"I was an atheist and did bad things. Now I'm a Christian and do good things."?

Question

Is this statement proof that Christianity is true? How so? Would it change if Christianity was replaced with another belief?

Answer 1

No, that statement is proof that the person making that comment is completely absurd, and unworthy of being taken seriously in a conversation about religion.

Answer 2

No its more a statement about the individual's ability to make good choices without being told what to do by religion. I saw this post a moment ago. He said he drank, did drugs, stole, and vandalized amongst other things when he was an atheist but now he is a good person since he became Christian. That is kind of pathetic isn't it? He needed a religion to figure out that was a destructive lifestyle that would lead to misery? It just means some people need a lot of guidance in life, not that Christianity is necessarily true.

Answer 3

A person used to a particular way of life shall remain essentially same no matter if he changes his religion,clothes ,a car or a house.When the fresh starch of the new religion wears out(as it should sooner than later ),you shall revert back to your original behavioral pattern,may be with minor modifications here and there.As a matter of fact,with the facility of a confession and an impression that after it one can start afresh and do similar things again,may even encourage you to go a mile or two extra.An atheist takes responsibility for his actions but for you now ,there is a God to take care of that part.Lucky you .I admire your smartness and wish you a happy stay in the new found safe haven of a religion. While there,take full advantage of the hospitality of those naive fellow Christians and enjoy life at their cost,as they should be doubly happy to get a lost sheep back in to their herd.No,you would have flourished equally well in any other religion,as a sponge remains a sponge ,be it on an ink,water or any other fluid.A smart Alec ?( note:- I have reasons to believe that you would have been a two bit atheist ,while you were so.In a way,it's a good riddance for others who value their integrity).

Answer 4

This statement is a load of crap.
But looking at it logically, assuming it is true, we do not have enough information to accurately conclude that atheism caused the person to do bad things or that the switch to Christianity is what caused good things instead of bad.

Good and bad, in this sense could be completely subjective.
Mistaken cause and effect could also be the issue.
Perhaps the desire to do good things instead of bad is what caused the person to choose Christianity on top of already doing good things.

Whichever way we look at it, the statement alone does not provide enough information to logically conclude that Christianity was the direct and only cause for the change from bad to good.

Answer 5

This is hard to answer because that statement is not true. Some atheists do good things and some Christians do bad things. The point of Christianity is believing that Jesus died to atone for our sins. That we are reconciled to God by His Grace and not by our works. We are not on a" point" system to get into heaven. We could never be good enough for that. God arranged that for us. We just need to accept that free gift of forgiveness. It's our sinful nature to puff up our pride and say something isn't true just because we can't figure it out ourselves. But Christians know.... It's called faith. And God's invitation is for EVERYONE!!! Ya just gotta believe.

Answer 6

With all due respect it sounds more like a statement about you. Many, many people who do good things are not Christians. On the other hand, many Christians do not do good things. This is not a criticism of Christianity. It is a statement about people. I do not believe in using religious belief as an excuse for my behaviour. My behaviour is a reflection of who I am.

Answer 7

Life is going to get better anytime you have something to live for. Being a Christian isn't about doing good things, it's about believing that we are saved from our sins through pure mercy and grace, simply for believing that Jesus Christ was sacrificed to save us from our sins. It's not about religon, its about a relationship. I think from the beginning of our lives our hearts are filled with compassion but it hardens over time from bitterness and self-service.

I could never sit down and give you tangible proof that Christianity is true. That's why we call it belief and faith.

Answer 8

I will give you the benefit of the doubt that many who profess to be Christians claim that somehow this makes them "good people".

You have very wisely then asked: "Is this statement proof that Christianity is true? How so?"

answer:

"as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; " - Romans 3:10,11 NASB.

You see, the spiritual part of true Christianity involves dying to oneself, being humble, caring for others, not looking down on others, but wanting the best for everyone.

Consider, these two men:

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." - Luke 18:9-13 KJV.

Answer 9

No, that statement means that it was true for that person.

Another person could be an athiest who did good things, and then a religionist who did bad things.

Neither does the first statement mean that Christianity is 'true'. It just means that following Christian teachings helped that person stop doing 'bad' things.

There is also a more complicated answer that would also apply:

Christians say being a person of another faith is 'bad', so a person would HAVE to be Christian in order not to be 'bad'.

How does that make Christianity 'true'? It makes it frame-up-job!!

The person could not be Muslim or atheist or anything else and not be 'bad' according to Christian doctrine.

So you have to define bad and good objectively if you want an objective answer. Is that possible?

Did you want an answer?

Answer 10

FIrst of all, 'good' and 'bad' are terms of no meaning to atheists because in a godless world good and bad are relative therefore meaningless. (if good and bad are relative, therefore can mean anything, then they also mean nothing) Good and Bad are only meaningful when based on absolute truth.

Second, Jesus said "none is good except God." (I am paraphrasing) A true Christian does not say, "I am a Christian, therefore I am good." a true Christian says, "Thank God for his grace that my badness (sin) is seen through the lense of Jesus' sacrifice for me."

Answer 11

lol. No. Atheists do good things all the time. One Atheist doing bad things as an Atheist, then good things as a Christian is a rarity, not a commonality.