How do you as a nonbeliever want to be witnessed to?

Question

First off, please, no personal attacks.

A lot of nonbelievers feel that it's 'too pushy' for Christians to talk about their faith to them. But, on the other hand, not warning them would be allowing them to fall into an eternity in Hell.

What is the most respectful way you think it would be to witness to you? And what could a Christian do to convince you that what we preach is real?

If I weren't a Christian I personally would find it sweet that one would take the time to warn me of my impending doom and telling me of the joys of God's love. Why is there so much offense at it?

For those who asked, yes, I'd prefer it if other spiritual beliefs would try to get me converted without resorting to offense or bashing. It would get a nice conversation flowing and would alow me to share my feeling of eternity with them as well.

And that is even if they tell me that my Jesus and God are both flat out wrong. If you believe in something that powerful, how can you not try and get the others around you to believe it? I'm still waiting for my Scientologist/Atheist co worker and my Mormon boss to spread their beliefs to me.

If you were living on a "dead" volcano and it was going to erupt, wouldn't you want to know? I would.

Answer 1

I wonder if chicken little was warning folks of the impending sky disaster out of love or fear?

Answer 2

Not at all.

There is no way, no possible way, that hearing your annoying babbling about superstition would be respectful.

Want to convince me it's real? Bring your god along. Have him perform something truly miraculous, not a parlor trick - for example, make an amputee grow a new leg in front of my eyes. Short of that, if you waste my time, I will NOT be happy with you, no matter how much you try and suck up and play nice. Won't happen.

Do you REALLY find it sweet when I tell you you are a foolish person wasting time spreading superstition and ancient lies? When I warn you that you are in danger of impending doom because you are allowing faith to turn your mind to mush?

Didn't think so. Neither do I.

Answer 3

For the most part, I'd prefer not to be witnessed to at all.

I understand that Christians feel that it's their duty to warn us of what they feel is danger. But, honestly, most of us have heard it before. Multiple times.

Nothing against you, but, chances are, in the 10 years I've been Pagan, I've heard every sort of combination of comments you're going to use. That hasn't convinced me in the past, because, honestly, they all assume that I simply "don't know" all the wonderful stuff about Christianity - its message, etc.

Problem is, I *know* the message. And it didn't speak to me. I have several serious philosophical differences with Christianity. Not only has every attempt completely ignored those differences, they don't have any answers - other than to "trust God." And, frankly, I can't, because I can't trust a deity who has done the things he's done.

Until those glaring issues can be dealt with - and that's not really something any one person can do, given that it's issues with your deity and your holy book - then all the witnessing in the world isn't going to do anything other than waste time for the both of us.

::shrugs:: Sorry. I realize Christians consider me to be in mortal peril. But please realize that we don't consider that danger to be real - any more than you'd consider it real if I warned you not to offend the Fomori.

Answer 4

Not at all..

or

Silently just live you life as an example of what you think I should do, if I see something in you that I think is special I will ask you then you can tell me what you have to say...

Those are your two choices all other approaches will be met with a polite "I am not interested." .... If that doesn't work and you continue I will move to a more forceful "I SAID I AM NOT INTERESTED." ... If that still doesn't work and you continue I will be forced say "I AM NOT INTERESTED, I AM CALLING THE POLICE!!!!!!" then proceed to call the proper authorities and report you for harrassment/ threats and get a restraining order forcing you to remain a certain distance from me and my property...

If I have had to tell you 3 times, your zealotism becomes threatening to me and makes me fear for my safety thus the harrassment and threats allowing me to get the restraining order.. Listen the first time, walk away, and we will have no problems, force my hand and I will do everything in my power to keep you at a distance from me and mine...

Think of it as the 3 strikes you're out program.. Be a smart batter, stop swinging away when you have no chance of hitting the ball...

Answer 5

We ALL know you think we're going to hell. Ergo, we don't appreciate you harping about it.

