Atheism

[lizz13]

Hi,
My friends and I were out visiting and noticed that alot of people we talk to are atheists. We found it very hard to witness to them and would like to ask for some tips.
Thanks
Lizz

 

[Jedi]

From my experience with atheists, they seem to be just as avid beleivers that there is no God as a Muslim who believes in Allah, some coming to intellectual absurdities to hold on to their atheism. One atheist I'm talking to right now keeps asserting that there is no meaning in the entire universe - that your "thoughts" are nothing more than the accidental by-produce of the collision of atoms, and so there really is no such thing as "thought," since your brain is merely reacting to outside stimulation by unintelligable, arbitrary forces. I told him, however, that such a position is self-defeating, since if his words were true, his words couldn't possibly be true, since they would contain no meaning. His conclusion would be just as intelligable as the phrase "iojckjkles:" completely void of meaning. We cannot mean to say there is no meaning, since if that were true, we should have never found out there was no meaning. It would be just as if we lived in a universe without light, so that we wouldn't know color to say that there is none.

 

[Freodin]

From my experience with atheists, they seem to be just as avid beleivers that there is no God as a Muslim who believes in Allah, some coming to intellectual absurdities to hold on to their atheism. One atheist I'm talking to right now keeps asserting that there is no meaning in the entire universe - that your "thoughts" are nothing more than the accidental by-produce of the collision of atoms, and so there really is no such thing as "thought," since your brain is merely reacting to outside stimulation by unintelligable, arbitrary forces. I told him, however, that such a position is self-defeating, since if his words were true, his words couldn't possibly be true, since they would contain no meaning. His conclusion would be just as intelligable as the phrase "iojckjkles:" completely void of meaning. We cannot mean to say there is no meaning, since if that were true, we should have never found out there was no meaning. It would be just as if we lived in a universe without light, so that we wouldn't know color to say that there is none.

Hi Jedi!

Still beating this dead old horse, are you?

 

[armed2010]

Hi,
My friends and I were out visiting and noticed that alot of people we talk to are atheists. We found it very hard to witness to them and would like to ask for some tips.
Thanks
Lizz

Get some conclusive proof that can stand up to scientific scrutiny.

 

[Nathan David]

Hi,
My friends and I were out visiting and noticed that alot of people we talk to are atheists. We found it very hard to witness to them and would like to ask for some tips.
Thanks
Lizz

Don't bother. We've heard it all before.

 

[Meatros]

Hi,
My friends and I were out visiting and noticed that alot of people we talk to are atheists. We found it very hard to witness to them and would like to ask for some tips.
Thanks
Lizz

The best thing you can do to convert an atheist (any atheist) is to present good quality evidence of God.

Couldn't be simpler.

 

[Brimshack]

You might actually try listening to the people you are witnessing to. Aside from the possibility that you might learn something yourself, I think you'll find people are much more willing to respond to those who do not misrepresent their own views than to those who manufacture characatures and congratulate themselves on defeating straw men.

You're question is a good start. If you are really interested, then you might try reading through a few threads and paying special attention to those of atheists. One thing you might ask yourself is whether or not you really are that interested in dealing with the issue. It takes work to communicate with [eople of such differing opinions, and if you are not willing to do the work, then you will not get very far in the matter.

 

[feral]

Hi,
My friends and I were out visiting and noticed that alot of people we talk to are atheists. We found it very hard to witness to them and would like to ask for some tips.
Thanks
Lizz

Why do you feel that it is important to witness to atheists? Just wondering.

I would suggest that regardless of who you want to share your faith with you look at them as a friend, not a project. Inquire about the persons beliefs and reasons for believing what they do; only then can you refute arguments that relate to them or know what they think. What really turns me off is people who presume that because I'm agnostic I worship the devil or support abortion or just am spitefully ignoring god when none of it is true. Don't presume anything. Ask, and talk like real people.

Share your beliefs with anyone; people at work, whatever. It's always fine to say that you are a christian, or whatever. Don't push though. If someone asks more or asks why you believe that way invite them to church or offer them a bible or something, and tell them more. Don't talk a hostile approach and cut down other faiths or shout that people will be burning in hell. Scare tactics really don't work on seasoned atheists. I know that I am quite receptive if someone witnessing to be is agreeable, friendly an open.

Example...when I worked in a bookstore a lady came in for an advent calender. I showed her and she asked if I was celebrating and I said no and told her why. She asked why I was agnostic and I told her, so she bought me an Orange Julius on my break and we talked some more. She finally invited me to church and I went a few times. Maybe something would have come of it if I hadn't gotten mono and lost contact. I've also had people who offer chick tracts (big no-no) and shout about how miserable I'll be burning in hell...which turns me off. I never listen to those people. I don't think most atheists view extremists as anything other then a joke or annoyance. Just treat atheists or non-christians like any other human being with feelings and self-respect and intellect. Don't play at superiority or use threats, and if it doesn't work and you are frustrated just say that you'll pray for them and are free to answer more questions later, or refer them to someone else. Be honest and say you don't know the answer to everything, and then try to find out. Be honest and willing to share your views and listen to others, and don't label or criticize other views. You can say that you don't agree with a view, but don't label it or insult the person you witness to...

Sorry for the long post.

 

[Deth]

Agreed. But not all Christians witness for the desire to glorify God, so you can't group them together. Those who wittness for the right reasons are guided by God to say the right words. They care for you and want to see you in heaven someday. Then there are those who do it because they think they should. Out of no real desire to spread the Gospel, they wittness and intimidate you to thinking their way. Unfortunately, this is how many Christians wittness. These Christians have serious issues in their relationship with God, so please don't judge all Christians based on these.

 

[Jedi]

Hi Jedi!

