Dealing with Atheists?

  • Thread starter Thread starter polishdude
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

polishdude

Guest
So tell me how do you deal with atheists? I mean I have alot of atheist friends and I just feel like im the only true catholic teenager that I know.

How do ou deal with problems with atheists and other religions?
 
I’m well past a teenager and still have this problem. the hardest part is resisiting the tug to “be cool” and laugh it off or roll with it when your religion is under assault. for some reason too, catholics seem the most persecuted christians here lately. it seems it’s ok to believe in God and Christ but not to be a Catholic, here. All I can tell you is to stand your ground. you will be tested, and not to deny Christ in front of your friends… but you know all of that.

I don’t make a big deal out of pushing christianity on anyone who doesn’t ask. I should, it just doesn’t come naturally. if they show some interest, then I jump in, with both feet. otherwise, I don’t HIDE my beliefs, I just let them be in the background.

I’m probably wrong though, so don’t take my word for it… :o
 
Sorry to be causing you problems! 🙂

A few things:

  1. *]Don’t bother quoting from scripture, its like talking louder and louder to someone who doesn’t speaking English
    *]Know your stuff - Evolution has nothing scientifically to do with the question of how life started, for instance, little stubs that eventually evolved into wings ARE useful, etc…
    *]Realize that there are a lot of people (more likely your friends’ parents in this case) that have suffered at the hands of ‘religious’ people doing what they thought was right.
    *]Understand your similarities - hopes and dreams at school, loving their family, etc…
    *]Understand not how they are different from you, but how you are different from them.

    Maybe you’ll change your view, and realize that rather than a ‘problem’, seeking out people with different opinions than you will help you become a more understanding person with a better understanding of what makes you different.
 
Charitably!

We are all on this journey called life… and the destination has not been reached yet.

It’s only what map one is looking at and the route they are taking to get there.

Is there a wrong way? A right way? A few detours to go around? Perhaps some landmark sights to see along the way? Whether one takes the ‘high road’ and another takes the ‘low road’… they both lead to Scotland…

Faith starts with a seed… and grows! Knowledge also increases… with learning. Understanding comes into focus… usually after life’s experiences (hindsight has a new kind of light).

And once it is felt in the Heart… Charity is there. If the Good Lord allows one’s Free-Will to make mistakes (harmful choices), should we be anything else? Also, doesn’t He forgive us these trespasses? Should we do anything else?

Dance to the music in YOUR Heart… Perhaps some others will wonder why you do… then you can be Charitable and ‘simply’ tell them.
 
Pray. God will let you know how much he wants you to do. even in university, I still feel this kind of tension in myself. What is the right way to witness? How much is too much? IS there too much?
Peacefully and confusedly yours…
Spirithound
 
A unique quality to our faith is that the arguments against it are based on the belief that what isn’t seen doesn’t exist.

There is no such thing as God because I see no evidence.

There is no such thing as purgaqtory because I can’t see it in the bible.

There is no such thing as a Trinity because God cannot become a man.

etc. etc.

That because it isn’t seen by the opponent is evidence that it doesn’t exist is ego usurping honesty

. Honesty obligates them to admit that they can’t believe it because they can’t see it not that it doesn’t exist because they can’t see it.

Jesus said we teach out of what we see. If we teach from our blindness we are blind teachers leading others in blindness.
 
I let them be. As long as they don’t push their beliefs on me, or non-beliefs, then I have no problem with them.

Really they turn me off just a bit, but I’m nice to them because they are people too. I don’t hold any discrimination against them and would treat them just like anyone else.
 
I’m not an atheist, I guess you could say I’m borderline agnostic. I can see how there are no real arguments against our faith, but I don’t really see any arguments for it, other than I grew up with it surrounding me convincing me that it is true in the same way that Islam convinces it’s followers that it is true. I don’t see how anyone can make a conscious decision concerning faith, or at least a logical one. It seems to me you either try to decide and then guess or you simply ignore the issue. I can’t stand ignoring the issue.
 
