Pretend I'm an atheist. How would you convert me?

[Naalderiis]

step 1: don't try to troll them.
step 2: do what you can to break down their feeling that it's science vs religion. science is just a great way for us to try and understand how God has set stuff up.
step 3: since it's not science vs religion now they're more free to see that belief in Jesus/God is entirely a choice we make.
step 4: you've probably done your job and planted some seeds by now. God's the one who will reap them.

 

[Jezmeyah]

I'd have to pretend that God has prepared you, and pretend that He has appointed me to be anointed to speak such compelling words that would cause you to say something like "I believe that Jesus paid the price for my sins, I repent and believe that I am forgiven and saved and become the child of God whom He loves."

But since this is all pretense, I don't have those compelling words that would make a salvation conversion possible. Therefore, I can only pray that it would happen concerning an actual person.

 

[EdyChristian28]

your not going to persuade an atheist. they have a contempt for acknowledging a righteous god. and the idea that they were created.

 

[marineimaging]

I don't need to read the others to compare answers. You can't convert anybody because it is not your task in life. You LIVE the word every day and that will win the ones who seek what our Lord has as a gift for them. You prepare by being in the Word and remember that the Word of God begins in Genesis and in the middle is Revelations. The end, it has not come yet and it won't if you believe in God. There is no end. Those who do not desire the truth, the way, the life, cannot find it in anything else. Only those who desire to know the truth will come to you and ask. You be prepared. Until then, live it. Live the Word of God. You are going to be so surprised how easy it is.

 

[Arthur B Via]

Pretend I'm an atheist. How would you convert me? Although it is true that God does the calling and the Holy Spirit does the convicting, we must be prepared to share Jesus! God will do the calling through us, His people. Atheist's seem to prefer science so I'd direct them to the many scientific studies that prove God is real. One study began with 12 scientists and 10 started as staunch atheists but after a full year of full-time study ALL concluded, and documented, there had to be a God. I'm sure you can Google it to find the study. Many blessings!



The title says it all.

I went to an atheist forum to preach about God and failed miserably. I don't know if they were closed-minded or I was just too much of an idiot to persuade someone of anything. Either way, I want to be someone who is good at debating on the side of my God.

So how would you approach such a situation? What would you tell me to convince me out of my atheism?

Let's say, for example, that I believe in evolution instead of creationism. What would you tell me? (That's just one example of many. Don't focus on it, please.)

 

[Spiderkiller007]

Don't worry about it , before I was a Christian I cried out to god to show me the way to salvation, I started to overhear Christian conversation all over the place in a mall , tire shop wherever most of those Christians had no idea I was listening in , but god was drawing me if you were to look at me you never would have thought it , I was also the type of guy to make fun of Christians and try to shock and offend them but there was a few I remembered and admired for their inner strength, it is easy to come off tough and scary but a lot harder and braver to not conform ! To this day I know many have no idea they had a part to play in my salvation.

 

[rstrats]

re: "...Pascal's Wager..."

The Wager can be eliminated as a possible approach because it is based on the false notion that beliefs can be consciously chosen.

 

[Greg Merrill]

Why do you want to focus on the atheist? Possibly the adversary wants you to waste your time.
Do you know an atheist that you are concerned? Give them the gospel, and then move on. Let God take it from there. I would say focus your time on praising God, getting to know Him, and serving Him. Spend your time on how the Bible says for you to grow, follow it, and then serve in a more productive field than atheists. We are not to cast the pearls before the swine, or try to plant seed on rocks. Be wise, and see how to be productive for God, not wasting "too much" time on atheists. God loves the atheist, and unless you know God is calling you to minister specifically to them, God will use others to minister to them, and use you in other ways.

 

[rubyinprogress]

God converts people, not us. Just show people God's love. If they ask you a question, trust the Lord to help you answer it. ("I don't know" is often the right answer, I have found). Also, read the book of Acts. The Apostle Paul, a "Pharisee of Pharisees", a learned man, etc etc over and over again fell back to his own personal conversion story when evangelizing. Blessings!

 

[Jonathan Mathews]

Pretend I'm an atheist. How would you convert me?



The title says it all.

I went to an atheist forum to preach about God and failed miserably. I don't know if they were closed-minded or I was just too much of an idiot to persuade someone of anything. Either way, I want to be someone who is good at debating on the side of my God.

So how would you approach such a situation? What would you tell me to convince me out of my atheism?

Let's say, for example, that I believe in evolution instead of creationism. What would you tell me? (That's just one example of many. Don't focus on it, please.)

 

[Jonathan Mathews]

Sounds like your problem is that you still think "Atheists" actually exist. They don't. They are lying to you. And they're "deceiving themselves" by "suppressing the knowledge of God" in their own minds, hearts, and spirits.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."
Romans 1:20

Anyone calling themselves "Atheists" by saying they don't believe God exists, is lying to you and themselves. Every human being KNOWS God exists AND they all know God's basic characteristics thru all of creation. God made SURE no person can ever say "I didn't know you existed".

 

[TWHladyinLV]

I hope you receive plenty of replies from mature believers but my two cents worth is WE humans do not convert anyone only the HOLY SPIRIT can convert after GOD THE FATHER has chosen to hover over the unbeliever. We can spend years talking to brick walls becoming disheartened over it but GOD will have compassion on those HE chooses and not everyone is chosen.

That doesn't answer the question

 

[TWHladyinLV]

Sounds like your problem is that you still think "Atheists" actually exist. They don't. They are lying to you. And they're "deceiving themselves" by "suppressing the knowledge of God" in their own minds, hearts, and spirits.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."
Romans 1:20

Anyone calling themselves "Atheists" by saying they don't believe God exists, is lying to you and themselves. Every human being KNOWS God exists AND they all know God's basic characteristics thru all of creation. God made SURE no person can ever say "I didn't know you existed".

