I've been talking to this atheist, about God, and it's really frustrating because every time I try to reason with him about God, ie. "watch on the beach" and other examples, he claims he has faith that he's right. I don't really know how I can make any progress with him.
2007-09-24 04:44:34 · 52 answers · asked by Daniel 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
damlovash:
If I manage to cause my head to explode, I will consider my life's work accomplished.
2007-09-24 05:38:43 · update #1
Lol.
You should explain that your faith in a positive claim is MUCH better than his faith in negative claim. Ergo, you are right. :P
2007-09-24 04:50:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
You can't. That's the basic premise of having faith, in fact the meaning of faith is belief in something without physical proof.
I on the other hand, have proof of God's existence every day of my life. I am alive and well. I was critically injured and had serious damage. I am now a personal trainer.
I know that it was through the power of the Creator that I was able to recover from such devastation and become stronger than I ever was before the accident. Part of my recovery was due to my faith in the source of all power.
You can't make someone believe anything. It's your faith that gives it, and you, strength.
You can't convert your friend. Just be a good friend and example, and when he's presented with a question of faith, he will look to you. Be there for him.
2007-09-24 04:58:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
This isn't a question that has a simple answer. But I have a few suggestions: One is, do not argue. If a person can be argued into something, they can be argued out. Two is pray hard. Pray for wisdom in your words, compassion in your voice and an open heart for the one whom you're talking with. Three is read and study. The Bible tells us to be prepared in season and out of season and tells to be studied to show yourself approved so we will always be ready to give an answer for our faith. Do not quote the Bible for your proof. If he doesn't believe in God, he won't believe in God's Word. Now the Word of God is powerful and sharper than any double-edged sword, dividing bone from marrow, so quote the Bible when appropriate...just not as your proof. Instead read books like "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" and "Don't Check Your Brains At The Door" by Josh McDowell. He was an atheist who set out to prove God was not real and ended up with an unwavering faith IN God. He uses the world's ways to prove things in proving the Bible as being accurate.
In the end, all you can do is all you can do. Pray and trust in God to do the rest. But even if you prove this beyond any reasonable doubt, it's still your friends choice to accept it or live in denial. I wish you well.
2007-09-24 05:09:27 · answer #3 · answered by Jewel 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why are you trying so hard to "make any progress" with him? He isn't trying to convert you to HIS way of thinking, is he? So why are you so desperate to convert him to yours? You have the absolute right to believe whatever you choose to believe, and practise that belief however you feel you need to -except, of course, when it means getting up in other people's faces and intruding upon their equal right to believe something else. How would you feel if this guy - or anybody of any belief system different from yours - were to keep attempting to pressure you into giving up what YOU believe and come over to their side?
My bet is that this guy couldn't give a warthog's butt how you choose to think and believe, and that for all he cares, you could worship an Old English Upright Rosewood Piano with or without brass candleholders, lol. Why? Because it's not his business and because it is your free right to do your own thing. The Constitution extends the exact same freedom to him, and all who share his particular perspective. Whether you like it or not, agree with it or not, you have the obligation to respect - not what he believes, but his RIGHT to it.
2007-09-24 05:04:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't. If he has already made up his mind that he doesn't believe in God, you can't change his mind. Jesus preached to many people, and not all of them listened or converted. Rather than continuing to convert them, He just walked away and instead concentrated on the people who wanted to listen. The way I see it, if the Son of God was unable to change people's minds, who are we to think that we can? As long as your friend is a good person, lives a moral life, and doesn't harm anyone, then you don't need to keep preaching to him. Plus, you'll only get on his nerves if you keep bringing it up.
2007-09-25 05:01:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Foremost, my dear it is not for you to change his\her mind or beliefs about God, it takes God HIMSELF to do that, the first thing you have to do is what you have done.....spoke him there is a GOD. Next thing to do is keep him in your prayers for God to complete what you have started, and then you need to show him\her love and comport yourself as a good Godly person.................that is the hard part.
Dont give up. The Lord himself will encourage you, the feeling is good when you win a convert over to the Lord, and the reward is even greater here on earth and in heaven.............keep the faith
2007-09-24 05:03:12 · answer #6 · answered by Danemma C 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
first of all there is no such thing as faith in nothing. and the whole point/idea of atheism is not having a faith or conforming to a faith and not believing that a god or gods exist period
there is nothing reasonable about god... the best thing for you to do is quit trying to convert people... all it does is drive them away...unless of course god told you to badger this particular person, then it's all good
2007-09-24 04:59:08 · answer #7 · answered by pr0tegemoi 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think being an adult gives that person the right to his beliefs
don't try convincing him, only be a good person in your faith and he may or may not want to know more.
never tell him that he is wrong, don't lie and say you think you agree with him, just don't mention it. if you are friends/colleagues talk about other things than him when you are together . prove to him that God exists by being a good believer , not by bringing up contraversial subjects unless he asks for a discussion.
2007-09-24 08:13:56 · answer #8 · answered by sweet tooth 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I don't believe that there are little blue men at the center of the earth - would you call that faith? Not believing in a god isn't a faith. I'm interested to hear your "reasoning" about god though...
2007-09-24 04:54:41 · answer #9 · answered by Sal 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It takes more faith to not believe than to just give up. Ultimately that's what Christians do is give it all up to Jesus. right?
That faith must be stronger to hold out against all the real see-able evidence of God all around them and not just stop fighting.
Some are just lack luster types who would end up being the luke warm Christians of today, so they just don't care and that is up to them.
2007-09-24 04:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You think you're dealing with faith. That's the problem. Atheists deal in logic, not faith. You can't try to prove to them something exists without showing them tangible evidence. The watchmaker theory doesn't work, for reasons I think you've probably already heard.
My advice would be to leave him alone. Even Jesus says that if someone doesn't accept your teaching, you eventually need to move on and shake the dust from your feet.
2007-09-24 04:50:58 · answer #11 · answered by Cap'n Zeemboo 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