How to respond to offensive anti-God material?

[AgingNerd]

I don't blame you for getting offended. Others here seem critical of this emotion but I totally understand. I am going to make my comments brief followed by some verses

Avoid your uncle and don't debate with him at all. We are supposed to love people and you are not going to be able to win a debate with him. Love will do more than debate. I say this and yet have a hard time with this myself.

Becoming loving and Christlike will help you deal with this. You get that way the more you spend in the Bible and Prayer. So you and I should earnestly read the word of every day and seek God. That will change us both.

Also you can read some books. That might strengthen you faith and give you confidence. Lee Strobel has some great books. Check out case for Christ and case for faith. Also case for creator and others.

It's ok for you to avoid your uncle. Spend time growing stronger and you will be more ready for him in the future.

Here are some verses.

Titus 3:9 NIV
[9] But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Proverbs 23:9 NIV
[9] Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

I Timothy 1:3-7

 

[anonymous person]

I don't blame you for getting offended. Others here seem critical of this emotion but I totally understand. I am going to make my comments brief followed by some verses

Avoid your uncle and don't debate with him at all. We are supposed to love people and you are not going to be able to win a debate with him. Love will do more than debate. I say this and yet have a hard time with this myself.

Becoming loving and Christlike will help you deal with this. You get that way the more you spend in the Bible and Prayer. So you and I should earnestly read the word of every day and seek God. That will change us both.

Also you can read some books. That might strengthen you faith and give you confidence. Lee Strobel has some great books. Check out case for Christ and case for faith. Also case for creator and others.

It's ok for you to avoid your uncle. Spend time growing stronger and you will be more ready for him in the future.

Here are some verses.

Titus 3:9 NIV
[9] But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Proverbs 23:9 NIV
[9] Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

I Timothy 1:3-7

This...

 

[Loudmouth]

My advice is to do what atheists have been doing for years with the same type of evangelical material. Just nod and say, "Okay", then move on. It isn't worth arguing religion and politics with family.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Time will tell.

You will remember my words.

I hate to break it to you, but you'll be lucky if I remember your words next week.

But I am not concerned. I already know from experience that you are mistaken.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

My advice is to do what atheists have been doing for years with the same type of evangelical material.
Just nod and say, "Okay", then move on. It isn't worth arguing religion and politics with family.

Except in your case ehehe......

.

 

[Loudmouth]

Except in your case ehehe......

View attachment 167124


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My political and religious opinions differ quite a bit from the rest of my family. At family gatherings I tend to silently nod a lot when certain family members spout off about Obama being a secret muslim atheist, and other such nonsense. I have found that bar rules (no religion/no politics) also apply to family get-togethers. Unlike the posters at Christian forums, I actually have to see my family on a regular basis.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Loudmouth said: ↑
My advice is to do what atheists have been doing for years with the same type of evangelical material.
Just nod and say, "Okay", then move on. It isn't worth arguing religion and politics with family.

Except in your case ehehe......

View attachment 167124
.

My political and religious opinions differ quite a bit from the rest of my family. At family gatherings I tend to silently nod a lot when certain family members spout off about Obama being a secret muslim atheist, and other such nonsense.
I have found that bar rules (no religion/no politics) also apply to family get-togethers. Unlike the posters at Christian forums, I actually have to see my family on a regular basis.

Ah, thks for that clarification. I was assuming you meant on a Christian forum and sorry I didn't read your post better.....my bad....mea culpa

 

[Loudmouth]

Ah, thks for that clarification. I was assuming you meant on a Christian forum and sorry I didn't read your post better.....my bad....mea culpa

De nada, mi amigo.

 

[Isthaail13]

I am a new Christian and have an uncle who is a strong Buddhist. He constantly sends our family "philosophical" quotes he believes we need to see. Attached is the most recent. I was very offended by the "invisible God" portion of his quote and would like to get some feedback regarding what is the best way to respond to this in a kind way and also how to express my distaste in him sending offensive things to me. He is quite manipulative and will have a lot to say back, and being new to the world of Christianity I am unsure of how to appropriately deal with this situation. Please advise!

I don't know what exactly others are replying, but one thing to remember is to love your uncle. He might think he's trying to help you.

Now, there's not much you can say back to him-- there's a chance he knows your new religion better than you do. And even if that weren't the case, arguing with him won't do much.

The foundation of a Christian faith is a belief in Christ. It is not a knowledge that drives people, it is a belief. We have to believe that God sent his only Begotten Son to atone for our sins. There has never been, and there never will be, scientific proof of this. If people ridicule us for this, it is a part of the deal. It is up to us to stay true to what the Spirit has told us, even if man ridicules us. It is also our responsibility to continually seek guidance from that same Spirit for further light and knowledge.

