My friend is atheist.....=(?

Question

Well just so you know to start off yes, I am a Christian. But anyway yeah my friend just told me today that he was an atheist. (He was agnostic) And this is he reason. He says that a lot of people he cares about are atheist and that he cares about them and according to the bible they are going to hell. So he says he just can't believe in a god that sends 'good people' to hell. I care about my friend and so basically I need to know what I can say to him. Any help would be greatly appreciated! (if you have any questions just ask.)

First of all half (or more...) have said something on the lines of 'so what if hes atheist, stop trying to change him. You should consider joining him' How does that make any sense? Your saying don't change him, join him? Thats completely one-sided....And btw, I'm not saying him being atheist makes him a bad person. His still my friend and I respect him. I just can't think of a good debate to use against what he said. I'm not trying to offend any atheists. I just needs to know. Preferable to defend my religion, not necessarily change his. So I am just asking for good debate material. ^.^ thx

Answer 1

One of the problems of the world today is that we allow society to tell us what is right or wrong, not what God determines what's right and wrong. A societal good person could lie, cheat if he gained without directly hurting someone else, steal if he were hungry, murder out of passion, fornicate, gossip, blackmail....I always wondered: How could God send his creation to Hell...but it was not intended for us to go there, we are deceived and blinded by Satan who hates us and enjoys for us to suffer. Thank God for his grace and sending Jesus so that we may have a chance. Its up to us to change and start living by God's laws, not mans...

There's really nothing you can do to help your friend, it's his decision to make, all you can do is be a reflection of God's beauty and love, be humble, charitable, and a servant, maybe by your testimony and example it would lead him back to God.

Answer 2

Nothing. What makes you so sure you're right? How do you know we all aren't supposed to be worshiping Thor? Don't all religions offer their own answers without proof? It's ridiculous to think that God expects us to use blind faith to randomly choose his religion to decide if you get eternal salvation. While it's important to keep an open mind, and there are many, many questions left unanswered no matter which answers you're looking at (a Bible or scientific records for example), it makes a lot more sense to be atheist. I look for and am open to signs from God, and recognize the possibility that a higher power may have needed to be apart of this somehow, but if you stop and think about it for any amount of time, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Don't be close-minded for your religion, or against other religions. Be open to all and accepting to other beliefs. Never try to force your beliefs upon others when your's are the ones that don't make any sense.

Answer 3

Agnostics are atheists, just a subset of atheists so there is no difference in his attitude towards gods. It is OK not to believe in gods and many people come to that conclusion after looking at the teachings of the religions. Respect his views, he will probably have a happier and more caring life as an atheist than he ever would as a Christian. You never know, you might start thinking yourself and join him.

Answer 4

You're sounding like a clerk who's losing a sale. Why not just respect his opinion and allow him to live his life? That at least would be acting like a friend. Pushing your religion on him will just irritate him from your arrogance (who are you to say he's choosing the wrong path?) and he'll go make other friends.

I'm an Atheist who has Christian friends. We co-exist just fine because there is a mutual respect between us. Try it! It works!

Answer 5

First of all...an agnostic is NOT an atheist. Secondly, he has a good point. If God love us so much then why is he so willing to punish us for an eternity for sins commited during such a small finite period of time.

Answer 6

I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to why god sends good people to hell myself.

Personally, I find that there is no evidence for god. Until there is evidence for ANY kind of god (let alone the Christian god), I will remain an atheist.

Answer 7

Uhh.....so what if he is Atheist?
I'm atheist.
I have had really Christian friends who tried to convert me. You know what I did? I stopped talking to them.
You think you're saving his soul from eternal damnation?
Why don't you save his mind from your asshole tendencies?
There are no particularly wrong of right views.
Stop pretending yours are the only ones that matter.

Answer 8

Say to him: "Well done, you are indeed a clever man". Listen to what he says. Think about what you blieve. Think about maybe how he makes a bit of sense. Think about how there is no credible empirical evidence for what you believe but science explains things people had previously put down to God. Think about how maybe there isn't a God. THINK.

Answer 9

If he is your friend and you want to keep it that way, Id suggest you do not pester him with the ideaology of your religion. He has made up his mind, as have you. Do you think he is sitting at home scheming on how he could convert you away from your beliefs?? then why are you doing that to him?

Answer 10

If he's really your friend, accept him for who he is, and let him be.
The best Christian witness is setting a good example, not by debating him (that will only put strife into your relationship).