I'm curious, and I hope it's not too broad a question, what are some of the main/biggest struggles you have as a non-believer with accepting Christianity?
Most Common Struggles?
- Thread starter anw0001
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Hi anw001, I see you're new here, so WELCOME TO CF .. 
As for your question, my only thought is that accepting "Christianity" is pretty dependent upon accepting the Object of our faith first, as both Savior and Lord. After that, acceptance of the faith itself is a cinch
Yours and His,
David
As for your question, my only thought is that accepting "Christianity" is pretty dependent upon accepting the Object of our faith first, as both Savior and Lord. After that, acceptance of the faith itself is a cinch
Yours and His,
David
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Thanks St_Worm2!
Yes, I completely agree with you. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2).
I'm focusing mainly on the reasons an unbeliever may have for not accepting Christianity.
Yes, I completely agree with you. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2).
I'm focusing mainly on the reasons an unbeliever may have for not accepting Christianity.
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Silmarien
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When I was an atheist*, I didn't want to believe. Heaven and Hell were idiotic and coercive, the concept of sin was a guilt trip, atonement by blood sacrifice was literally paganism, the whole thing was about controlling people (especially women), and in the unlikely event that it was true, I wanted nothing to do with such a narcissistic, tyrannical god anyway.
All that said, I've kind of converted anyway.
Most of my problems came from having too simplistic an understanding of the religion and focusing on the wrong things. I still have some significant theological issues, but those are minor problems compared to hating absolutely everything about the religion. It's impossible to believe if you don't want to believe, and it's certainly possible to reject it unconsciously while thinking you're open to it. Which is most certainly not to say that all disbelief is willful, but I definitely spent a good decade admiring Christianity while still being too intellectually proud to entertain the possibility that there might be something to it. I've probably still got some psychological barriers to authentic faith, but I'm trying to be cooperative about getting rid of them. Or I've gone completely delusional!
*I identified as an atheist because I thought organized religion was ridiculous. My problems were with the idea of divine revelation, anthropomorphic concepts of God, and the snarled nest of tortured logic that is a lot of theology. I was always at the very least an agnostic pantheist, so sincere atheists are going to have additional problems.
All that said, I've kind of converted anyway.
Most of my problems came from having too simplistic an understanding of the religion and focusing on the wrong things. I still have some significant theological issues, but those are minor problems compared to hating absolutely everything about the religion. It's impossible to believe if you don't want to believe, and it's certainly possible to reject it unconsciously while thinking you're open to it. Which is most certainly not to say that all disbelief is willful, but I definitely spent a good decade admiring Christianity while still being too intellectually proud to entertain the possibility that there might be something to it. I've probably still got some psychological barriers to authentic faith, but I'm trying to be cooperative about getting rid of them. Or I've gone completely delusional!*I identified as an atheist because I thought organized religion was ridiculous. My problems were with the idea of divine revelation, anthropomorphic concepts of God, and the snarled nest of tortured logic that is a lot of theology. I was always at the very least an agnostic pantheist, so sincere atheists are going to have additional problems.
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Some good thoughts shown here. I have not struggled with Christianity, for over 60 years ago I accepted it and the Bible as a fact, and came to know God's "....so great salvation" in His beloved Son ---the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God (see John 14). One can know Him and the mind and ways of God by receiving Him into one's heart with devotion. The Lord Jesus is a blessed friend and always with a believer (note Matthew 28:20).
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