There are two types of Atheists.
  1. Atheist fundamentalists and 2) those who just don’t want to practice any religion.
The former will take every attempt to poke at your faith, try everything to convert you to their religion. They are quite pushy and loudmouthed.

The latter just don’t believe and are “live and let live” types.

If you are with the former, run away. You cannot reason with them or talk about anything without drama happening.

If you are with the latter, there’s nothing to worry about.

The existence of God is the first barrier.

If they’re open to it, and the topic comes up, you can mention Aquinas’ 5 proofs of the existence of God.
aquinasonline.com/Topics/5ways.html

Or Peter Kreeft’s writings:
peterkreeft.com/featured-writing.htm
peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm

Or an interesting argument I heard (forgot what this argument is called)
Imagine all the knowledge in the universe. Draw a circle to represent this.
Imagine all the knowledge of mankind. Draw a circle inside the first one to represent this. Obviously it is smaller and 100% contained within the larger circle.
Imagine all the knowledge you have. Draw a circle inside the humanity’s circle. (I’m too humble, I’ll put a dot.)

In order to know there is no God, one must have all the knowledge of the universe (which we don’t have) - otherwise, what is more likely: knowledge of God’s existence is outside of your circle or outside of humanity’s circle? It can’t be outside the universe’s knowledge circle (this is logically impossible). Since we don’t have all the knowledge in the universe, it is quite arrogant to claim that there is no God since we don’t have the proof of this.

Once they believe in God, I’d invite them to download Fulton Sheen’s discussion of the Claimants. Here he goes one by one for all the claimants to have spoken for God and chops one at a time away until only Christ is left.
 
Something I heard and it stuck in my memory -

If the ultimate power created reality
Why is mans’ life so short?
Mans’ body lives its biological limit
But no-one can disprove that mans’ soul is eternal.
 
I would distinguish between atheists and anti-theists. Those who don’t believe in any gods (or God) should have no problem with your beliefs–what’s it to them? In their eyes, you just have an imaginary friend.

Anti-theists, though, can be a real pain in the neck, as they will try to convince you that you’re *wrong *to believe in God, because the world is so evil, religion is so bad, blah blah blah. They’re religious extremists about their non-religion. (Anyone remember Madalyn Murray O’Hair?)

Tell them that you’re praying for them, and do your best to tune them out when they turn funny colors in response.
 
Respect. Plain and simple respect. 🤷

I know many atheists. I am married to one.

All I ask is for them to respect me. That means no nasty comments. No funny gestures when I pray before a meal.

In return, I don’t preach to them. I live my life my way and they live theirs their way.

(It is a little different with my husband. He attends Mass, occasionally. He waits until the family is through prayers before he eats. He is one of the most Catholic, non-Catholics I know.)
 
BobCatholic said:
There are two types of Atheists.
  1. Atheist fundamentalists and 2) those who just don’t want to practice any religion.
The former will take every attempt to poke at your faith, try everything to convert you to their religion. They are quite pushy and loudmouthed.

The latter just don’t believe and are “live and let live” types.

If you are with the former, run away. You cannot reason with them or talk about anything without drama happening.

If you are with the latter, there’s nothing to worry about.

The existence of God is the first barrier.

If they’re open to it, and the topic comes up, you can mention Aquinas’ 5 proofs of the existence of God.
aquinasonline.com/Topics/5ways.html

Or Peter Kreeft’s writings:
peterkreeft.com/featured-writing.htm
peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm

Or an interesting argument I heard (forgot what this argument is called)
Imagine all the knowledge in the universe. Draw a circle to represent this.
Imagine all the knowledge of mankind. Draw a circle inside the first one to represent this. Obviously it is smaller and 100% contained within the larger circle.
Imagine all the knowledge you have. Draw a circle inside the humanity’s circle. (I’m too humble, I’ll put a dot.)