I'm guessing people who know you generally know you're Christian pretty quickly. Just let them know you're open to talking. Period. If someone becomes interested in Christianity, if they start thinking their path is wrong or they start wondering what Christianity might be offering them, they will ask. But until they ask, they clearly don't want to know, so stop annoying them with the preaching. That doesn't accomplish anything.

You ask why it's offensive. Would you appreciate it if I told you God didn't exist, that he was fake, a deception of some other deity, that your faith in Jesus was hollow and empty and would lead you to everlasting torment? Would you appreciate me telling you that no matter how long you've studied your religion, you're dead wrong about it and I know much better than you how you should be worshipping? If not, why do you think we appreciate you witnessing to us? Just because you mean well doesn't mean you're not still offensive to your listeners.

Answer 6

I don't. It IS pushy. It is NOT sweet.

When people knock on my door trying to sell their religion, I tell them to go away because I nor my family am interested, and the longer they stand there and rant, the less likely I am to care. Not that I cared to begin with.

I also tell them that I probably know more than they do about their god, and their god is the reason I turned from Christianity in the first place. Then I slam the door in their face.

Yes, it's remarkably rude for me to do that. But, the way I see it, one good turn deserves another. So SLAM!!!

Answer 7

How would I best go about witnessing to people that they are living their lives for a pointless and lost cause in their devotion to a nonexistent being, there is no afterlife, and to live their life to the utmost and fullest before they die and rot in the ground?

If I weren't an atheist, I'd personally find it helpful and informative that one would take the time to warn me that I should start taking control over my own life and what happens in it rather than devote it to something that isn't even real. Why is there so much offense at it?

Answer 8

It is pushy, no matter how you try to deliver it. Everyone knows the basis of christianity, everyone knows the message. There is nothing you can do to convince someone else that what you believe is the truth. If someone wants to believe, if they want to know - they seek it out. But for those of us who don't believe it, trying to convince us otherwise would just be annoying. There is no respecful way to "witness".

If you really care about someone and want them to be "saved" you could invite them to go to church with you, that would not be offensive to most people and if they accept you know they are more interested - but if they decline, you should leave them alone - they'll just be annoyed if you keep persisting.

Answer 9

The offense is that some believe that their the only one who is right. that is an arrogant thought process. I believe that anyone who has a belief will make it to the summer land. be it Christian or Wiccan or Atheist. We have free will. The other thing is is that it is just plain annoying.

Blessed Be

Answer 10

I understand why you're asking this question and appreciate the approach. But it's an impossible question to ask. You see, the unbelievers, according to the Bible, are blinded in their sin and without the Holy Spirit. They are not illuminated to the Truth in any shape or form. Therefore, asking us how we'd like to be witnessed to is, from your perspective, like asking a adult how they'd like to experience Santa in person - at the North Pole or in front of their fireplace on Christmas morning.

We just don't believe it and see no need for it. The entire concept of hell and of a need for heaven is, in most cases, ridiculous to us.

I used to be a follower. I grew up in it, devoted my life to it, chose a Bible college and pursued a life in committed Christianity that would put most lazy Christians to shame. And at the time I believed what I believed wholeheartedly. So I'm telling you this from the perspective of an outsider looking in and remembering what it was like on the inside.

The most important thing to mention is that, again, according to your belief set, an unbeliever cannot come to the saving knowledge of Christ until the Holy Spirit opens his eyes. Asking us how we'd like to view the Truth makes no sense since we are "blinded".

Try another approach.

Answer 11

hehehe i like that sentence: "would find it sweet that one would take the time to warn me of my impending doom" ah sweet doom.

Now on the serious side:

The first thing to do would be to have just a basic discussion about both of your personal beliefs. If you find they are actually open to learning more about your faith, start to talk to them about it. If you find that they do not want to be witnessed to - BACK OFF. They will only get defensive. Chances are they have already heard this all before.