Why do Aethists hope to convert Christians?

Question

I think both Aethists and Christians are equally closed minded when it comes to religion or lack of it.

You couldn't make me believe there is no God anymore than you can make an Atheist believe there is one.

Yet somehow we both hope to convince the other. For Christians, Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope(1 Chronicles 29:15) but why do Aethists hope to change what is in a Christians heart?

Answer 1

I just like to present a different perspective for you to consider, and let you make up your own mind. I truly don't care if you must cling tightly to your christian beliefs. I simply try to make you think about why you believe what you believe. And, ask you to examine the other points of view. I am very familiar with christianity's point of view, since I was raised in church. Alot of those who claim to be christians on here sound so lost and helpless, and ask why did god let this happen or that happen. Those people are crying out for help from an invisible guy who isn't going to fly in and save them like superman. We try to get them to see what we consider to be the truth. Why you think a bunch of old rules and wild stories is the truth, will always be considered a mental flaw in our eyes. If you saw it from a different perspective, you might notice that as well.

Answer 2

Atheists try to share their views with Christians because they think it is a terrible shame for anyone to imagine that this life is just a prelude to something else. Since the evidence shows that this one life is all we have, then it is supremely precious. We think it is a waste to go through life hoping for reward or fearing punishment. Those ideas have no basis in fact, as far as anyone knows. They are just ancient superstitions designed to let people avoid their natural fear of death.

On the one hand, the idea of God as a best friend/father figure is very comforting to many people. On the other hand, the idea of God is inherently limiting since you spend much of your energy trying to figure out what this mythical figure wants you to do, praying for guidance, fearing to displease him, and so on.

Many atheists were originally Christians. Most of them came to reject religion by studying it intensely and reading the Bible thoroughly. Most struggled, sometimes for years, to overcome their disbelief. However, once they admitted to themselves that Christianity made no sense and there truly was no God, they felt an incredible peace. Generally we have a renewed sense of purpose in life, knowing how fleeting it is. To think you have only 80 years or so on earth is a huge motivation to do those things you want to do in life.

If you would like more information about atheism, a good place to start is http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/index.html. This will give you an understanding of why atheists think as they do. I also encourage you to read the Bible from start to end and think about what it says. As a Christian, the latter course should be one that you embrace without fear.

Answer 3

I don't get it either. Why should they care about Christians if they think that God is a delusion. Why not let people be happy believing it. What's it to them?

As a Christian, I believe the enemy (Satan) doesn't care if we believe in him or not, he just wants men not to believe God. As chirstians we believe that atheism is the "church of Satan" so that is why we try to show them the light. We're trying to save them, they're trying to damn us. It is just a result of the spiritual war that has been waged since the beginning of this earth. The devil's most successful campaign was convincing the world he diden't exist.

I don't agree with you about the lack of hope. "and all that remains are faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13) When you want to quote current Christian philosophies, stick to the New Testament. And that quote is supposed to mean there is not hope of life without God. You took it out of context.

God bless.

Answer 4

i think atheists are just trying to show that god is physically impossible according to modern day because all religious people are clutching on to the words of 1 man thousands of years ago, ignoring words being said today. What atheists are trying to say is that god is just a fill-in for something we cant explain yet, and once an answer is found everyone will either snap out of religion or keep holding onto it while knowing they're wrong.

Answer 5

They don't I am not an atheist or a Christian, but I have yet to see an Atheist try to convert anyone. If anything, it is the Christians who have a brutal history of trying to convert others (even if they didn't want it). Ask the American Indian, the Muslims, etc etc etc.

I would agree that die-hard Atheists are as equally closed minded as the die-hard Christian. If they both just practiced their beliefs and not worried about what each other were doing, we would have a better world.

Answer 6

I don't think the hope of atheist's is to convert Christians. I think they would rather stop being preached to and so attempt to outline why they think the way they do. I feel possibly that they feel a need to defend themselves against people wanting to pray for their souls and in doing so insult their intelligence. I also think, however, that people are often ignorant to the distinguishing characteristics between atheism and agnosticism. You have asked why do atheist's hope to change what is in a Christian's heart, I think you can also ask it the other way around. Atheist's do not have a "mission" to convert people to their teachings.

Answer 7

Good question! God bless you for asking. My thoughts are that atheists are not so much "committed" to destroying souls, as Christians are to saving souls. The common scenario for atheists, at least in this room, is to discount the positive aspects of a Christian lifestyle.

These responses are painful to me as a Christian, but it does not deter me from living a life in Christ. Our committment to God is to follow the teachings in His Word and love each other on this earth. My personal mission is to help others who do not know Christ and to help the homeless. I'm not sure what thier mission in life is to promote atheism.

Atheists in this very room have suggested that I am wasting my time and energy believing in God. They have also suggested that since I have never seen God or talked to Him, that he doesn't exist.

I don't try to convince atheists that they are wrong, I just answer the questions that they pose here. When I do, I work with the understanding that they are curious about God and really want to know. If they are just poking fun or creating trouble, they are the ones losing out on a more fulfilling life in Christ, so I don't get all crazy and spew out obscenities or resort to name callling.

Life is too short to waste energy on arguing and forcing someone to believe what they don't want to believe. Our prayers and gentle words will plant a seed into their hearts. God will nurture from there.

Answer 8

I think athiests only want to do that to the Christians that attempt to shove their beliefs down their throats. I think most people like to make their own conclusions,a nd I agree with you about not forcing anyone to make me believe there is no God. It just could not be done.
I suppose it is harder for Christians to understand why atheists would want us to give up our faith, because after all, we understand how wonderful it is. It is something an atheist cannot imagine because they haven't experienced it yet.
The reverse, though, doesn't make much sense, because an atheist has not discovered something wonderful. I think they just want to be left alone, though.

Answer 9

You're wrong. People can and do change. I've seen it happen many times. I've seen nonbelievers become Christians, I've seen Catholics become Baptists, I've seen Mormons become Catholic, I've seen fundamentalist Christians become atheists, I've seen Christians become Muslim. It really does happen.

Most people have never given serious thought to why they hold their metaphysical beliefs, and are thus open to persuasion.

Personally, I am interested in deconverting people because religion is likely to be the spark behind the end of our species, and has a long history of heavy handed authoritarian tyranny even if it doesn't end our species. Religion is incompatible with the nuclear age.

Answer 10

I can't speak for the Atheists, but as a Christian I feel it is my duty as a soldier and a servant [of God] to help all those. I believe that if someone has lost their way, I should help them find it. In the battle for souls I do not want the devil to get another one, so my hope is get the lost souls back to Christ. Yes, you are right as Christians we do get overzealous in trying to convert others.

Excellent question, one of the best I have seen in Yahoo! Answers