I would like to ask a questions to Atheists and non-believers?

Question

First, I want to preface my question by saying I can only believe that which I perceive as being true. I can not believe that which I know is a lie. I'm a Christian, and I believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God. I believe what the Bible says, that the only way to Heaven is by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. I believe that those who reject Christ will spend an eternity in Hell.

With that being said, what kind of person would I be if I didn't tell others how to avoid Hell and an eternity of suffering? What kind of person wouldn't care what happened to someone else? If I saw someone walking towards potential trouble, I would yell out and tell them to be careful. If I see someone walking towards Hell, don't I have a moral responsibility to tell them how to avoid eternity apart from God?

I hope I get some serious, thoughtful responses.

Answer 1

Fair enough. If you live in the US, how many adults do you think have not heard this message? Since most have already heard about this, must we keep hearing about it over and over again? It gets tiresome. If you were to ask on here how many non-Christians have not heard Christianity's message, I doubt if you will have any serious answers saying that they have not heard it already.

How about a compromise? Why not simply ask if the person has heard about the Christian message and ask whether they want to hear it? If they say that they have already heard about it and don't wish to hear it again, why not just politely drop the subject? You could be secure in the knowledge that the person has heard your warning. Then there is no need to bring it up again unless they ask. They will know that you will be happy to assist them. If you aren't around them when they want to ask, I think that few adults in the US are not aware of where to find a Christian place of worship to have their questions answered. You could also ask how many people on here do not know where to find a Christian place of worship---and again, I doubt if you will have any serious answers saying that they do not already know.

Answer 2

I'm confused. You just asked 4 questions.

1. I would like to ask a "questions" to Atheists and non-believers?
2. With that being said, what kind of person would I be if I didn't tell others how to avoid Hell and an eternity of suffering?
3. What kind of person wouldn't care what happened to someone else?
4. If I see someone walking towards Hell, don't I have a moral responsibility to tell them how to avoid eternity apart from God?

My answers would be:

1. Ok, what's your question?!
2. WHAT? Another question?!
3. That's 3 questions and counting!
4. How do you walk towards hell? Which direction is it towards?

Answer 3

First of all, the fact that I don't believe in god does not make me a "non-believer". I have several things that I believe in. Many of the beliefs that I have a founded in a Christian background. I don't lie, cheat, steal, murder, etc.

I've never been able to quite understand the concept of an all powerful god that governs the universe. I believe that Jesus had great ideas on how to live a moral and fulfilling life. Regardless of whether or not I think of the man as the son of god, he had a huge impact on the history of the human race.

I believe in choice. In order to have a heaven and hell, people must be able to choose between the two. I think you telling everyone they are going to hell has about the same impact on Christianity as warning labels on cigarettes. Quite simply, people don't care. It's their choice and your opinion probably won't change their mind.

I've always wondered why Christians think that condemning people is going to help their cause. You may want to take a page from the Bible with red print and examine how Jesus preached. It was all positive reinforcement. Forgiveness, healing, love and acceptance were the focal points of his ministry, not fire, brimstone, hell and damnation. Perhaps if you invite people to examine your religion instead of forcing it down their throats, you'll get a better response.

Answer 4

Of course to you it seems as if you are doing us a favor I'm sure, but let's take this opportunity to flip it around and see if you can understand what it sounds like when we hear something like this. Suppose i believed in hell, but i didn't believe Christianity was the right religion... in fact i believed that god thought there was no greater sin than being a christian (this will require some hypothetical though from you, bear with me). Now, i will approach you and say you are a christian? I'm so sorry! i hope we can save you because you're going to hell and I'm going to heaven to be happy forever while you are tortured forever. Let's now consider that you had a wealth of evidence (not just faith) that supported Christianity as reality. You point out this evidence but still i say you are going to hell forever to burn. Are you starting to understand what it sounds like?

I would also like to add that if you believe the bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God... you haven't been reading it very carefully, and i can quite confidently venture that you haven't the slightest knowledge of the history surrounding the Bible. I'm not saying this as a jab, or to make you out to look stupid or anything. I just think that if you were to really examine the texts, and it's context... you wouldn't hold it in such high regard.

Good question, hope my answer was helpful.

