sweat off my back.

 

[Astrid]

Atheists help me to challenge aspects of may faith, put it to the test and purify it.

Do you ever change your mind on something?
Example?

 

[Astrid]

The answer is found in Romans 10.

But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?

And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

~bella

I've already heard. As have all others here.

Is there something in it for you?

 

[bèlla]

I've already heard. As have all others here.

Is there something in it for you?

I see people not atheists. That isn't my first consideration. Engaging in discourse for the sake of discussion is enough. One needn't speak of God to be a light or benefit from engagement. Example is powerful.

~bella

 

[BCP1928]

I see people not atheists. That isn't my first consideration. Engaging in discourse for the sake of discussion is enough. One needn't speak of God to be a light or benefit from engagement. Example is powerful.

~bella

Right. Witness is really our only tool. I wish I was better at it.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Do you ever change your mind on something?
Example?

Usually the atheists targets fundamentalist literal beliefs about the Bible. One we get past that we get more into philosophy.
But you make me wonder if my beliefs change at all. They are pretty abstract and hard to pin down anyway. There is lot that I think is unessential. Like Paul Tillich I think in terms of an "Ultimate Concern". For me it comes down to the question: Is the universe fundamentally without consciousness or is consciousness its foundation?

So beliefs about how God does this or that, who Jesus is, what is revelation, what can we know about God and how to know it, how to interpret the Bible, etc, these beliefs seem to change all the time for me. They seem open ended and ongoing.

 

[bèlla]

Right. Witness is really our only tool. I wish I was better at it.

I'm sure you're more effective than you realize.

 

[Astrid]

I see people not atheists. That isn't my first consideration. Engaging in discourse for the sake of discussion is enough. One needn't speak of God to be a light or benefit from engagement. Example is powerful.

~bella

Much as in how while in the USA I was unconcerned
with anyone's religion, provided their reason to
speak to me was not to convert me..

Examples are indeed powerful.

I wish more here saw themselves for the terrible
examples they are.

One of my profs at NYU turned out to be a baptist
minister. The only hint was the ( very) occasional
and always very apt one- liner from the bible.

Google him and that's how I knew.


Great professor, I deeply respected him.

 

[Astrid]

I see people not atheists. That isn't my first consideration. Engaging in discourse for the sake of discussion is enough. One needn't speak of God to be a light or benefit from engagement. Example is powerful.

~bella

You are a good example.

 

[Hammster]

So..your focus is on conversion. Fair enough.

Is it all one way?

Sometimes I just have friends with similar interests.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

Is there something you dont think you understand,
do you feel a moral obligation to try for conversion,
just like to argue or...??

Because I desire all to come to Jesus and have eternal life in Heaven with God.

Just imagine for a second what Christians say about Jesus and Heaven and hell is true, are we supposed to keep it to ourselves?

 

[bèlla]

Much as in how while in the USA I was unconcerned
with anyone's religion, provided their reason to
speak to me was not to convert me..

That's dehumanizing and I've never agreed with it. You are more than your beliefs and worthy of recognition in light of your divinity as His creation. Whether you know it or not.

Change is a process and I questioned the 'script' in a missionary preparation class. I asked how they were certain they were supposed to present the gospel in one sitting and was it possible that their presence was for something else. Oftentimes it's a series of experiences over a period that brings them to the point where its conveyance is met with agreement.

I've also been on the receiving end of the same during my estrangement and was accosted by a group when we left the synagogue. They were trying to give us Hanukkah candles but they had bible tracts too and were really aggressive. I've lived in this area over 25 years and have never witnessed anything like that and hope I never do again.

It did more harm than good and added years to the process. If I recall they were messianic jews and I was offended. Although I've found my way back there was still a connection to judaism in my heart that couldn't be sated in the others company. While I can converse I could never be one of them denominationally so for many reasons.

My bearing is a reflection of time in their presence and the influence remains. That's how I was received and I do the same in the kind. Without their assistance I would have been an atheist. I was nearing the point of no return and you don't forget things like that.

I've never forgotten how it felt to be lost and that inspires compassion not judgment or heavy handedness. My burden for others like myself remains and that's my purpose. Someone snatched me from the flames so I could the same. And that's incredibly humbling.

Thank you for this thread and the compliment. It was a welcome respite.

~bella

 

[Astrid]

Because I desire all to come to Jesus and have eternal life in Heaven with God.

Just imagine for a second what Christians say about Jesus and Heaven and hell is true, are we supposed to keep it to ourselves?

Profoundly immoral for a believer not to.

Taming your cue here, and supposing it is so-

Is it moral to stand by while a fellow
Christian promotes patently false beliefs that are
profoundly disrespectful of God. And, ftm,
an insult to intelligence?