In order to know there is no God, one must have all the knowledge of the universe (which we don’t have) - otherwise, what is more likely: knowledge of God’s existence is outside of your circle or outside of humanity’s circle? It can’t be outside the universe’s knowledge circle (this is logically impossible). Since we don’t have all the knowledge in the universe, it is quite arrogant to claim that there is no God since we don’t have the proof of this.

Once they believe in God, I’d invite them to download Fulton Sheen’s discussion of the Claimants. Here he goes one by one for all the claimants to have spoken for God and chops one at a time away until only Christ is left.
Click to expand...
There is a third type of atheist: They that don’t believe but want to. They want someone to show them, but are afraid to ask. I know, because I was one before I was a Fundamental Evangelical.
 
Benadam said:
A unique quality to our faith is that the arguments against it are based on the belief that what isn’t seen doesn’t exist.

There is no such thing as God because I see no evidence.

There is no such thing as purgaqtory because I can’t see it in the bible.

There is no such thing as a Trinity because God cannot become a man.

etc. etc.

That because it isn’t seen by the opponent is evidence that it doesn’t exist is ego usurping honesty

. Honesty obligates them to admit that they can’t believe it because they can’t see it not that it doesn’t exist because they can’t see it.
Click to expand...
A wise man once said, “the invisible and the non-existent often look very much alike.”
 
BobCatholic said:
In order to know there is no God, one must have all the knowledge of the universe (which we don’t have)
Click to expand...
Actually, many (most? all?) atheists admit that they can’t know for 100% certainty that there absolutely is no God. Every atheist from Richard Dawkins to Sam Harris has admitted that, and prefer to phrase the “belief” of atheism as a “lack of” rather than a belief that there “is not” - or say that they live under the assumption that God does not exist
  • otherwise, what is more likely: knowledge of God’s existence is outside of your circle or outside of humanity’s circle? It can’t be outside the universe’s knowledge circle (this is logically impossible). Since we don’t have all the knowledge in the universe, it is quite arrogant to claim that there is no God since we don’t have the proof of this.
Click to expand...
Actually, you could have all the knowledge of the Universe and still you could not disprove the existence of an omnipotent, invisible creator any more than you could disprove the existence of the invisible, silent cat living in my room. But it’s not arrogant to say and live under the assumption that “there is no cat” anymore than it is to say “there is no god,” given the lack of evidence, even when you know that there is, in fact, no way to completely disprove either.
 
polishdude said:
So tell me how do you deal with atheists? I mean I have alot of atheist friends and I just feel like im the only true catholic teenager that I know.

How do ou deal with problems with atheists and other religions?
Click to expand...
Listen to their arguments, tell them your beliefs and discuss. Don’t fear that you might learn the truth. Oh yeah, don’t worry about hell…it doesn’t really exist.
 
It’s tough. Don’t let them poke you. Pray for strength from God.

Me, I’m passive. While I am learning more apologetics by reading the forum, I have a general rule about atheists: There is no talking to an atheist.

And by that, I mean, I discern if they are open to listening to what I have to say and to at least acknowledge that I believe and RESPECT that. There are 2 atheists in our group of people we hang out with. One of whom, we feel, will “wake up” one day. He has potential.

The other, used to be Greek Orthodox. We (and by “we,” I mean me and my boyfriend who is Byzantine Catholic) suspect he is rebelling.

But! We have come to these conclusions after hours of philosophizing and talking and what not. 🙂 I did start off with taking them at their word: they were atheists. Period.

I like what has been said. Respect them, and make sure they respect you. And pray. And don’t tease if one them asks sincerely. He/she may be seeing God in you and may be curious. Sort of like a skittish kitty. Also respect the fact that they may just not believe and they refuse to change their minds.

All of that being said, we respect each others’ beliefs, or lack there of. And usually I just smile to myself and think of this saying I heard a long time ago:

“There are no atheists in foxholes.” 😃

In fact, I did tell this to one of the guys. The used-to-be Greek Orthodox one. He chuckled. 😉
 
“Preach the Gospel always, and only when necessary use words.”

