I'm an atheist. For theists, why do you hope I change my mind?

Answer 1

I don't hope you change your mind. I hope you find peace in your beliefs, no matter what they may be.

Answer 2

I think that YOU hope to change your mind, only you haven't yet found convincing enough reasons. The same old Christian crap that you grew up with bores you, religious fundamentalism makes you sick, you view religion as a whole as a mass of dogma and foolishness, and the followers all hypocrites who say but don't do... does this ring a bell?

This is how I used to view things, back when I thought I was an athiest, before I came to know the truth about God and the universe (the real truth is, probably, very different from what you think you have heard before).

I actually like athiests. Athiests are probably closer to God than many in that they at least think about matters more substantial than the average person does. Some of the most virulent athiets have become some of the strongest believers, once they get their head screwed on straight.

Admit it: you want to believe in God. And inwardly, you are dying for God. You long for a life of purpose. You wish to have clarity and peace in your life. You want answers to the deepest questions that no one seems to be able to solve, and you are pissed off that no one has been able to make this crazy world sensible to you.

I'm sorry that has been your experience, but it is not the fault of God or of religious people. When are you going to stop posing and give in to the innermost longings of your heart?

Answer 3

As a Hindu I do not hope you change your mind or for that matter consider it my responsibility to try to convince you otherwise. Afterall, Hindus believe that all people discover the universal truths of the innate nature of the inner self regardless of what religion they are. Thus, even an Atheist make the same discoveries if they search within. A Buddhist friend of mine said once, "Buddhism is like the Atheist branch of Hinduism. We believe mostly what Hinduism believes and practices much of what Hindus practice except that we don't really concern ourselves with God or with the question of whether there is or is not a God." And Hindus openly acknowledge that the Buddha discovered the universal truths of the innate nature of the inner self (that is, afterall, why he got the title "Buddha").

So, I guess, here's hoping you don't change your mind. Here's hoping that if you do wish to discover those universal truths that you find them, but otherwise may you live well and harmoniously with others and peace and joy fill the many days of your life.

Peace be with you.

Answer 4

It's because we think we found a pot of gold, something so good, that we want to share it. It's like when you first learned to masturbate, and you told all your friends about it.

The reason we're persistent is because we think religion makes logical sense. For example, everything I know about religion is a fact. I don't believe in some outrageous scriptures or what people tell me (that's why I left Catholicism, I don't think religion should be structured for you, it should be based on basic fundamentals).

When I hear atheists talking about why they can't believe in God, or Jesus, or religion, I recognize the confusion as what I had before it all made sense to me.

Truthfully, the world works one way. You can only change yourself. Radicals who believe they can change you, convert you, etc... they're blind to the truth. The only thing other people can do for you is give you information. It's up to you to decide if it makes sense or it doesn't. But if it doesn't make sense, don't let that be the deciding point for being an atheist. Ask other people about their religion, and question them with the problems you have about believing. See how they deal with those issues, and try to make sense of it all.

That's why I believe, it just makes sense and I understand it. Now as I develop my religion more, I can even feel the effects on my life.

Answer 5

Most Christians want to save souls. They believe, but 99.9 % believe because they reference the bible, or need to, or they are going along.
No one can prove there is a God scientifically. To prove God, Christians pull out the faith card, or random unexplainable coincidence, or the bible.
I'm an atheist, but I live a spiritual life. I stop to witness the beauty of the earth. I'm amazed by life and the world all the time. It is inspiring to wonder why the world is so incredible.
I do not believe in God, in the sense that everyone else believes, but I feel there are many general concepts of the universe yet undiscovered. Science is explaining things on the sub atomic level, and mathematics and physics have theories of multiple dimensions. So, no one really knows with certainty, unless they are living some pathological fantasy, fitting the universe to their religious views in the absence of science.

Einstein wanted to prove the unified theory of Physics to bring us closer to proving the illusive understanding of the universe, but also to support his idea of God.

Atheism is unclear to Christians. They think it's a perverted agreement you've made with the devil. Christians own the ignorance on that. They depend on the Bible to do their thinking. Christians see the world wearing blinders and they are slow to accept scientific discoveries. If Christian want to be so righteous about religion, at least they should respect the topic enough to learn the platform for atheism. Atheism is a complex and intelligent party. We don't believe in Spirits, The Holy Ghost, The Virgin Mary, Jesus as a semi-god, God or the Devil. Atheism is not a religion either, it's a personal belief, but one argued in scientific circles to a great degree.

It's more important to allow yourself to think freely about any topic, than feel left out because you can not subscribe to a popular theory.

Carl Sagan had much to say about this in Cosmos.

Answer 6

I respect everyone's beliefs and don't want to shove anything down anyone's throat. But in terms of why theists (in particular Christians) hope to change peoples' minds, it's because we believe we've been told about something exceedingly great and true. Anyone who believes that can't help but want others to see it also.

Everyone is like this. People who find a great new soda want others to try it also, because they've found something so good. Conspiracy theorists all want to spread their message because they're convinced they know the truth and it's important for everyone else to know it. Faith is no different, except with much higher stakes. We've found something good, and can't help but want others to know it also.

That said, it should be done with respect, and sometimes we just need to agree to disagree.

Answer 7

I am a Christian. I will just say that upfront.

It was the Lord that said that he did not want one soul to perish. This would include you. As a Christian it is also my wish that no soul would perish either. I know....you are saying well that is just your religion and what you believe to be true and I do not believe in all of that.

The deal is that I believe the Bible to be the truth and the Word of God. To some people it is a book full of contradictions and rules to follow. Not to me when carefully reading it you will find that it does not contradict itself nor is it simply a rule book. God has saved me from a lot of heartache and misery because I was following what He has said in the Bible. Not to say that I have not been through any suffering as I have, but with God there to sustain me, it has been that much easier for me. I love my life and I love it because I know God is God and that He is truth! Why would I not wish the same for others?

Answer 8

Well personally I think that everyone that turns his or her back on a mythology and understands that the world has no pixies, leprechauns and gods, makes the world a better place.
I certainly won't try and change your mind with utterly useless platitudes or threats of imaginary places like 'hell' like the christians will but I will say this; measure the world based on what people say about it. If you do that, you'll quickly realize that there can be no deities or gods in this universe.
They are imaginary.

Answer 9

Because it means you're arrogant and think you know everything. Can you prove or disprove the existence of G-d? You can do neither but you pick one that basically states that you're 100% sure that He doesn't exist. If anything, be an agnostic. They don't care enough but at least they recognize that they don't know. I would only want you to become anything but an atheist so that you can get that stick out of your ****. Though I'm sure you've gotten used to it, it really would be better if you realized that you didn't know everything. Either way, it doesn't affect me but I have an overall concern for those who have to deal with someone who is so sure of something like the inexistence of G-d. :-D

Answer 10

I hope you change your mind because through the belief in God, you gain a companion who loves you, provides for you, and is a constant in your life. God can be compared to as a good father. Not only that, there is a peace that surpasses all understanding that comes with the knowledge that you have a God to look out for you-- one who knows your every thought, word, and deed even before you do it and still loves you.

Answer 11

I dont hope to change anything about you!

Because I know I cant! You have free will, and only YOU can change your mind.

I can plant a "seed" by you listening or reading something that I put on here, but, changing your mind, uh uh, aint gonna happen in this day and age!

Only the LORD can put it in your heart, if you let HIM, of HIS Salvation. I can do absolutely nothing.

I wish you well..

Jesse