Phew....I spent all day with an atheist today..how do you deal with...?

Question

It was like we were from other worlds...I have never talked about so many secular things in my life....It was strange though to....the more he blocked out my faith...the more it seemed void of life all around us...all things were finite...and fading away...I became aware of the dying of humanity around me....to hope only in this life is frightening...and dims the light of love.... How can I deal with him tomorrow ?

gnite....guys love yu...

Answer 1

I empathize... I have had similar experiences.

Spend time with God; read the Bible; pray; mediate on what you read from the Bible; Consciously experience the presence of God.

These will strengthen you, and help you to deal with such individuals.

--
I used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ.

Cordially,
John

Answer 2

I happen to believe in God -- but I have no problem with our considerable number of atheistic friends, or my colleagues, most of whom are also atheists.

Maybe that's because, for example, I am not a literalist. The idea thta the Bible is the Word of God is a joke. God doesn't make any errors -- say nothing about filling a book He writes with contradictions, historical errors, mathematical errors, biological errors and physical errors. It's just a book of myths.

Faith in Christ is about love and Eucharist, and I don't expect that anyone is lost -- atheistic or not. I'm a mainstreamer though (Episcopalian). I certainly don't find them frightening at all.

I suspect that you are a "black and white" person. So to you -- since he is factually right on most of what he says (and I'm sure he is) the danger that he is right on the rest eclipses what you believe, and you've never learned to be just to be and to care just to care -- and to do right just because its right -- and not because there is "something" that might "punish you" if you don't -- and therefore it threatens you at your core since you can't imagine a third way, and probably can't imagine even being a good person unless you were afraid of God.

I am glad that I'm not like you (honestly) and I hope that you can broaden your mind.

Lord Christ be with you.

Reyn
[e-mail]
http://www.rebuff.org

Answer 3

Captain Kangaroo ran from 1955 to 1984. So it hasn't been on for terribly practically 1 / 4 of a century. you'll be smoking some thing greater advantageous than cigarettes in case you think of all and sundry can watch it. This atheist has on no account smoked via fact i think I, on my own, am to blame for myself, my well being and nicely being. I have no fairy interior the sky to desire to for saving once I get maximum cancers, emphysema, or heart ailment from that undesirable habit. although, I do each and every so often take a seat around and answer stupid xtians' questions approximately Yahoo. I additionally choose to jot down nasty comments to the editorials and letters to the editor in my community newspaper incredibly approximately how frigging annoying the church bells are that chime each and every 0.5 hour and ring and play lame music each and every hour. isn't that noise pollutants?

Answer 4

It’s amazing how there’s no objectivity when it comes to responses to these questions. People either thing that you’re preaching or they think that you’re not preaching enough. I guess the real question that I would have is as to whether you were trying to win the conversation, in fact were you looking at the conversation as something you needed to win? In either case the real challenge is as to whether or not both of you were honestly listening to each other.

One of the sayings that I’m fond of saying comes from F Scott Fitzgerald, and that is “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” Many people like to say that they’re very open minded but they often find themselves being in the middle of conflicts that stem from an inability to listen and it sounds to me like both of you weren’t really trying to listen as much as trying to win the points for your beliefs.

I also have friends who are atheists (many) and they know about my spiritual alignment as well and we often get into some tremendously deep debates on this topic (especially after a few glasses of wine). The thing is, is that we not only listen to what each other is saying but we’re also willing to try ‘on the others hat’, so to speak, because sometimes the greatest understanding comes from walking a mile in their shoes for awhile. This doesn’t mean that you wind up abandoning your own faith in the process as much as it allows you each to see what the other may have lost or may not have learned in life. I’ve often found that my faith is greatly strengthened by these conversations because it allows me to test my convictions in a friendly and non-threatening manner. It’s what I refer to as being philosophically or spiritually evolved.

Indeed, I would agree with those that say that you should pray for them but don’t do so with condescension because it eliminates the grace you should have when praying for someone. Instead you should leave your mind open so that you can see into the soul of the person you are talking to, for then you may have access to the spirit inside that we all have. Yes you may encounter aspects of their reasoning that may seem dark and foreboding but the path to spiritual enlightenment isn’t always paved in light either.

Good luck to you

Answer 5

The simple answer to your question is : Deal with it by having faith in your own beliefs.

If spending one day with someone with different beliefs than you can frighten you and dim the light of love in you then you have to seriously consider that your beliefs are weak or you are weak.

I do not mean this as in insult.

Good luck

Answer 6

"To only hope in this life is frightening...and dims the light of love..."
I do not find that to be true in my life. To take responsibility for one's self and actions is frightening but also freeing and exilerating. I live in hope that someone like you and I can see the beauty in each others quest to become.
You are the only one who can dim the light of love. Your soul should always shine with the brightness of knowing you are doing the best you can.
Your faith does not diminish my beliefs, why should my faith there is no god diminish yours?
You ask how can you deal with him tomorrow...as though you you have despaired. To despair of him is to despair of yourself.....where is your faith....does it not teach you to love him as though he were yourself.
I have not a clue if there is a god. But I have faith in myself as a good person and I have faith in you that you to are striving to be a good person. I live in faith I am being the best I can be.
There is a joy in that, with or without a god.

Answer 7

Explore his beliefs. Most people who are atheist(including me) did a lot of studying and researching to come up with the conclusion that no religions exist. I'm not saying that you have to believe what he does, but you can at least make an attempt to understand him. That should make you more accepting, and hopefully relieve the annoyance If he really makes you that annoyed, you can always just try your best to avoid the topic of religions.I know for a fact that you don't want to believe what he does and vice-versa, so don't even try to convert him.

Answer 8

Perhaps if you just treated him as a person instead of a mission that needs conquering he wouldn't resist so much. Then, he would be able to see your Christianity by the way you act and by the words you use and be won over with that rather than have a wrestling match of "I'm right and need to save you and I'm right God doesn't exist." Jesus didn't go around reminding everyone of his Godliness and how everyone needed to believe in him or else. He treated people like loved beings, especially those who weren't treated with respect and dignity by anyone else. It was THAT that won people to him, not quoting the Old Testament. "They will know we are Christians by our love."

Answer 9

I am an atheist...and I deal with many friends who are religious. I personally view the world in one way. I've got one life, I can live it as best I can, I can believe that there's nothing for me after death, but I absolutely want to live as best as I can while I am here. You've only got one life, why waste it? Just try and explain to him that you feel very differently than he does, tell him you don't like him arguing with your beliefs, he will probably understand. For him things may seem very bleak and grey, but you don't need to view things that way. Just keep living as best you can.

Answer 10

Well then just keep your mind open...but never forget where you come from...that way both of you get to keep your own beliefs yet learn something new...

And dont think of him as a heathen or one of those types...thats what kills and destroys relationships in the first place...and do not preach...just act casual and normal like you would to any other person...

Answer 11

Just like you dealt with him today... and what if he isn't an atheist, but an angel sent from God to test your faith - how would you treat him then?

Maybe you could tell him about your little science projects... I've always found them to be entertaining.