Atheist Brother Making Me Doubt

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So I am 17 and was Baptized in October, and since then have gone through Confession and the Eucharist. But when my 19 year old brother is in town he always makes me lose faith and I am starting to change views. But somewhere inside of me the Lord is telling me to hang on. Anyone have any reassuring stories or rebuttals for my brother?
[BIBLEDRB]Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2[/BIBLEDRB]
Is this a test?
 
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

Forgot to mention that the main thing is he makes fun of eating a 2000 year old God.
 
What specific claims does he make?

When I was younger I “left” the church for atheism. Becoming Catholic again has been the single greatest decision of my life.
 
Gilgamesh888888 said** : “I am 17 and was Baptized in October, and since then have gone through Confession and the Eucharist.
But when my 19 year old brother is in town, he always makes me lose faith and I am starting to change views.
But somewhere inside of me the Lord is telling me to hang on.
Anyone have any reassuring stories or rebuttals for my brother?”**

Hey, brother, cut me some slack.
I am trying this Church thing to see how it makes me feel.
I don’t care that God does NOT exist.
I want to pretend that God DOES exist.
Let me have My Thing to do.

Do I ever TRASH you over things that are important to you?
If not, then I would appreciate it if you would do the same Favor to me.

Hey Bro, do you know that when you pound on my about believing in God, that you are Hurting me deeply?
I think it is Mean for you to Hurt me like that.

So, these are the Kind responses to your Atheist abuser.

Oh Bro, you are a REAL Jerk.
I can’t believe that you are so terrible as to do this to me.
How would you like me to tell you (for 12 straight hours) what an idiot you are to believe in YOUR religion, Atheism.

Hey Bro, if you EVER put down God to me again, I am going to POUND on you about
A . . . and B . . . and C (things he is sensitive about).
 
There is not one claim an atheist can make against Christianity that can’t be refuted. The best thing you can do for yourself (if not your brother) is to arm yourself with answers. You can search these forums or the Catholic Answers site for answers to his questions. Look up Scott Hahn, Peter Kreeft, Steve Ray, Trent Horn, or Matthew Kelly (just to name a few good Catholics) on youtube for some great videos (debates and talks). Fr. Robert Barron has some videos where he addresses atheists specifically. Even William Lane Craig or John Lennox, while not Catholic, are strong defenders of the Christian faith. If your brother stumps you with something tell him you don’t have an answer right now but you’ll look into it, then do some research. I promise you’ll find it. And your own faith will grow too. Above all, pray for your brother. Keep the faith! 👍
 
Honestly, this is tough conundrum, being a Christian does have a way of attracting dirt of all sorts. You can tackle it though in three folds however: love, prayer and knowledge. Love your brother no matter how cruel he might be. He’s just another seeker like yourself, and through his own rather unrefined way he’s just trying to communicate his deep thoughts to you. Love changes people, keep loving even if it takes 50 years for him to get it. Keep an active prayer life, through God all things are possible and he’s the strength of which we go forth to evangelize the world. Thirdly brush up on your knowledge. This is a toughy, but there is sooo much to be read but the knowledge is indispensable when facing atheists. The church is so full of amazing scientists and philosophers you will be amazed. I personally found a lot of insight in Frances Collin’s The Language of God, in which the human genome project director defends faith in the light of science. I hope this helps, I’ll keep you in my prayers. Semper Fi my friend!
 
Yes, always show him kindness and love.

Learn as much as you can about your faith and why the Church teaches what it does.

I’ve recently started a book by Lee Strobel. It would be great if I could remember the title, but he has some video channels here: leestrobel.com/

If you look at his store leestrobel.com/store.php you’ll find his books. I think I have Evidence for Faith. It goes through the historical evidence that Jesus existed, that his historical life played out as told in the Bible (condemned by Pontius Pilate, etc.). It talks about how many thousands upon thousands of extant ancient copies of the Bible we still have, as compared to other ancient documents that everybody accepts without question. It talks about how very early various books of the New Testament were written after the life of Christ, as compared to what some people claim.

A book with similar material is Josh MacDowell’s Evidence that Demands a Verdict. It’s been more than 20 years since I read it, but one thing that remains strong from it is his discussion of the Liar, Lunatic, or Lord Theory, which is: to have said and done what he did, Jesus was one of the three. Many people accept his historical existence, but believe he was merely a ‘good man,’ a wise man, a great man…but not God. Liar, Lunatic, or Lord makes the case that a good man would not claim to be God, as Jesus did. That would make him a liar, and a good and holy man does not lie. If he was good, but not God, and made such claims, he would have to be a lunatic, which he clearly wasn’t. That leaves only the choice that he was who he claimed to be: the Son of God. (Josh MacDowell isn’t Catholic, but the books is an excellent support of Christianity, and sound reasons to believe it.)

