Christians, how do you know you come to Jesus using "free will" if you've never seriously investigated Atheism

Question

How is that "free will?" You're just accepting the only thing you've ever known.

Answer 1

I agree completely. I respect people of different beliefs, but only if they've first explored other possibilities. Just going along with the Jesus thing because it's how you were raised is totally illogical.
And it's not just Christians, all people raised a certain way should have a period where they consider other religions before they decide to stick with theirs for the rest of their lives.

Answer 2

It seems to me Free will is no more secured on atheism... many prominent atheistic thinkers are willing to concede that naturalistic understanding of the universe forces one to conclude that our behavior and decisions are nothing more than the passive outputs of our environmental, societal, and genetic inputs --of which we have no control.

In which case, if your view is correct, atheism (as much as theism) is never arrived at by some objective rational process... you had no choice but to adopt your atheism. There is no rationality behind it, it's been reduced to an "affliction". It seems to me objective reasoning then is only made possible under a theistic system where open reasoning is a requirement for moral responsibility. Under a theistic system, atheism isn't just an "affliction", it is a position held by choice and so is something that can be openly reasoned with, defended, and/or argued against.

Answer 3

Beg to differ with you on that one. Atheism itself is a "free will" option of a human race that does not seek God anyway. Faith, then, must be given to those God has predestined, it has nothing to do with acceptance other than a misguided response to that gift, as if man has any power over the Almighty. Perhaps you need to investigate Christianity rather than asking Christians to investigate atheism.

Answer 4

I have investigated. And the real world evidence is overwhelming. I then, CHOSE to put my faith in Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Not as an experiment or with some ulterior motive...but with sincerity. I was not tranformed, levitated, or had a stange sensation...rather, I trusted in something larger than me...something I could not control...I submitted willingly to God. And you know what? I started to see changes in my life...things became less coincidental. I had a peace like no other...regardless of where I was...how much money I had...didn't matter. In hindsight, I can see how dramatic my life has changed because of faith in Christ. I see His work in my life...not my own. I have stories that would put chills on your neck. From these, and reading the Bible, and praying I have drawn closer to God, and He has drawn closer to me. As an atheist - or anything else that does not acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ - you will never experience this transformation. I hope you do.

Answer 5

Yours is a thought provoking question, better than most we find here.

My response is one based on personal experience not extensive study. I have seriously experienced living without a belief in a deity and outside of a relationship with Jesus. It was at times pleasant but temporal in nature. And as is commonplace in people I found myself looking for meaning and purpose.

As I sought out that which gave meaning and purpose to our existence I came to realize that we are more than physical beings. We are above all spiritual beings with, it seems, an obligation to a creator to live with purpose. To do more than just take up space for a short time of 70-80 years.

So my friend, I choose to embrace the gift of eternal life offered by God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. Jesus, God come to earth in the flesh, demonstrated His purpose by laying down his life for you and I and pay our sin debts. What greater love, what greater purpose? That is love that I chose by "free will" to accept. Perhaps you will too someday?

Merry Christmas!

Answer 6

I know that Free Will exists because I've seen it in action. I fell away from my church for five years before going back on my own free will. I have friends who have gone through religions like they do socks. IF there was no free will, then we'd all believe the same thing because we would not be allowed to think differently. The very fact that so many religions exist should be your proof.

Answer 7

Seriously? You can't be serious. Ever heard of the term "born-again"? It means we have explored other avenues and choose life with Jesus and death to our old life. Meaning, we have already been there, done that and found that Christianity made more sense than anything else we have ever tried. We found that we are loved in Jesus. There is nothing greater than that. Merry Christmas

Answer 8

Thats a nice thought, but Atheists have converted, just like Christians have converted to Atheism.

It is not the only thing I have ever know. As a matter of fact, until I was 16, I had never even heard about God. And until I was 20, I never bothered to research it.

And either way, it is free will, to choose whether or not one wants to consider it, or ignore it, should they so choose.

Answer 9

dropping the identify of atheist had no longer something to do with morality or immorality or clinical "miracles" or something like that. First, "atheist" is an unsatisfying identity. it truly is unfavorable, and it in problem-free words pertains to disbelief in a unmarried proposition. hence, it truly is shallow. So I dropped it, and went on a quest to go back to a call what I did believe. That led me finally to the comprehend-how that God is subjective, no longer purpose. there replaced into no choose for purpose evidence any more effective than there replaced into choose for purpose evidence that my admired flavor of ice cream somewhat is the purely right contained in the international. I many times do not aspect out that i'm a former atheist because explaining it in complete is often extra difficulty than its worth, and so i do not engender that distrustful reaction you reported. yet now i'm noticing that if i do not communicate up, some atheists make all kinds of unfavorable stereotypes and assumptions about former atheists. edit: No, it truly is incorrect. after I say "dropping the identify of atheist" that signifies that i ended utilizing it as an identifier, no longer that I on the instantaneous went lower back to believing in deities, purpose or in the different case. i did not like the note (I felt that it replaced into shallow and unfavorable, as I reported). I used efficient words like "naturalist" or "humanist" on the instantaneous after dropping "atheist"

Answer 10

That is a poor assumption.
I was atheist. I was never raised with a religious background, but when I became older, I knew there was a spiritual side to humans, and I practiced wiccan. But God called me to follow the teachings of Christ.