after the usual claims of "god is god" and 'isn't god awesome' just won't cut it for the intellectually evolved, how does one cheer up an atheist who doesn't believe in Zeus, god, Jesus, allah, Thor and all of that to cure them by simply belief and prayer?
(I tried and he didn't seem to like being told to nevermind the holiday crap, it's over rated)
2007-12-21 16:12:44 · 24 answers · asked by voice_of_reason 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I watched a History channel show about Xmas. This time of year has always been celebrated. The Solstice this year is 12/22 (technically) but a lot of people celebrate it today. The European pagans based their celebration on this. In Rome, the public celebrated Saturnalia-not really sure if it was based on the Solstice. So, this time of year was being celebrated long before Xians came. When you read about Mithraism, there's a lot the JC story sounds similar to.
I'm not a hard-core atheist, but I cheer myself with the awe of nature and everything it does that we're acclimated to. I don't know how you can cheer yourself up, I think that depends more on the person.
A little rum in their eggnog doesn't hurt, either.
;-)
Edit: Linda, you're delusional.
Frau Hunter-Heathen-Love that movie!
Bastian, sounds like you'll get it eventually (I'm sorry but the many times 'He's' been responsible for murder/killing-I don't think of that as 'just'-I don't think you would tell any psychiatric clients to kill their children for making fun of anyone) Oh, also look at Linda's answer...and see another person wrote in that they agreed with her. Since the majority of Xians on the street are like this, is it any wonder that some assume Xians are not very bright?
2007-12-21 16:27:25 · answer #1 · answered by strpenta 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Linda should be given best answer- no matter how far you go away and try to find happiness with Jesus, it is just not possible. If a person has "left Christianity" and turned atheist and he/she needs cheering up, something is very wrong, don't you think? If these people are really ok with their decision, what do they need to be sad about? Only Jesus gives joy
2007-12-21 17:08:21 · answer #2 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well the helliday season pretty much sucks for a lot of people right now for various reasons. Like living in one big annoying Gap pop-up ad that you can't turn the volume down or get off your computer. I was in such helliday cheer that I loudly screamed "Merry Christmas *******!!!" at some cars that wouldn't give me right of way. I think I might go set someone's Christmas tree on fire so the all the spoiled little brats get no presents.
Wow, feeling better already!!!!!! (: (:
2007-12-21 16:30:17 · answer #3 · answered by An Independent 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
well It will be difficult to cheer them up since now they are left with a void in their life that intellectualism just cannot fill. When a person needs cheering up they want to be uplifted not filled with a negative thought that the season that most people find joyful is just a bunch of holiday crap. You may not agree with it but by trying to put a negative spin on it you are creating an environment of negativity which will hinder not support someone who needs cheering up. Stepping outside of religious mode, I would tell them that you understand that it was a big decision that they made to no longer be Christian and that you will be their to support them in whatever way you can........whatever you do realize that sometimes people, during a time of adjustment, need to feel blue and don't want to have happiness rammed down their throats but rather they want to know that someone is there to just listen to them and be with them in their feelings.
p.s. I love your implication that Christians are intellectually challenged. My Wiccan friend has told me many times actually that I am quite enlightened, I have a university degree with double majors one being psychology and I have explored alternate spiritual modalities (ie. I was trained as a second degree Reiki Practitioner) so I have not closed my mind, rather I have opened it up to learn but in all things I keep coming back to the glory of God and I cannot leave my Christian faith.
2007-12-21 16:25:11 · answer #4 · answered by bastian915 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
If he's disillusioned with God, it may be because he was not approaching God on God's terms, but his own. God says He will never turn anyone away from Him who honestly seek Him.
So many people think that God, Jehovah is some doting grandfather just waiting to give us anything we want even if it kills us. That is not it.
God is real. He is an intelligent, person who is interested, concerned and involved in our lives. He, however is not obligated to fulfill our whims just to prove to us He is who He says He is.
If your friend has turned his back on God, then you might ask him if he ever truly believed in the first place. No one I've ever talked to who had a real relationship with God ever says they no longer believe.
They may have run away from God and what they believed He was requesting from them, but they never stopped believing.
On that note, what is there for an atheist to be happy about? If he's rich, then there's nothing more to look forward to. If he's poor then he's got nothing to enjoy his life with. If he's healthy, he's gonna die in this rotten world and that's the best it'll ever get.
However, If God is real and he's wrong, then not only does he live miserable in this life, but since he rejected God, he's got judgment and hell to look forward to instead of the peace and eternal life he could have had if he''d just believed in Jesus.
2007-12-21 16:35:14 · answer #5 · answered by stjoseph5 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Would you cheer up a convict on death row who rejected the last minute "stay of execution/Pardon" from the Governor because in his mind he convinced himself that the Governor wasn't real?
Even more ...
Why would you cheer someone up when they threw away the most important thing they could ever receive in this life, the Mercy and Forgiveness from God, the Pardon from all their sins, and a place in the Family of God for eternity?
There is no upside in turning their back on this.
I pray they will come to understand their error, and return to their faith in Christ, if they truly ever had it to begin with, and if they never truly did believe, I pray that they will.
Take Care and God Bless you all.
P.S. this may not cheer them up, but, who knows...so long as they live, they still have the opportunity to repent and be welcomed back into God's Family with open arms. May it be so.
2007-12-21 16:36:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Most of the suicides committed each year, happen around the Holidays.
Whether it be from depression, or family problems, ect. if you know of someone who is depressed, and starts giving away their possessions, watch them closely, and get them to any professional help, if possible.
2007-12-21 16:39:19 · answer #7 · answered by moonbaby 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Really, you can't. It's much like losing a good friend or loved one. It just takes time to go through the stages of grief.
That said, philosophy makes a good replacement for religion. The site http://www.exchristian.net , is a gathering place for people going through such an experience.
2007-12-21 16:16:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
Talk. Seriously. Something is bothering him. Talk to him. Get him to open up. He'll feel better after.
Not everyone likes the season, you know.
2007-12-21 16:16:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Tell them Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, and The Tooth Fairy are all a bunch of bull too.
2007-12-21 16:17:53 · answer #10 · answered by Charlie 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