What should I say to contradict this malicious statement?

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Ashton1

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I’m a Catholic and I’m sad for the tragedy taken place in Sutherland Springs church and stroke back when an atheist tried to satirize the dead. However, “according to your religion, you shouldn’t be sad because they have been with your lord in the heaven” said ironically by him. What should I say to contradict him?
 
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It’s a reasonable point. If you truly believe people are in heaven, why be sad? I don’t think your friend was being satiric. I think he was pointing to a common lack of alignment between belief, intellect and emotion.
 
Hello FiveLinden and many thanks for your reply. I never question that the victims are in the heaven with our Lord now. But they are killed by a shooter in such a tragic disaster. The atheist I mentioned isn’t my friend but a person often satirize Christians on the Internet, and this time he satirize the victims killed in that shooting by saying “why don’t you Christians be grateful to your lord for taking them to the heaven”. Please trust me that he wasn’t trying to remind me something spiritual but satirizing me to let other atheists think that Christians are absurd and cruel.
 
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Because they’re not with us now. The victims’ friends and family won’t be able to share moments with them, the plans they had, events they were looking forward to. Strangers should have sympathy or empathy for those directly affected. Humans are social creatures.

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
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Ashton1 said:
What should I say to contradict him?
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It is cruel of him to use this tragedy to try to score points for atheism. The best response might be not to engage him at the level of intellect and logic – no need to directly contradict him – but rather respond in terms of empathy and emotion. We are sad because the church-goers suffered greatly, both physically and emotionally. Even an atheist understands that.

To that you could add that our sadness is offset, though not totally erased, by the hope that they will leave their pain and grief behind and be filled with love when they are in the glorious presence of God, which is Heaven.
 
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Hello ATraveller and many thanks for your reply and disabusing me! I feel much better now.
 
I’m sorry this atheistic person took that tone. Do you want to contradict the statement because it’s so nasty, or because you hope you will educate them? I have a feeling they might want to start an argument and will refuse to listen. I think no matter the background of victims of a tragedy like this, it’s more the human and earthly effects that everybody could talk about. Nobody would rejoice in untimely death, I mean, come on! Who does this person think they’re kidding. I hope you do not let them distress you. On reflection, that person sounds a little envious of people who have faith.
 
Hello RandomAlias and many thanks for your reply and disabusing me! I will try to answer him with this point.
 
Hello LOR and many thanks for your reply and consolation. I was really angry because he tried to show Christians are absurd by using the statement that “Christians will be grateful to their lord for taking them to the heaven” to show other viewers. It’s really cruel. Now I’ll try to display vigour.
 
Hello JamalChristophr and many thanks for your reply. I will try to be in a more calm mood next time.
 
Hello Ashton1. I forgot to say that it is very good of you to want to respond to the atheist. These discussions can be very discouraging. I wouldn’t be good at it at all.
 
Hello LOR. I just felt really indignant with the unashamed words of that atheist. I think although he has some biases on Christians it’s really absurd and cruel that he explained it with the shooting event as his evidence.
 
JamalChristophr said:
Engaging some people is a complete waste of time.
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Indeed, Ashton1, feel free to give it a try, but don’t be surprised if your response doesn’t seem to change their minds. It might give them something to think about, but they probably won’t admit it online.

If they continue to mock your faith, just get out of the conversation. Slip out silently, or just say some kind of respectful and short goodbye.

Then, offline, pray that the Holy Spirit may help them to find faith, and pray that your own faith, hope, and love may increase. This I pray too, for them and for you (and for me).
 
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Ashton1 said:
I’m a Catholic and I’m sad for the tragedy taken place in Sutherland Springs church and stroke back when an atheist tried to satirize the dead. However, “according to your religion, you shouldn’t be sad because they have been with your lord in the heaven” said ironically by him. What should I say to contradict him?
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Hi.

The atheist misunderstood.

There are basically two things here: (1) Grieving for the loved ones departed and, (2) Christian belief of an afterlife eternal.

They are not the same.

The first, feeling sad for a loved one departed is normal. It would be abnormal not to feel sad as the deceased would be certainly missed. Even Jesus cried when his good friend lazarus died.

In the Sutherland Springs case, it should be even more, as the killing was cruel and should not happen. It is insane to be happy about it, Christian or not.

Number two, we believe that we will have eternal life in heaven if we have lived our lives well on earth according to our belief and teaching of the Church. For that we look forward for the day when we will meet the Lord, not that we seek death because actually God want us to live the earthly life, but when the time comes for us to die, we will not be defeated by it. In that sense, yes, we are grateful for God’s salvation as everyone will has to die when their time comes.

So they are two things actually.
 
Just tell him the truth. We’re not sad that they’ve gone to be with the Lord, we’re sad that their families and friends were bereaved of loved ones in such an abrupt and tragic and frightening and unexpected way. We are also sad that these folks had to experience fright or pain at a time when they should have been able to feel safe, and that they did not have a chance to live out their lives to a natural ending.
 
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Don’t try to teach a goat to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the goat.
 
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