Still beating this dead old horse, are you?

Indeed – no one has adequately answered this objection just yet.

 

[Deth]

Mainly because it's a product of "educated" minds who have becomes desperate to disprove that they are held accountable to an omnipotent diety. people tend to avoid such discussions when their side of the argument is so full of holes that there are much more facts to disprove than to prove it.

 

[Arikay]

lizz13: From an atheist I would say,

Tip 1: Be friendly.

Tip 2: Learn about what atheism is and isnt, from real sources, possibly atheists themselves, so you dont start off with false information about them.

Tip 3: Go to your favorite appologetics site, read up, when finished reading, mark everything that you read as things Not To Do.

Tip 4: double mark pascals wager as something not to use.

Tip 5: Hellfire and damnation dont work, remember kindness and tolerance are much better than hatred and prejudice.

Tip 6: If you are a creationist, or you want to talk about evolution vs creationism, read up on evolution from Non Creationist sites, otherwise you might just be laughed at for presenting so faulty its funny information.

Tip 7: As others have mentioned, dont expect to convert many, as many have heard it All before.

 

[Freodin]

Indeed – no one has adequately answered this objection just yet.

Well, I can provide an answer - whether you will accept it is a different question. But that would be a topic for another thread.

Mainly because it's a product of "educated" minds who have becomes desperate to disprove that they are held accountable to an omnipotent diety. people tend to avoid such discussions when their side of the argument is so full of holes that there are much more facts to disprove than to prove it.

I would suggest you provide some evidence for your unfounded assumptions or retract them. What you do here (and in various other posts) is not helpfull for a civil discussion.

@lizz
Sorry, I won´t derail your thread any more. For the original question: you will have noticed that most answers were from Atheists (or at least non-believers), and told you what would not work.

There were few Christian to answer (Hey, why is that? Come on, people, support your sister!), and I do not think they have been helpfull.
I mean, how do you know that what you just said was guided by God?

I can add nothing. I do not think other Christians can add something. If the people you talk to a really Atheists, and not the "I never cared" kind of Aphatists, there is not much you can tell us that we have not heard times and again.
Even if a certain person has not heard a certain argument before, there are not many (I´d say: no) arguments that can not be refuted or reasonably doubted with a little research.

The best approach should be: be polite, be nice, and try to show that you are a decent and intelligent person. At least you might convince the Atheists that not all Christians are deluded fanatics who think every non-Christian is a worshipper of Satan.

 

[Pete Harcoff]

I concur with what some other have said here: talk to them and find out why they think the way they do. Find out what gives them meaning, hope, etc. Be open-minded and polite, and don't try to force your beliefs on them.

If they see you have something genuine to offer, they may be more receptive. But if they are already happy with the way things are in their lives, then I wouldn't try to change that.

 

[Jacob4Jesus]

This is interesting. I know a lot of atheists, too. I would never try to cnvert any of them, because I have to respect their individualistic human rights to believe what they want to. I simply let them know what I believe, and they can take it any way they want.
By the way, to all the atheists on this site, you all are so much more educated on the subject than any of the people I talk to in real life. I have always said that being an athiest is generally a very educated decision. I don't agree with you, of course, but I respect the fact that you are all very well schooled in your beliefs (or lack thereof) and can support very intelligent arguements.
Prayers,
Jacob

 

[Jedi]

Well, I can provide an answer - whether you will accept it is a different question. But that would be a topic for another thread.

Of course, one we've discussed before. Surely if there were an answer to such an objection that I thought was adequate, I would leave it at that and not bring up the objection again (such things have happened in the past before). However, thus far, that hasn't been the case, and so it remains an objection I maintain in such discussions as these.

 

[Freodin]

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Of course, one we've discussed before. Surely if there were an answer to such an objection that I thought was adequate, I would leave it at that and not bring up the objection again (such things have happened in the past before). However, thus far, that hasn't been the case, and so it remains an objection I maintain in such discussions as these.

Then perhaps you should add to these objections that they have been dealt with, but not to your satisfaction. The way you do it now is a gross misrepresentation of at least my position.

BTW, could you point me to the current discussion with the Atheist you mentioned? I would like to read it. I promise not to interrupt.

 

[Jedi]

Then perhaps you should add to these objections that they have been dealt with, but not to your satisfaction. The way you do it now is a gross misrepresentation of at least my position.

But you'll notice that nowhere did I say that you were the sort of atheist that asserted there was no meaning - I was speaking of this particular atheist I'm discussing the issue with now.

BTW, could you point me to the current discussion with the Atheist you mentioned? I would like to read it. I promise not to interrupt.

Sure: http://forums.teencentre.net/t6261

This is where I've been spending my efforts lately due to a request for help there some time ago. In this discussion the link will take you to, it's not just a matter of debating meaning, but is primarily a debate concerning probability. Just F.Y.I. so that you know what's going on and don't think I gave you a link to the wrong discussion.

 

[lizz13]

let me clarify a little,
I go out on Teen Faith with my Youth Group, it's pretty much door to door witnessing. We see a lot of salvations, but sometimes people are just rude. Last week we talked to 2 atheists. One was about 24, talked for a while, then while my friend was in mid sentence laughed and shut the door. Anyway, we wanted some advice on what to say to them, since the bible doesn't work(they always roll thier eyes and call it "garbage") We are always just polite and say thanks, and we never get into debates with them, but it is really sad to see people so far from God. If you can help us out, please do.
God Bless
Lizz

 

[nfceagle6]

hey lizz
I been thinking about this and we have talked about differrnet otions(hey i was there),and when you do this you seem to want to discuss, not argue,but still win them but winning the argument is not winning this to christ.just remember to listen and THEN tell how christ would answer them.you're a great godly chica stay in christ. -abby