Help me out with my cousin

[rocklobster]

I was chatting with my cousin and discovered, to my sadness, that she has declared herself an atheist. Here’s the real puzzle: She still reads the Bible. How can someone read the Bible and still ignore God’s word? I’m suspecting she’s heard all the negative stuff that has been spread around (yes, I know there is truth to it) and that may be why she’s become an atheist.
She’s also a Marxist. I’m positive that influenced her as well.
So how can I counter this. She’s always had a problem with the whole “if God is Love, why do good people suffer” (she hates the book of Job and thinks a god of love wouldn’t let Satan ruin Job’s life.)

 

[Joe_5859]

I was chatting with my cousin and discovered, to my sadness, that she has declared herself an atheist. Here’s the real puzzle: She still reads the Bible. How can someone read the Bible and still ignore God’s word? I’m suspecting she’s heard all the negative stuff that has been spread around (yes, I know there is truth to it) and that may be why she’s become an atheist.
She’s also a Marxist. I’m positive that influenced her as well.
So how can I counter this. She’s always had a problem with the whole “if God is Love, why do good people suffer” (she hates the book of Job and thinks a god of love wouldn’t let Satan ruin Job’s life.)

I guess she missed how the book of Job ends:

“Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones.”

• Job 42:12

I don’t really know of a succinct, surefire way to change the mind of a self-proclaimed atheist. Usually, it takes a bit of digging to find out what a person’s real problems are with the Church. Trying to answer a skeptic’s accusations without locating the true source of their skepticism is akin to fighting the proverbial windmills.

If her main problem is the “Why do bad things happen to good people?” dilemma, I would recommend reading Lewis’ The Problem of Pain and Kreeft’s Making Sense Out of Suffering. Kreeft has an excerpt from his book on his official website. This would at least help you to better answer her questions on this topic. Of course, if this isn’t her real problem with the Church, no answer may satisfy her.

 

[Hereswith]

I think a lot of people - particularly young people - confuse the words “aetheist” and “agnostic”. If your cousin is still reading the Bible, she may be agnostic, more accurately. Either way, I don’t see why anyone can’t read the Bible, regardless of their political/theological stance. You should be happy she is still reading it!

There are a lot of great books out there about suffering and God. You’ll probably find some here at the bookstore (see the “shop” link above). A good start for your cousin might be Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Faith” .

But she is on her own journey. You can remain an example to her of Christian living. But you can’t force her to process her own ideas on spirituality according to your timetable and agenda. She will do that in God’s time. Just pray for her.

 

[adv1sor]

I guess she missed how the book of Job ends:

“Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones.”

• Job 42:12.

Yeah, but he didn’t give him back his family. Not this side of heaven anyway. The message I get from Job is that God is God and man is only man.

You can help your cousin by being a positive influence in her life and praying for her daily. Inviting her to attend Mass with you and honestly answering any questions she may have, (even if the answer is that you do not know the answer!).

Don’t nag her. Don’t try to offer facts to prove the existence of God. Just let her see you living a Godly life every day or as often as possible. Let her see you offering grace before and after each meal. Let her see you going to Confession and Mass.

And remember to pray for her. I’ll pray for her as well.

 

[Hiskid1973]

But she is on her own journey. You can remain an example to her of Christian living. But you can’t force her to process her own ideas on spirituality according to your timetable and agenda. She will do that in God’s time. Just pray for her.

Good stuff…Just keep loving her and living Jesus…The Holy Spirit keeps working…

 

[beeliner]

You didn’t mention her age - if she is young, that might fall in the category of ‘going through a phase’.

I once thought of myself as an agnostic (while still a practicing Catholic), that mindset didn’t last long.

One thing is certain, God loves her and will give her the grace and the faith that she needs, at the same time allowing her to choose to accept or reject it.

 

[LARSCOUT0311]

Sounds like she needs encouragement. As if she hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility but is doubting. I know there is alot of negativity swirling about during these times, but show her the positive by setting a good example and offering her support. Take her under your wing but don’t force it on her.