christian trying to convert me! help!?

Question

im a-

well lets just say athiest so i dont get as many nasty remarks. and one of my friends is trying to convert me. like "please give it one last chance like i did" and he wants me to go to this sleepaway teen christian thing and i want to go so i can learn more about christianity but im afraid if i do ill start laughing in the middle of it because... well lets face it their beliefs are pretty funny like omg you actually believe that funny and theyll all be trying to convert me when im there and theyll say those dreaded words that all the christians say...

"i'll pray for you"

that just... omfg... makes me wanna just... AHHHHH! know what i mean?

so Question: what do i do? should i go? i really DO want to learn but i know that i DO NOT want to convert...

Answer 1

They can't convert you if you don't want to convert. You can go and give them the heads up that if their stories get ridiculous you will laugh at them as appropriate.

:D

Answer 2

Look I don't care if you convert or not, or even go or not. Nobody else reading this cares if you go either. Odds are anyway, that he just wants you there to get a little... a sleepaway? Sorry if you're a dude too, but he still may want to get a little.

Anyway, hey I have a tip for you. Instead of being atheist, you should consider agnostic. It's much cooler than being atheist because you're not actually closing the door if you know what I mean. It's sort of like, pray a little in case there is a God. What have you got to lose? What's atheism gonna get ya? For sure final death of your soul. Hummm.. where do i sign up for that? sound attractive? I think I'll pick agnostic and have a slim chance of something more. You see, as ridiculous as religion sounds, you're there thinking you're more, well, intelligent for not believing in such superstition, right? Hey but if there's even a slim chance for something more after you leave your crusty old body and praying is the key, who's really smarter now?

Agnostic even sounds better. Think about it. Atheist - sounds like a dark bad person doesn't it? When I was a kid, we all knew that the kids down the road's whole family was atheist and they were all going to hell. It seemed like a big deal at the time. I remember feeling sorry for those kids and it was like a stigma.. It became part of how I thought of them. Of course that was when I blindly believed myself, and in Santa for that matter.

Now - agnostic, people think, "Oh, what was that again?" it actually sound intelligent, like you're constantly trying to gather knowledge between the views to form your own opinion. You are in a constant quest for knowledge.

Answer 3

I have the same issue. Whenever i start debating with a christian they say some of their beliefs and i laugh so hard, especially when they say i pray for you. I have been to Christian Youth Groups and a few services with a friend (a diff one than earlier one) and i just felt out of place. I know what you mean so you can learn more, i try to understand and know what i am against (it is a good way to find counterpoints). But i think you would feel to out of place and they might ask you to pray or do something else like that which could/ would make u uncomfortable. I wouldn't go to a sleep away but maybe go to a teen youth group one or two times just to get the jist of things. Good Luck!

Answer 4

No one can convert you. If you don't believe you just don't believe. If you, however; if you push away people who want to connect with you on a human level (and you give up opportunities for fun and joy) and mistake it instead for for weakness or foolishness, then you are probably not mature enough to really understand it anyways. One of the first things a Christian must do is to "... to put away Childish things." 1Corinthians 13:11 If you really want to learn, just keep an open mind, try not to laugh or whatever, and absorb. Maybe it will click. Maybe it won't. Thats up to you, and God. What can it hurt to find out, you'll probably get some good food and snacks and stuff no matter what. Plus there will be girls there! (Well, that would be a bonus)

Answer 5

You can always call home and ask mom to come pick you up if things get too "convert NOW or feel the brimstone". I don't think that approach has truly won any hearts for Christ.

Go and learn, you might wind up converting yourself with all the information- which is not so bad. Just ask LOTS Of questions. Do your best to tear down their dogma. Ask them where it says that in the bible. It would be cool if there was an Anthropology workshop, because there is so much evidence in the Anthorpology alone to convert you.

I hope you get all the information you can learn. Remember, you can always call home for a ride.

Answer 6

I can relate. I was formed to attend two of those Christiany events...it was horrible. They do make you want to laugh.
One was a retreat for my seventh Day Adventist University (I went there because it was 5 minutes from my home)
They were singing songs and prayer all the time, I sat in the back and slept.
Before that in High school my Mormon ex forced me to go to this teen- conference for spring break BIG MISTAKE, I could have done ANYTHING else during my spring break. Instead, I had to fast, pray, sing Christiany songs,and G-d forbid my exb/f and I acted affectionately like sit together...maybe some really religious people consider sitting together as bad as sex.

I wish I hadn't gone to these places, they made me miserable.

Anywhoo, this is why I can relate. The choice is up to you.

I personally would not go because I don;t want to hurt their feelings by laughing. Just explain that you will not convert and that if they are really your friends they should respect your decision to not be converted.

If they say that they will "pray for you" just tell them that you are immune. I would have cut ties with this friend already, I did that with someone who just wanted to convert me, now I don't talk to that person anymore.

Answer 7

i think you should go. see what it's like and try to be respectful. it's one path to enlightenment. there are others (I'm pagan) but it's good to know all aspects of different paths before making a choice. even if you choose atheism, that's a path as well. when you come home, start researching. put a little time and effort into looking around. pick the one that really echos what your heart tells you is true.

In this country we seem to think shopping for the right spirituality is wrong. I differ in that I believe that only when you really understand different religions (i prefer the term spirituality) can you be knowledgeable enough to choose one. I was christian for years, then an atheist. Now I follow different aspects of three separate philosophies.

as long as people aren't pressuring you into something (beware that's the first tip off something is wrong) then go for it.

harm none - do what you will

Answer 8

I would think you should be able to have the intelligence and self control to be able to go to the event, and be respectful, and not start that silly laughter. It seems like forced laughter the way you write it down. Mockery of any belief system is not a mark of intelligence.
I am a Christian, but I could go to another religion's meeting, or an atheist meeting, and be respectful. And if I were invited to ask open questions or to debate, I could do it respectfully.
Then again, you are referring to a teen event, so you must be a teenager, I guess I need to make allowances.
In any case, if you are going ot go with an attitude like that, I would advise you not to go. You will get nothing out of it, and your friend will not find it satisfactory either. and if you want to mock your friend, and put him down, I think it would be more honest just to tell him you are not interested in being a friend to him.

Answer 9

Christian can not convert you, That is the role of the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin. We as Christians dispense the truth, live the truth, speak the truth - if what we say is not backed up by the way we live - we suffer loss - so does the world Know this you have free will to appose the message of the gospel and will one day be held accountable for all the light that is shone in your direction! So be it known you may one be found weighed in the scales and be found wanting - do not be so concieted search him out while he may be found - seek him while he is near - repent and believe that you may the refereshing of your soul in that day, when he visits his people - else be ready to be really really terrified and fear and full of hoplessness - its your choice!

Answer 10

Nobody can make you believe what you don't want to. I have coworkers that try to convert me also, but I can't make myself believe the way they do no matter what they say to me.

Go with an open mind, take what you want and leave the rest. Don't be disrespectful and try hard to treat their beliefs like you would like them to treat yours. Ha! I sound like a Christian, but the difference is that I actually respect their religion where as most of them try to convert me to their way of thinking.

Answer 11

Don't go. There's ways to learn about Christianity without commiting to a sleep away camp. Try going to a church service first. You may find that's enough and you're anxious to get out after that. If so, you'll be glad you're not stuck in a camp setting.

As for your friend, I think you need to tell them that they need to start respecting your choices or you won't be able to be friends any longer. They're not accepting you for who you are, and who needs friends like that?

Oh, and I wouldn't go to church with your friend. It will just get their hopes up about converting you, which will lead to them bugging you more and more. Find a way to learn more about Christianity without involving the "friend."