Although I haven’t finished reading any of his books, Matthew Kelley is putting out some great books on the Catholic faith. www.matthewkelly.com

Pray for your brother daily. I’ll add you both to my prayer list.
 
No one can “make you” doubt! You are exposed to temptation, yes, but the doubt must come from you.

In matters of faith, we need to seek out the opinions of faithful Catholics and trust in scripture and the Church. We trust them because they have truth. In the case of your brother, he is not a trusted advisor in your faith. His opinions on Catholicism are invalid and untrustworthy. Why put any stock in them?

Some of this is likely sibling rivalry. Tell him that you want to agree to disagree and to leave the subject alone. (He won’t change your beliefs if you remain steadfast and disputing them is dangerous for your new conversion.) You don’t have to attend every argument you are invited to! After telling him you will no longer discuss this refuse to enter the banter. (Of course if he ever wants to ask sincere questions, welcome them. You could be the instrument for his conversion.)

Pray for your brother. Read your bible even more deliberately. Look back over your RCIA materials to be reminded of what you have been taught. Read about the saints whose faith was challenged. Read about the early Christians in Acts. If anyone was tested, they were! Read about the martyrs. (I LOVE the story of St. Lawrence. He was placed on a grill and “cooked”. While being killed he cried out…I think I am done on this side. You can turn me now!!)

Your faith is being tested. Rejoice! God is working through your brother to strengthen you and take your faith to the next level. Stay strong!
 
Gilgamesh888888 said:
So I am 17 and was Baptized in October, and since then have gone through Confession and the Eucharist. But when my 19 year old brother is in town he always makes me lose faith and I am starting to change views. But somewhere inside of me the Lord is telling me to hang on. Anyone have any reassuring stories or rebuttals for my brother?
[BIBLEDRB]Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2[/BIBLEDRB]
Is this a test?
Click to expand...
It is not necessary to win arguments with atheists. Find in the Bible what FAITH is. It cannot be proven. It cannot be dis-proven. I recommend that you make no attempt to debate him in any manner. Simply pray for him in your mind, and react forgivingly when he mocks your beliefs. Your beliefs are of a spiritual nature that is unfathomable to the secular intellect. You cannot make it make sense to him and you don’t have to try.
 
For 25 years my relationship with God was pretty impersonal. I prayed to Him - asking favors, thanking Him, etc. I am a mathematician and see things from a very rational perspective (should say something about those arguments against Christianity), so I viewed faith from a very calculated perspective. Last year God finally opened my heart. It took me being humbled quite a bit to be able to truly tell Him I couldn’t understand on my own. That experience was almost indescribable, and was incredible enough that I can finally listen to God with my heart. Oh, and my desperate pray and wonderful answer happened during the consecration on Holy Thursday! Anyone who has experienced this will understand the magnitude of the event, but anyone who lacks faith simply can’t understand.
 
You need to keep your cool when it comes to these knee-slappers and one-liners and not give into emotion and rhetoric. Your brother is offering you a strawman. It’s a lot easier to dismiss a strawman like your brother appears to do than to deal with what the teaching actually is, however it is intellectually dishonest. It would be like if I were to start lampooning biological evolution by saying that it tells us that somewhere along the line a monkey gave birth to a human.

I’d recommend reading Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Mysterium Fidei on the Eucharist. It’s not that long, and in no way will you find His Holiness refer to the blessed sacrament as “eating a 2,000 year old God”.

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_03091965_mysterium_en.html

However, suppose what your brother said was logically ironclad and persuasive, and the Eucharist is just some odd belief of Catholics. What does that have to do with the truth of God’s existence, or of his revelation in Jesus? Why would this teasing from your brother move you to give up your belief entirely? I don’t understand why that should be…

As for Atheism itself, the best book I have read refuting the belief would be “The Last Superstition” by Edward Feser. I know you’ve gotten some other suggestions, most of which I’ve read, and IMO this book I’m suggesting is the best, so if you pick one, pick this one.
 
Estevao said:
You need to keep your cool when it comes to these knee-slappers and one-liners and not give into emotion and rhetoric. Your brother is offering you a strawman. It’s a lot easier to dismiss a strawman like your brother appears to do than to deal with what the teaching actually is, however it is intellectually dishonest. It would be like if I were to start lampooning biological evolution by saying that it tells us that somewhere along the line a monkey gave birth to a human.

