Bible non believers

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How do you respond or debate with a person who doesn’t believe in the bible??? My friend is telling me that scripture contradicts itself over and over, and was written by men with agenda’s so is therefore invalid. How do I respond?! Thanks!
 
One of the posters here (I forget who – is it PhilVaz?) either writes or consistently links to some Catholic apologetics articles, including this one, which contains 143 so-called contradictions in Scripture and deftly reconciles them all–to the extent that any of the seemingly contradictory statements need to be reconciled, anyway. It’s a good place to start. Of course, even better would be to get your friend to name specific contradictions.

As for “men with an agenda”: (1) What agenda? (2) How do you know they had an agenda? Remember that the books that are in our Bibles were penned long before the 4th century. What psychological motivation did the Apostles and their understudies have for making things up?

Or, if you want a shorter response, you can say, “Prove it,” and see what happens.

Hope that helps.
 
I think if you argue with this person you will only frustrate yourself. You are likely only to encourage him or her to be more resolute, as there isn’t a convincing answer to a mind that has gone so far along this path.

What you can do is live the Gospel and the Sacraments yourself faithfully and authentically
and pray every day for this person however long it takes,
Because only God’s grace can givethis person faith.

God bless, Trishie
 
kschliening said:
How do you respond or debate with a person who doesn’t believe in the bible??? My friend is telling me that scripture contradicts itself over and over, and was written by men with agenda’s so is therefore invalid. How do I respond?! Thanks!
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I would just say, “Well, that’s a very interesting opinion. I happen to disagree,” and then change the subject. Unless you are actually interested in getting into some kind of never-ending debate with this person, in which case, some of the suggestions above would probably work. 🙂

My personal experience with people who open with that sort of statement is that they are not particularly interested in knowing anything about the Bible - they just want to justify some kind of behaviour they are doing, that you are better off not knowing that they do.
 
kschliening said:
How do you respond or debate with a person who doesn’t believe in the bible??? My friend is telling me that scripture contradicts itself over and over, and was written by men with agenda’s so is therefore invalid. How do I respond?! Thanks!
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My advice is dont. If you have to discuss it with them then discuss the messages that the bible puts across more than the words. Because without faith they will not understand your belief in it.
 
Of course they had an agenda. Everyone who writes a book has an “agenda”, don’t they?

God, as the author, has our salvation as the “agenda”.

But that’s lost on non-believers. So make more personal. “This is what ***I ***believe”. Or if it’s someone you know, a friend or relative, appeal to their intellect. “The people who have really studied this stuff are pretty smart. Too smart to be duped by something fake. Don’t you think?”

Above all, pray. The Almighty can do more with your prayers than you can with an explanation. 👍
 
kschliening said:
How do you respond or debate with a person who doesn’t believe in the bible??? My friend is telling me that scripture contradicts itself over and over, and was written by men with agenda’s so is therefore invalid. How do I respond?! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi,
First I would start with 3 questions
What EXACTLY do you believe?

Why do you believe it?

Where did you get your info.?

Most people when asked those questions dont really know the answers. Get this person to p(name removed by moderator)oint their objections so you can then p(name removed by moderator)oint your answers.😉

Like others have said here–pray—tell them what you believe and why.

A good book to get is The New Evidence that demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell

He gives info. on why the bible is reliable to believe.

But in the end–keep in mind(so you dont get frustrated)that to nonbelievers the bible is foolishness.😉

Another thing I have pointed out to people is—what human in their right mind would write some of the stuff in the bible that we are to follow and then DIE for what is written in there!!
Think about some of the principles we are suppose to follow–what human really wants to follow some of those-- and as you see we dont but we try hard and why is that? It could only have come from God.:cool:

These are just very few suggestions–hope it helps
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Hi,
First I would start with 3 questions
What EXACTLY do you believe?

Why do you believe it?

Where did you get your info.?

Most people when asked those questions dont really know the answers. Get this person to p(name removed by moderator)oint their objections so you can then p(name removed by moderator)oint your answers.😉

Like others have said here–pray—tell them what you believe and why.

A good book to get is The New Evidence that demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell

He gives info. on why the bible is reliable to believe.

But in the end–keep in mind(so you dont get frustrated)that to nonbelievers the bible is foolishness.😉

Another thing I have pointed out to people is—what human in their right mind would write some of the stuff in the bible that we are to follow and then DIE for what is written in there!!
Think about some of the principles we are suppose to follow–what human really wants to follow some of those-- and as you see we dont but we try hard and why is that? It could only have come from God.:cool:

These are just very few suggestions–hope it helps
Click to expand...
If they don’t believe the Bible, then they are either an atheist, agnostic or some other non-Christian related religion. Go to this site; Frank Turek and Norman Geisler are top notch and you may find some really useful info.
crossexamined.org/solution.asp
 
If someone doesn’t believe in the authenticity of the Bible, they necessarily doubt the Holy Spirit’s protection of the Church, as well. What is there to debate with someone who rejects the most basic premises of Christianity?
 
You should try to meet them where they are. If they don’t believe in the Bible, discuss the infinity beauty and perfect order of the universe.

How could something so complex, so perfect, so ordered ,so unique and so beautiful, be a random mistake?

Don’t preach, just ask questions and let them think about their answers for a while. Guide them, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to the Truth which is Jesus the Christ;

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jn 1:1

Sow the seeds and God will do the rest!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

Mark
 
Mark77 said:
You should try to meet them where they are. If they don’t believe in the Bible, discuss the infinity beauty and perfect order of the universe.

How could something so complex, so perfect, so ordered ,so unique and so beautiful, be a random mistake?

Don’t preach, just ask questions and let them think about their answers for a while. Guide them, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to the Truth which is Jesus the Christ;

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jn 1:1

Sow the seeds and God will do the rest!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

Mark
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This argument is Behe’s. It’s been a difficult road for him and his like to continue his personal viewpoints on this.
 
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