Dear fellow Christians, do you not understand that questions like "ATHEISTS: Do you not realize that you will not go to heaven just because you think you're a 'good person'?" are no better than "ATHEISTS: Do you not realize that you will not flarz booga mazingy hoip just because you think you're a 'good person'?"
That's what such questions boil down to. You are warning them that something they deny existence will be witheld from them because they do not believe in something they deny existence.
If you truly wish to convert the atheist, you must engage them on the ground they can grasp. You cannot presume they believe in what they deny, and that is what the vast majority of attempts to convert the atheist boil down to. People who deny the existence of Heaven and Hell don't care about threats of Hell or promises of Heaven.
2007-11-13 07:36:31 · 18 answers · asked by Hoosier Daddy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The approach I criticize boils down to this:
Demand that the atheist believes in something that you deny exists.
If he won't, threaten he will go someplace that he is quite certain doesn't exist. If he will, then promise he will go somewhere else that he is quite certain doesn't exist.
That convinces nobody.
If you truly wish to engender conversions, you will have to learn to engage them in terms they can comprehend. Otherwise, you're nothing but a "clanging cymbal", to reference Scripture.
2007-11-13 07:38:13 · update #1
Precisely!
Telling me the big hairy monster in my closet is going to get me in my sleep if I;m a bad girl is just about as effective as telling me I'm going to hell for not being a Christian.
Luckily, I'm an adult and know there's only a million pairs of shoes in my closet, and THEY love me!
.
2007-11-13 07:50:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct....I will not go to Heaven because I think I'm a 'good person'. I will go to heaven because I have accepted Christ into my heart as my Savior. ..It's up to you to believe in Christ or not. It's up to you to ask HIm to be your Savior. You are the only one that will stand before Him on Judgment Day and if your name is not found in the Lambs book of life, then you will not enter into Paradise (the truely one and only), but He will tell you that He never knew you and you then will be cast into the lake of fire. You don't have to refer to Heaven of Hell if you do not wish. They both are real places. And sadly enough, you that chose not to accept the truth will not die, but feel the heat of hell for eternity.
Heaven is a literal place that God has prepared for his children.
The correct answer is True.
John 14:2-3 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The path to heaven is wide and many will not find it.
Matthew 7:14 - Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it
We must have the faith of a child to enter heaven.
The correct answer is True.
Matthew 18:3 - And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I'm not judging you, I do care that you choose not to believe in Christ. But it is your choice. I nor anyone else can make you believe what you believe.
2007-11-13 08:17:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You had me at "flarz booga mazingy hoip." LOL! I'm sorry, but that's funny!
Seriously, though, you make a lot of sense. Many Christians seem to think that the threat of hell fire is what will "open their eyes," but obviously, that's so far from the truth.
2007-11-13 07:54:35 · answer #3 · answered by Lydia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, and certainly I have seen a lot of threats of Hell from christians when trying to convert atheists. It's good to know that there are still christians out there who actually understand how this works...or rather, why it doesn't. We might see less mudslinging if people had a better idea of what arguments work and what arguments are ridiculously ineffective. Of course, we might see more atheists, too...
2007-11-13 07:44:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Wow, could you be any more condescending? "If you truly wish to convert the atheist, you must engage them on the ground they can grasp."
Many of my atheist friends were once christians.. they can speak to things YOU can grasp.. you just can't fathom that they would want evidence of a god. That they aren't going to just take the bible's word for it.. especially if they've studied the history of the bible and noted the many mistakes, discrepancies and total errors.
You aren't going to convert them. Leave them be. They deserve as much respect as you demand for your beliefs.
2007-11-13 07:45:47 · answer #5 · answered by Kallan 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Excellent point. The sheer absurdity of such questions sometimes boggles my mind. I loved the way you put it...made me recall an old Far Side comic I have around here somewhere...two frames...in one frame the person is scolding his dog...something like "Spot, you are a bad dog for chewing up my shoes. Bad dog. No treats for you, bad Spot."...the other frame shows what the dog hears "Spot, blah blah blah blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah Spot".
No, I'm not comparing atheists to dogs...but yammering on to them about heaven and hell and sin and other concepts that they don't believe exist is pointless...those words have no meaning for them...all they hear is blah, blah, blah!
2007-11-13 07:53:24 · answer #6 · answered by KAL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm getting it, yet do you recognize why using a unicorn to swap God to teach how stupid believing in God is makes a mockery out of persons's theory? Why do you think of people would desire to be recommended that atheists think of theory is stupid? i do no longer would desire to properly known that. in case you do no longer think of existence has a purpose and meaning, then what's your purpose in criticizing Christians and getting people to end believing in God? you haven't got self assurance in God, ok, positive, so what? you haven't any longer have been given a reason to do something, for even latest. Now, bypass away.
2016-12-16 07:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
isn't it time to stop trying to convert Atheist?
many know the bible better than most Christians.
and telling them, that a God that they don't believe in, loves them, is pretty useless also,
isn't it better to show our love, than to talk about His, when Christians start walking in Love, and quit trying to preach it, that is what will make a difference.
it is time to start walking the walk, and stop talking the talk.
for no one comes to the Father unless HE draws them.
2007-11-13 08:14:09 · answer #8 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ooooh, they're going to get all strategical about converting us!We better watch out!
2007-11-13 07:44:22 · answer #9 · answered by ~Smirk~ Resurrected 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
OK, engage me on the ground I can grasp, big boy!
CD
2007-11-13 07:41:48 · answer #10 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