I’d recommend reading Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Mysterium Fidei on the Eucharist. It’s not that long, and in no way will you find His Holiness refer to the blessed sacrament as “eating a 2,000 year old God”.

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_03091965_mysterium_en.html

However, suppose what your brother said was logically ironclad and persuasive, and the Eucharist is just some odd belief of Catholics. What does that have to do with the truth of God’s existence, or of his revelation in Jesus? Why would this teasing from your brother move you to give up your belief entirely? I don’t understand why that should be…

As for Atheism itself, the best book I have read refuting the belief would be “The Last Superstition” by Edward Feser. I know you’ve gotten some other suggestions, most of which I’ve read, and IMO this book I’m suggesting is the best, so if you pick one, pick this one.
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Thanks a lot! I repented and I feel much better about my faith. I will pick up that book and hopfully will shake that doubt.
 
Gilgamesh888888 said:
Thanks a lot! I repented and I feel much better about my faith. I will pick up that book and hopfully will shake that doubt.
Click to expand...
Great to hear! Pray for your brother, do an act of reparation for blasphemy prayer if he makes them again.

Also I just realized you were 17. The book I recommended is great (except for the first chapter which I didn’t care for as it was very polemical), but something more on the level of a high school senior (who I assume has never studied philosophy before or might not be all that interested in it) would be “Yes or No” by Peter Kreeft. It also covers a lot more questions and would also a good book to gift IMO as it’s not that dense.
 
seagal said:
There is not one claim an atheist can make against Christianity that can’t be refuted. QUOTE]

If Prayer actually worked why don’t amputees regrow their limbs? :confused:
  • Do they not have enough faith?
  • Can god not do this one thing?
  • Perhaps god can cure cancer, alcoholism and make statues cry, but regrowing a limb would take away our free will?
I normally try to be respectful on this site - but religion is to be believed by faith - not arguments and facts.
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without said:
seagal;11868059:
There is not one claim an atheist can make against Christianity that can’t be refuted. QUOTE]

If Prayer actually worked why don’t amputees regrow their limbs? :confused:
  • Do they not have enough faith?
  • Can god not do this one thing?
  • Perhaps god can cure cancer, alcoholism and make statues cry, but regrowing a limb would take away our free will?
I normally try to be respectful on this site - but religion is to be believed by faith - not arguments and facts.
Click to expand...
So I was at mass tonight and during the homily the priest asked us to consider taking a step back this Holy Week and saying, “Yes, Lord. I will follow you.” My gut reaction was to answer to myself, “Of course.” Unfortunately, my heart was heavy and posed the question. “Am I following God because he comforts me? Will I really follow Him in suffering?” And that was a very difficult question to ask myself. I have been anguishing over the answer.

When your question was posed, I had the initial reaction to explain that the Lord works in mysterious ways - except with more words. Instead, I can think only of the question I was forced to ask myself. If God answered every prayer in every way we wanted, and if He removed suffering so long as we prayed to Him, would we follow Him out of ease or out of faith? Out of comfort or out of love?

I really pose this question because up until tonight my faith had been strongly rooted in that divine love and comfort only God can provide. I know struggle and pain and heartbreak, but not like Jesus experienced. Not like so many of the saints had experienced. So, when truly asking myself whether I would follow God into that kind of suffering and daily heartache, the need for real love unveiled itself.

I truly don’t mean to dismiss your objection. I simply aim to give you my perspective on the matter.
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Avoid lame conversations with your bro. Just separate from him (holy means to “set apart”)

You are in the body of Christ, you made your choice.

Unfortunately, there are many souls who do not make the choice to chose LIFE. Life in Jesus Christ.

If your brother writes to you, just say “God Bless you” that is it. Don’t talk/win. If he has a legitimate question about faith, bible, etc. or has a personal issue he needs your advice on, fine. But lame conversation? NO.

That is out of the question.

Pray for your family and for their souls.
 
Gilgamesh888888 said:
Anyone have any reassuring stories or rebuttals for my brother?
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Everyone God puts in your way (or in this case in your family) are there for a reason. It may not be for you to refute his atheism, it could be a test to your faith. Trust in God and take your doubts to Him. God Himself was mocked, beaten and ultimately put to death for telling the Truth. Christians today are severely mocked. sometimes beaten and killed for their beliefs aswell.
 
without said:
seagal;11868059:
I normally try to be respectful on this site - but religion is to be believed by faith - not arguments and facts.
Click to expand...
Nope. Try to back up your assertions on what the Christian theist tradition means by “faith” next time. A quotation from the Summa Theologica would probably be good.
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Atheists make me want to believe in a God. A lot of them are just as bad as religious fundies.
 
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