That does not answer the question

 

[TWHladyinLV]

I would listen to them, understand them, answer questions they had, begin a dialogue,and try to show a genuine interest in them and love them. I would show them that Christianity is different through my actions and words, nobody has ever been converted because someone preached to them on the internet.


That many, in fact most Christians around the world, accept evolutionary theory and other forms of modern science. You do not have to throw away your scientific knowledge to be a Christian.

Most intelligent answer so far. People who are claiming to be atheists have a very poor idea of what Christians believe. They think we are soft in the mind and believe fairy tales. The first steps to convert anyone is to start a rapport with them. Let them understand that you care what they think and let them know you aren't ignorant.

 

[TWHladyinLV]

I wouldn't. What you believe is ultimately your decision.



I'd tell you that evolution is accepted science, and creationism is faith. I'd also tell you that I believe that God created the world and set the process of evolution in motion. I don't believe someone has to be "converted" from the "faith" of evolution.
Ringo

You are avoiding the question - like everyone else practically.
Evolution is not accepted science - evolution is a theory. Creationism is not just faith
Many scientists are much more open to the fact that there may have been a Big Bang-but what or who started it is the key. Even Stephen Hawkins acknowledges the existence of multiple planes of existence (so far 12 that can be proved), creationism is far more believable than evolution and we are all just big mistakes.

 

[TWHladyinLV]

Jesus could convert people even with miracles of healing and divine eloquence, so why should I assume I have the power to change what a person believes? Atheism is a belief.

Everyone who is a Christian should take a mandatory class or classes in Apologetics. These answers are really dissapointing

 

[TWHladyinLV]

I've had the best way in converting people by playing (devils advocate) wish there was a better term lol, but i start by saying, ok what if your view is true.

I then point out the similar flaws within atheist logic, the usual how does a universe spring from nothing, when they use their usual rebuttals, i bring them to the conclusion that both atheism and Christianity have to make a logical leap of faith eventually, we just assume that there is a consciousness behind the universe's creation.

Now that they know their beliefs are not so cemented, I share my personal experiences and say, look this is my personal experiences, what's happened to me, you may choose or not to believe, I will not try and push you. Most people from there on have asked me more about my experiences and I slowly introduce them to them with time and explain if they are curious to test my hypothesis and show them how i got closer to God and why they should give it a shot because they got nothing to lose.

Pascals wager

If i die and God isn't real believing in him, I die in blissful ignorance not remembering and have lost nothing.
If i die not believing in God I must face my mortality and nothing will change.
But if I die and God is real believing in him I gain everything and eternal life.

A good start - but your personal experiences won't mean a lot to an atheist.

 

[TWHladyinLV]

I think many people would agree that insulting others is not a loving thing to do.




You do realize that many atheists were once Christians, right?

You do realize that many Christians were once atheists right?

 

[Ringo84]

You are avoiding the question - like everyone else practically.
Evolution is not accepted science - evolution is a theory. Creationism is not just faith
Many scientists are much more open to the fact that there may have been a Big Bang-but what or who started it is the key. Even Stephen Hawkins acknowledges the existence of multiple planes of existence (so far 12 that can be proved), creationism is far more believable than evolution and we are all just big mistakes.

OP specifically asked us not to dwell on the creation vs evolution part, but evolution does not say anything about how life got here. All it says is that once life was here, however that was, it changed over time. That's it.
Ringo

 

[TWHladyinLV]

The problem with evolution, which Atheist more likely than not agree with (faith that it is true), is that it attempts to discredit the bible specifically Genesis 1 for example.

The "vatican" and "other christians" who "profess to be wise" over look 3 important notes in Genesis. And before you say anything about majority must be right, might I place here Matthew 7:13-14 and Matthew 7:21-23. Not saying you will say majority, but just in case.

Yowm = Hebrew word for day. I do agree, that with the right application it can mean a period of time or and age. However, that is not the case in Genesis 1.

Every time the word yowm is mentioned in Genesis 1, it adds the words "evening and morning". So, for example Gen.1:5 "...the evening and the morning...first day". Basically a 24 hour day.

Evolution supports the earth as a million, er wait, now its billions of years old. This is false. It didn't take God ages to build the earth or create man. The main author of the bible is God, who through man, had the bible written out. (if you wish for verses just ask)

So I would rather chose to believe God over man when it comes to the creation of earth and everything in it. You can choose what you wish but with the information I have provided you, you can no longer claim ignorance.

I would say science and the bible can go hand in hand. After all, God created the elements right? God made all right? He's the best scientist you will ever know.

I suppose you are right that evolution theory itself is not a faith now that I think of it. It is absolute corrupted, deceiving science, with a lack of trust in what God tells us, and an attempt to discredit God and His word.



Science, honest science, has not proven the bible wrong at all. What is your evidence for this? Actually, don't bother, I know for a fact the bible is correct 100% and I would rather you not confuse christians on "milk" and not "meat".

It is not an inaccurate statement I made, as you would HOPE to believe. What is your body made out of? All the elements dirt is made up of dipped in water so to speak. God made man out of dirt. Our body's have the same elements as dirt. There's a little science for you. Who made the elements? God right? There's a little science for you. Look at your DNA. Amazing isn't it? Honest science, uncorrupted science, the bible is right, man is wrong. Evolution is false.

You're starting to make some sense - but you are way to wordy, so you need to practice using less words and be more concise.