In short, hang in there, brother. The best thing you can do for your uncle is to continue to hold to what you believe. He'll come around with time. He may never become Christian, but at least he'll grow to respect your decision to follow Christ.

 

[mluiesp]

Let me address the quote.

First of all, there many humans who, while being Atheists, also destroy nature. Just remember China.

Second, the Bible does command us to care for Nature. We are only stewards of God's creation.

Third, it is indeed a folly to disobey God. That's human nature.

Fourth, does humanity really worship God?

Lastly, while it's not a perfect parallel, remember this verse: Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

...No amount of learning or enlightenment can change the heart of man.

Having a child can work wonders. The problem with a statement like yours is that it is unfalsifiable - for every example I could give, you can say that their good heart must have just been hidden all along.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Time will tell.

You will remember my words.

Excellent! a classic contentless 'deepity' - the kind of portentious prophesy so popular with clairvoyants, mystics, and psychic readers; if you forget it, it might as well have never happened; if you remember it, the prophesy has come true... This one is tautologous: "I prophesy that you will remember this prophesy!"
Wonderful!

E.T.A - apologies if that sounded overenthusiastic - I'd just finished a class in the philosophy of critical analysis; and to a man with a philosophical hammer, everything looks like a metaphysical nail...

 

[ananda]

I am a new Christian and have an uncle who is a strong Buddhist. He constantly sends our family "philosophical" quotes he believes we need to see. Attached is the most recent. I was very offended by the "invisible God" portion of his quote and would like to get some feedback regarding what is the best way to respond to this in a kind way and also how to express my distaste in him sending offensive things to me. He is quite manipulative and will have a lot to say back, and being new to the world of Christianity I am unsure of how to appropriately deal with this situation. Please advise!

If I was in your place, I would inform my uncle that, the Buddha, in many of the earliest Buddhist scriptural texts, taught that there were indeed deities - Devas (powerful angelic-like beings) and Brahmas (extraordinary god-like beings) which the lay people honor (e.g. the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta SN 56.11, Dhajagga Sutta SN 11.3, the Maha-parinibbana Sutta DN 16,etc.).

Admittedly, it is not the highest goal for someone to honor or worship the deities, but it was a legitimate lesser goal intended for laypeople which the Buddha did not despise in any of the early Buddhist texts I've read. As a Buddhist, I honor the deities including Jesus, but above them I honor the Buddha, his Dhamma (teaching), and the Sangha (the community of enlightened masters).

 

[PsychoSarah]

My advice is to do what atheists have been doing for years with the same type of evangelical material. Just nod and say, "Okay", then move on. It isn't worth arguing religion and politics with family.

I'm not the one that brings it up in my family. Mine is a house divided, in regards to religion. Currently, my mother and step-father are Christians, my grandmother and I are agnostic atheists, and my sister is borderline antitheist. My step brothers stay out of the discussions, but it makes for... tense moments.

And that is in a relatively liberal to moderate household, I cannot imagine how this would work out if my mother or step-father were more extreme in their beliefs.

 

[sunsurfkdt]

Tell your uncle thanks for sending you the quote and that you love him.

I agree, that's the best way to handle it. Then she wouldn't offend her elder. When its someone older, you do have to remember that you must treat them as you would a father or mother. Utmost respect. When you respect someone, you in turn will be respected. However, an easy light hearted way to ask to stop, would be she could make a joke out of it somehow. And not act like its offensive, because then she's like making fun of interests..

 

[Loudmouth]

I'm not the one that brings it up in my family. Mine is a house divided, in regards to religion. Currently, my mother and step-father are Christians, my grandmother and I are agnostic atheists, and my sister is borderline antitheist. My step brothers stay out of the discussions, but it makes for... tense moments.

And that is in a relatively liberal to moderate household, I cannot imagine how this would work out if my mother or step-father were more extreme in their beliefs.

It takes two to tango, as the old saying goes. The best way to diffuse an argument is to not argue. As I told my mother once with a loving smile, "Even when you are wrong, you are still right." I gave here a hug, and I left it at that.

 

[anonymous person]

Excellent! a classic contentless 'deepity' - the kind of portentious prophesy so popular with clairvoyants, mystics, and psychic readers; if you forget it, it might as well have never happened; if you remember it, the prophesy has come true... This one is tautologous: "I prophesy that you will remember this prophesy!"
Wonderful!

E.T.A - apologies if that sounded overenthusiastic - I'd just finished a class in the philosophy of critical analysis; and to a man with a philosophical hammer, everything looks like a metaphysical nail...

And despite all of this....

Time will tell.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

And despite all of this....

Time will tell.

What will it tell?

 

[anonymous person]

What will it tell?

Truth

 

[Loudmouth]

Truth

Any time soon?