Atheists and Agnostics: How to approach them

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I have some friends who are atheist and some who are agnostic. I want to evangelize to them, but Have no Idea how to approach them. Does anyone here have any experiece in dealing with Atheists and Agnostics? I could really use your help. I pray to the saints for intercession and To God as well. Besides that, i don’t know what else I could do…
 
Really, unless we’ve said we’re interested in religion or debate, we’d generally rather not be missionaried to.
 
We witness to them by our Faith and our joy…and we pray.

I have had people comment on my “luck” in the way things happen in my life. That is when I smile and say what I believe: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.”

They don’t always believe there and then, but, over time after time, after time,it all adds up.
 
If they won’t hear it, let them alone. All you can do is pray and let your hope be a witness to them. Being that you’re friends, it should be easy for you to know how open they are. If you can tell there’s a desire, I’d suggest books. Blaise Pascal can work wonders for skeptics. I can also vouch for “Architects of the Culture of Death”, even though the book has mainly to do with culture. Yet, it had a way of changing my “other” heart (my skeptic side). Anyway, that’s a start.
 
I’ve just been reading about Alphonse Ratisbonne. Challenge them to wear a Miraculous Medal (blessed) and say the Memorare every day.

When Baron De Bussiere asked Ratisbonne to wear the medal, he said: “I cannot understand the reason for the refusal, for, according to your view of things, the wearing of this object must be to you a matter of total indifference, whilst to me it would be a real consolation, if you would condescend to my request.”

Put it in modern language, but the challenge is the same. If they are sincere in their atheism, it should be no problem for them to wear it.
 
St. Josemaria Escriva gave some very good advice on priorities in evangelization (also called apostolate): prayer first, then sacrifice, then in the third place (very much in the third place), action.

So continue to pray for your friends. Offer some of your lenten penances for their sake, and keep them up after Lent. Be a very good friend, always listening so you understand the desires of their hearts. Then, someday, maybe, there will be an opportunity for you to speak to them. Then again, perhaps it is not for you to have this particular harvest of souls. Maybe many years down the road, your prayer and sacrifice will have their effect in the souls of your friends, and someone else will bring them to Our Lord.

Betsy
 
Mirdath said:
Really, unless we’ve said we’re interested in religion or debate, we’d generally rather not be missionaried to.
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I understand this stance, having spent decades as an agnostic. I, for one, did NOT take kindly to evangelization efforts.

Also I think that atheists/agnostics differ greatly in their reasons, motivations or agendas for being atheists or agnostics. You can’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to broach the subject. And you can’t have a good respectful discussion about it until they are ready to question or challenge their own beliefs. Belief in God is not a simple intellectual pursuit.

Having this forum is a great resource for those curious. You could suggest it if they find themselves in a “seaching” mode. It’s pretty painless to look around.

Peace, Timotheos
 
This is a perfect thread for me! At my state school I’m in the honors program, and as far as I know everybody in my honors classes says they’re athiests, agnostics, or humanists. It’s strange, you’d think this sort of atmosphere would weaken my faith, but it has done the opposite! 🙂 :getholy:

I don’t evangelize directly, but in my Honors philosophy class, as far as my knowledge carries me, I’ll bring up Catholic point of views and let them debate that. Of course, they find fault with everything, but usually I’ll stay quiet after I bring up my pov. I didn’t even tell them what religion I was until one of them directly asked me. Then they told me “we love you anyway”. I really don’t want to hang out with them, but I do anyway, because I’m hoping that by setting an example, showing my happiness, faith, and joy (not blatantly, but through everyday life) that they might reconsider their stand. I pray that they will, if not now, not tomorrow, then someday they’ll “see the light”, so to speak.

But if anybody else has advice, I’d gladly take it!
 
Mirdath said:
Really, unless we’ve said we’re interested in religion or debate, we’d generally rather not be missionaried to.
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I find it interesting that you would post 792 times in a Catholic forum and have no interest in being “missionaried to”.Looks to me that you have some interest in religion or debate; both of which this forum caters to. Just an interesting observation on my part…🙂
 
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