Dissuading New Christians.

[Garyzenuf]

I have a friend at work who is new to Christianity (6 months) I don't want to argue (I mean discuss ) his new found religous beliefs because he seems to enjoy them so much. He's an older divorced guy who lives in a basement suite and doesn't seem to have many other people in his world outside of work and his new found church. For what ever reason he listens to me, and I think I could talk him around to at least looking at things agnosticlly, but even if I could should I? He just seems so happy, I don't want to turn him from something that has given his life "meaning", just because I don't believe in it.

 

[Zaac]

I have a friend at work who is new to Christianity (6 months) I don't want to argue (I mean discuss ) his new found religous beliefs because he seems to enjoy them so much. He's an older divorced guy who lives in a basement suite and doesn't seem to have many other people in his world outside of work and his new found church. For what ever reason he listens to me, and I think I could talk him around to at least looking at things agnosticlly, but even if I could should I? He just seems so happy, I don't want to turn him from something that has given his life "meaning", just because I don't believe in it.

So if he's your friend, why would you want to "dissuade" him away from the truth?

 

[roflcopter101]

So if he's your friend, why would you want to "dissuade" him away from the truth?

Define "truth."

 

[Nihilismus]

Ask him why he has chosen Christianity over any other "faith".

 

[Garyzenuf]

So if he's your friend, why would you want to "dissuade" him away from the truth?

Well speaking as a non-christian, I don't think what he has found is the truth, in the fullness of time though I might well turn out to be wrong .

I mean as a non-christian then should I dissuade him?

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[Beanieboy]

Why do you think he has not found the truth? Because it isn't your truth?

I don't understand your OP. You are upset that your friend is happy, and finding the source of that happiness, want to take it away? And you think of yourself as his friend because....

 

[Garyzenuf]

Ask him why he has chosen Christianity over any other "faith".

Oh...I got plenty of them, but should I? Morally speaking, he's like a puppy about it sometimes.

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[Washington]

I have a friend at work who is new to Christianity (6 months) I don't want to argue (I mean discuss ) his new found religous beliefs because he seems to enjoy them so much. He's an older divorced guy who lives in a basement suite and doesn't seem to have many other people in his world outside of work and his new found church. For what ever reason he listens to me, and I think I could talk him around to at least looking at things agnosticlly, but even if I could should I? He just seems so happy, I don't want to turn him from something that has given his life "meaning", just because I don't believe in it.

You're quite right to consider, "I don't want to turn him from something that has given his life "meaning", just because I don't believe in it." Would turning him away from his religion make him happier? If not, I would leave it alone.

 

[Nihilismus]

He might be just as happy (or even more so) with Islam or any other religion and it would be irresponsible to deny such a fool the possibility of further meaning.

 

[broken_one]

Oh...I got plenty of them, but should I? Morally speaking, he's like a puppy about it sometimes.

*

Just let him play it out....sooner or later, he'll realize that Christianity is much harder than he's making it out to be, and he will "sink or swim" then...

So if he's gonna fail on his own, let him. If he's actually does become a stronger Christian, then debate him then.
People got to be happy sometime, right?

 

[Beanieboy]

Yeah. If you think it not "the Truth", then he should come to that conclusion, if that is what he is seeking, all by himself, with or without your help.

I don't understand the need to have your friend be in agreement with your belief system.

 

[SallyNow]

If you are his friend and he's finding something meaningful in his life that is non-destructive, and in fact seems to be having a positive effect, why would you want to turn him away from it?

If he was going into something that was causing him harm - say, a group that discouraged him from taking necessary medication, or a group that encouraged he disengage from his family and previous healthy relationships - then yes, you would have good reason to kindly, gently speak up.

However, if you're just doing it to prove something to yourself, or to prove that you have the power to take meaningful things away from other people, then you would not be much of a friend at all.

 

[Nihilismus]

Maybe he respects his friend and cares enough to tell him what he may not want to hear?

 

[Garyzenuf]

Yeah. If you think it not "the Truth", then he should come to that conclusion, if that is what he is seeking, all by himself, with or without your help.

I don't understand the need to have your friend be in agreement with your belief system.

Well being new I guess he likes talking about it a bit which is cool with me, but I actually pull some of my punches when we're jousting back and forth because I don't want to dissuade him from his new faith. I feel like just saying "thats nice" (which I have a few times) but then I feel dishonest.

*

 

[Zaac]

Define "truth."

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

[roflcopter101]

Maybe he respects his friend and cares enough to tell him what he may not want to hear?

Well, if there is no harm caused by being Christian, than why bother to tell him?

 

[Nihilismus]

"Harm" is subjective. Some consider delusion to be positive, others do not. It's all relative.

 

[Garyzenuf]

If you are his friend and he's finding something meaningful in his life that is non-destructive, and in fact seems to be having a positive effect, why would you want to turn him away from it?

If he was going into something that was causing him harm - say, a group that discouraged him from taking necessary medication, or a group that encouraged he disengage from his family and previous healthy relationships - then yes, you would have good reason to kindly, gently speak up.

However, if you're just doing it to prove something to yourself, or to prove that you have the power to take meaningful things away from other people, then you would not be much of a friend at all.

Yes he is my friend, and no, I'm not "doing" anything to his beliefs, I'm a nice guy, really.

I guess my question is more directed at others, If you could dissuade someone from a belief system you don't think is "the truth" would you, if not, why do we spend so much time here trying to impress "the lurkers"? Or is different in the real world?

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[Nihilismus]

Nothing is wrong with suggesting alternatives...unless Christianity turns out to be true. In that case, Satan was working through you to tempt your friend. Sorry.

 

[Zaac]

Yes he is my friend, and no, I'm not "doing" anything to his beliefs, I'm a nice guy, really.

I guess my question is more directed at others, If you could dissuade someone from a belief system you don't think is "the truth" would you, if not, why do we spend so much time here trying to impress "the lurkers"? Or is different in the real world?

*

I was wondering how long it was gonna take to ask the question that you really wanted to ask?

Is there really even a friend at work?