Answer 5

I understand your argument. But you misunderstand a simple fact....

Certainly, if you saw someone in a real life dangerous situation, it would be morally reprehensible to walk past and NOT say something.
However, to warn me of the impending dangers of a mythical place that doesnt exist except for in your mind is not necessary.

I love life, I love living and I intend on staying alive as long as humanly possible. Beyond that, Im dead. So, what you are really doing at that point is jamming your philosophy down my throat, which I have made a concious decision to reject. (I was raised a Christian) You said so yourself - you only perceive that which YOU beleive is true. Many of us do not agree with your views. Can you understand that just because you beleive it, doesnt mean that I HAVE TO beleive it?? If I told you that a pink elephant was going to fall out of the sky and land on your head, would you look into the heavens and wait for it?? I hope not....

I would just like to add that if you truly beleive that the Bible is inerrant, then you might want to read it again and pay attention this time.... The earth is NOT flat. It is not a circle either. The ratio of the circumference of a circle to its radius is approx. 3.14 (Pi), not 3 as described in the Bible. There are literally hundreds of falsehoods, contradictions and mistakes in the Bible.

Answer 6

You would be someone who can see the truth when it's staring them in the face.

"I can not believe that which I know is a lie. I'm a Christian, and I believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God."

This is essentially saying to me "I believe that 1+1=3. I cannot believe that it equals anything else, no matter how many people tell me it does. Even though I can be *shown* that 1+1 does not, in fact, equal 3, I will still not believe it."

The mistakes and falsehoods in the bible are so blatantly obvious, how can you ignore them like you do?

Answer 7

I'm an atheist.

You mention that it is your moral responsibility to warn people that they are walking into the fire and brimstone that is Christian hell. From a Christian perspective, this is a completely reasonable act to commit. You seriously believe and have faith in the existence of these places, and thus you're warning us of what you believe to be the future for those who deny the existence of god. It is your right to be this way.

I too would warn a blind man if he might walk off a cliff.

However, that being said, An atheist, and agnostics for that matter, Do not believe in such places as hell, and proclaiming that hell awaits an atheist would be irrelevant, for why would an atheist be afraid of something that does not exist? Not to mention, the fact that most all atheists deny the absolute truth of the bible, and the belief that it was written by a god.

You're going to need more than just fear to "save" most atheists and agnostics.

good luck.

Answer 8

What kind of person is the god that created the hell in the first place, what kind of person are you such that once you die you won't spare a second thought for the billions of people burning in hell (as that would be a negative thought and not allowed in heaven).

I think that if you're right and you end up in heaven while we're down there burning for not seeing the same evidence you claim to, you have a moral responsibility to demand that god takes everyone out of hell, thats what I'd do.

Answer 9

I understand your pain. I guess you just have to forth into the world and spread the gospel unto every living creature. However dont be surprised when people think you are irritating or insane.

People would not have an issue believing the Bible as the infallible word of god if there were proof of its accuracy. If children of god (such as jesus) were walking around today performing miracles, and if people could physically see and hear god, they would not have one problem believing in god. But the fact is these things just are not happening.

I am not saying you should reexamine your faith. I am simply saying that you should not expect others to do so unless you have PROOF.

Answer 10

Okay, this is a good question because it doesn't have an implication in its premise that only one side can answer. That said, I think if those with a god-belief truly believe what is said in the bible (something about free will) then yes, you must allow the other person to walk into hell if they choose it. My guess, from your setup, is that you see warning atheists as something akin to watching a child running toward a busy street. Our impulse to protect the child comes from our understanding that they don't know what is about to befall them.

With religion, this quickly falls apart. Another way to think about it might be to imagine you are in a restaurant and you see someone slathering butter on a roll. That may be unhealthy, but is that your choice to make? No, it is theirs. They have a right to get up early in the morning, jog five miles every day, but conversely, they have a right to sit around, doing nothing, and clogging their arteries. That is their choice.

It might be helpful to remember that for an atheist (which is really a misnomer--most mean they don't believe in a god-myth) you are doing the same thing--moving toward a fate they wouldn't hope for. Just as it is sad for you to imagine them in hell, they feel sad that you are denying yourself because of an invisible...something.

good question--cheers