What do you say/do when someone is catholic and freely rejects it?

[meghanm90]

In my life, there are so many people that have opportunities you would not ever believe! They all go to a wonderful catholic school and are able to learn anything about their faith by asking the teachers who are spiritually in devoting every moment of their lives to God. They have learned how awesome Christ is and have seen the amazing effects prayer has had on our school and those in it.
(EX: A boy at our school went through a horrible seizure and ended up dying, but for the three days he was in the hospital in a coma, every single person-catholic or not-attended mass to pray for him! Though he did end up dying, it brought us all so much closer together through the embracement of our sufferings with Christ!)
You see, we have had the most wonderful experiences together, and more opportunities than most; yet quite a few of them decided they are atheist. What do you say to that person? What do you tell them when they freely and openly tell you that they do not believe in the God that resides in the center of their school?

Agape! olll

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In my life, there are so many people that have opportunities you would not ever believe! They all go to a wonderful catholic school and are able to learn anything about their faith by asking the teachers who are spiritually in devoting every moment of their lives to God. They have learned how awesome Christ is and have seen the amazing effects prayer has had on our school and those in it.
(EX: A boy at our school went through a horrible seizure and ended up dying, but for the three days he was in the hospital in a coma, every single person-catholic or not-attended mass to pray for him! Though he did end up dying, it brought us all so much closer together through the embracement of our sufferings with Christ!)
You see, we have had the most wonderful experiences together, and more opportunities than most; yet quite a few of them decided they are atheist. What do you say to that person? What do you tell them when they freely and openly tell you that they do not believe in the God that resides in the center of their school?

Agape! olll

What would I tell them?

Go find another school! If you are an atheist this is not the right school for you.

 

[Mirdath]

What would I tell them?

Go find another school! If you are an atheist this is not the right school for you.

Perhaps it’s not such a great concern now, given the current state of Catholic schooling, but even in the recent past parochial schools had a well-deserved reputation for providing excellent education to any and all comers, regardless of faith. Why are you trying to further tarnish that reputation?

Meghan: what do you talk about with your fellow Catholic students? It can’t be all Catholicism all the time. Why not try to make friends?

 

[Island_Oak]

What would I tell them?

Go find another school! If you are an atheist this is not the right school for you.

Guess I’d try something a little more welcoming. They might not come in the door Catholic, but they might leave that way if approached with the right attitude.

 

[AspiringDeacon]

Guess I’d try something a little more welcoming. They might not come in the door Catholic, but they might leave that way if approached with the right attitude.

I totally agree. I can’t think of anything else to do other than 1) Live a life of Christ as an example 2) Be as warm and as loving to them as possible 3) Pray for them.

I have a friend who is atheist and this has been my approach. They are closer now to for example reading a book about whether the Bible is historically accurate, or CS Lewis Mere Christianity, than ever before, but so far it’s been a 4 year journey.

We don’t convert people, the Holy Spirit does…

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Perhaps it’s not such a great concern now, given the current state of Catholic schooling, but even in the recent past parochial schools had a well-deserved reputation for providing excellent education to any and all comers, regardless of faith. Why are you trying to further tarnish that reputation?

Meghan: what do you talk about with your fellow Catholic students? It can’t be all Catholicism all the time. Why not try to make friends?

I would agree if they entered with a netural attitude, maybe even trying to understand the Catholic faith. One should expect to receive a good CATHOLIC education at a Catholic school. However as you said “given the current state of Catholic schooling…”

 

[Bubble]

If you’re talking high school students or younger it wouldn’t do much good to tell them to go find another school if they don’t believe in God. They’re probably there not by their own choice, but because their parents want them to be there.

My experience has been that you cannot convince a true athiest of God through reason or testimony. Faith is a gift. If they had faith and lost it through neglect, you cannot find it for them. If they never had it to begin with, you cannot give it to them. Like the others said, only the Holy Spirit can give them this grace.

Your friends are already receiving a Catholic education by experienced and supposedly trained adults. If their teachers and parents cannot convince them of the Truth from scripture and sound doctrine, you’re not going to fare much better.

I’m wondering how this is playout out for you and your athiest friends.

Are they developing a superior attitude as if believers are “blind” followers, while they–the athiests–are the “intellecutual and enlightened” ones?

Are you being riduculed for your faith.

Or, are they really struggling and searching for God, but are simply plagued with doubt?

This might affect how you must deal with them or not deal with them at all.

 

[Melo]

I would just pray for them and try to be a light for them. You can only lead by example and hope they find their way.

 

[mangy_dog]

What would I tell them?

Go find another school! If you are an atheist this is not the right school for you.

You know… they may just be teasing you, kidding you or trying to shock you and others about being atheists. Then again it could be that young, angry and rebellious stage thing. Somehow it feels to me that they are atheist from the mouth out and not necessarily atheists at heart. Surely having recieved a catholic education, they are quite smart and are familiar with opposition in terms - like an oxymoron. Don’t persue the issue anymore but do pray for them because if they are atheists (after all that catholic education) then they are also walking, talking oxymorons, denying the existence of the God that sustains them and the entire universe in existence. Pray…our job is to pray.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[kage_ar]

Some teens find it “cool” to be an athiest - when pressed, they do not have any reasons.

Ask them “WHY?” My guess is you will get non-answers like “I just don’t believe”, narrow the question, ask why they CHOOSE not to believe.

 

[Al_Masetti]

The next time a situation arises, say a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit asking for the right words.

I’ve done it and it’s amazing how the right words pop out of your mouth. Sometimes, though, there may not be any brilliant insights or words. So, I guess sometimes it’s better to say nothing.

But give it a try … a prayer to the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance. (And when the situation passes, say a quick prayer of thanksgiving.)