People want to see an authentic life. People want to see someone who lives up to their morals and in the end is happier for having done it. My advice would be to love love and love some more. People eventually start to see the connection.

As atheists believe in no God, no afterlife then there really is no point to their generosity. I know someone is going to quote me saying “WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?!?! There are no nice atheists?!?!” So I’m going to get this over with right now. There are nice atheists. I have met and befriended many of them myself. But, my question to you is, who is the atheist equivalent of Mother Theresa? Atheists can be nice, they can love selflessly, but only to a point. I know many religious people have that point as well, but all of the people who don’t have "that point’ where they stop being selfless, are religious.

It will take a good deal of time for your own life to convince your friends that God makes you a better person and that it is possible to live a full, authentic life.

They do not cry “we hate you” they cry “don’t tell me, show me.”
 
BobCatholic said:
If they’re open to it, and the topic comes up, you can mention Aquinas’ 5 proofs of the existence of God.
aquinasonline.com/Topics/5ways.html

Or Peter Kreeft’s writings:
peterkreeft.com/featured-writing.htm
peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm
.
Click to expand...
I have just read aquinas’s 5 proofs and as a way for everyone to practice the subject I have to confess that I just don’t buy it.

First of all Aquinas limits his argument severely with several assumptions. The first is that infinite is impossible. In his first 3 proofs he proves God’s existence only by proving that the only other alternative is and infinite function. Functions can and often do progress to infinite in the world of math. Our number system goes from negative infinite to positive infinite, there is no beginning or end to that, and yet it obviously exists, as do every number in between. For the first argument whose to say the world hasn’t always been in motion since infinite and will continue to do so. I don’t see how anyone can prove that because they can’t prove that motion is an effect at all which would eliminate it’s need for a cause. That also answers the second argument. An object will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force, just like it will stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. If the universe has always been in existence it would take an outside for it to change to nonexistence, so if there is no outside force the existence of the universe depends entirely on its being since infinite.

As far as extremes are concerned that is one way to measure relatives. Another way is to measure them in relation to their opposite. One can say that something is more of the opposite of something else without there being an extreme. Again use a number line to prove that this is possible.

For life having an end that is a debatable assumption. People often refer to the circle of life (lion king), a circle has no beginning or end and does not need to be set in motion at all since it is achieving no end.

Aquinas had some good arguments, but he should have first proven his assumptions before basing his arguments on them. I personally think there is a God; God can explain existence in many more ways than and explanation without God therefore probability wise if you drew beliefs out of a hat, you are more likely to pick God. It’s also more romantic.

But you still can’t prove it.

(I have yet to read your other recommendations, but I want you to know that I am open to good arguments).
 
polishdude said:
So tell me how do you deal with atheists? I mean I have alot of atheist friends and I just feel like im the only true catholic teenager that I know.

How do ou deal with problems with atheists and other religions?
Click to expand...
Put it back on them, in love of course.
The next time they say how can God always exist and have no begining. Ask them this: If their is no God then that means the basic building blocks of all life, plant and animal, such as proteins and amino acids would have had to always exist. Where did they come from and how could they have never had a begining??? They couldn’t God had to create them. If we all came from a singeled celled organism why would it develope an eye? I talked to a man born blind and he said total blindness is nothingness. Try to see out the back of you head, what do you see? Darkness? No nothing. So if nothing as far as site existed why develope an eye? You wouldn’t! So they are the ones who need to explain. The Earth started out on fire and cooled. Scientist say all the water on this Earth came from astroids that contained water. Thats dumb! The bigest thing is to love and pray for them. Many hope their is no God, because they don’t want to be accountable of sin. God Bless and by the way one of my best friend is a Philosopher and atheist. I still Love Him in the Lord and believe one day he will come to know Jesus. Draw close to the Lord and he will guide your steps.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top