How to answer this question properly?

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Nelka

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Atheists always say that I go to church because I went to church as a child. I was brought up that way and continued.

Whereas they don’t go to church and never did as a child so why should they now?

It must be hard for someone growing up in a home with atheist parents to convert to Catholicism but when I state that I believe in God so I go to church they reply that it is due to my upbringing.

They (some) seem to think that if they went to church as a child then they would probably still go now.
 
Nelka said:
Atheists always say that I go to church because I went to church as a child. I was brought up that way and continued.

Whereas they don’t go to church and never did as a child so why should they now?

It must be hard for someone growing up in a home with atheist parents to convert to Catholicism but when I state that I believe in God so I go to church they reply that it is due to my upbringing.

They (some) seem to think that if they went to church as a child then they would probably still go now.
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Many who were brought up in the Church left and never returned. I left when I was young, and was agnostic or atheist for all impractical purposes until I came to believe on my own at some point later-as a result of seeking truth in my case. Later yet I came back to the CC.
 
They’re partly right. Faith is a gift usually given to us by our parents, or someone dear to us. So to answer them, you might say simply that faith is a gift, and one for which you are extremely grateful.

If they feel compelled to minimize your faith by explaining it in simple terms, don’t let that bother you. They’re probably hoping to see you bothered. Not letting them see you shaken by their lack of faith may be just what they need to spark their own inner yearning for God.
 
I’ve had that said to me too. I usually reply yes, thank God my mum introduced me to Catholicism 🙂
 
Tell them they only believe in gravity because they were told it existed in school.
 
Faith is a gift from God, it is the revelation of himself to us, however that may happen.

It could be through our parents, or through strangers. It could be through nature or some place in Scripture, but it happens when we are open to God.

If we are closed to God, His revelation is more difficult and God never forces himself on us.

But if we are open to the truth, he will bring himself to us.

Religion, is our response to the faith we have received.

But to the answer of the OP question, don’t worry about what atheist say. They are living in their poverty, while you’re in the richness of faith given to you from God Almighty.

Jim
 
Mark 4, 1-20

“Listen carefully to this. A farmer went out sowing. Some of what he sowed landed on the footpath, where the birds came along and ate it… Those on the path are the ones to whom, as soon as they hear the word, satan comes to carry off what was sown in them. …”

What amazes me the most as regards agnostics (atheist afraid to admit it) and atheists are the sheer lack of their numbers - less than 1% of the entire population of the world - and somehow they can overlook the “well maybe we are missing something, and the 99% may have a point” position. Even granted that the 99%'rs all do not agree on what or whom is “GOD”, they all agree that there is something bigger, wiser, more powerful than they.

Living by example and giving them “by name” to the HOLY SPIRIT in prayer. They are beyond the reason of humanity, their pride has blocked the light of TRUTH and satan is eating their sown seed as fast as it given to them. We are still their only hope, but only in our surrender of them to the HOLY SPIRIT in prayer.
 
You can say that many people convert from other religions and atheism at some point in life. You could easily find the numbers of converts to CC for England and UK for the last few years and give that as proof. I’ve used this as a response in similar situations and non-Catholics (especially atheists) are always very surprised by the figures.

I was raised in a secular environment and converted as a teenager. People often assume I was raised Catholic and are surprised when I tell them I’m a convert. They can’t really argue with that and then look for another explanation for religious faith 🙂
 
Nelka said:
Atheists always say that I go to church because I went to church as a child. I was brought up that way and continued.

Whereas they don’t go to church and never did as a child so why should they now?
Click to expand...
It is very difficult to convince someone to go to church when they have never been raised in a home where faith exists. I suppose the best thing may be not trying to convince them at all but try to show them who Jesus is and why he came so save us from sin. Talk to them about the wrong that both you and they have done and how it affected you both. Explain that sin is something we all face because God has written his law on our heart. We sin when we do things that go against that law written on our hearts and it is offensive to God personally and it must be wiped away by God because we can not wipe it away ourselves. This is why Jesus came into the world; to wipe away those sins and their affects ant to bring us into a real relationship God. Then try to explain why church is important to you and why you go to receive Jesus and receive the grace that he gives to strengthen you against the sins in your life that you struggle with and where his grace has been effective in your own life.

It must be hard for someone growing up in a home with atheist parents to convert to Catholicism but when I state that I believe in God so I go to church they reply that it is due to my upbringing.

They (some) seem to think that if they went to church as a child then they would probably still go now.
 
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