How to get along with atheists?

[Gauntlet]

Can a person be an atheist strictly out of intellectual reasons rather than because they don't want God to exist?

Meet Richard Dawkins.

[Izdaari]

Jesus agrees!

Arrogance, hypocrisy, and insincerity are how Christians embarrass themselves without realizing it. Some enemies of the faith have claimed that Christianity is synonymous with hypocrisy. And what am I supposed to say against that? It is only partially untrue.

As a representative of Christ, how am I supposed to depend Christian Pharisees from their secular opponents when they don't deserve to be defended?

Christ is one thing, but the Christian Establishment is quite another. I aim to be more of a Christ-Follower than a Christian. The word itself, "Christian" has too much hatred & negativity attached to it.

I'm another who prefers the term "Christ-follower" over "Christian", and for the same reasons. It's also a much better conversation starter.

Typical reactions:

"I'm a Christian".
"Oh, one of those."

"I'm a Christ-follower".
"What do you mean by that?"

[Sherry W]

Meet Richard Dawkins.

I've heard the name, but which type of atheist is he?

[Gauntlet]

I've heard the name, but which type of atheist is he?

The Snooty Anal Renentive British type.

[Athanasius]

I've heard the name, but which type of atheist is he?

The Snooty Anal Renentive British type.

To give you an appropriate answer, Richard Dawkins is a very famous British biologist and author (The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, etc.) who considers himself to be a "bright", not an atheist. He started the Four Horsemen of which consist Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett. He is a very intelligent, if not misguided in his opinions on God.

[apothanein kerdos]

How do you get along with an atheist? Here are some rules:

1) Treat them like they're in the image of God

2) Act like a Christian

3) Have a genuine concern for them

4) Stand for truth above all else and do not compromise

5) If they aren't interested in being friendly or learning what you have to say, do your best to be stern, but polite and continue to stand for truth.

Funny thing - that's how we're supposed to handle all nonbelievers.

[John146]

If somebody quoted the Koran and tried to convince you of its truth, would that work on you?

No, that won't work on anyone because it lacks the power of the true Word of God. I hope you are not suggesting that we shouldn't use scripture itself to convince people of its truth? That is exactly what Paul did.

Acts 17
1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

[RabbiKnife]

How do you get along with an atheist? Here are some rules:

1) Treat them like they're in the image of God

2) Act like a Christian

3) Have a genuine concern for them

4) Stand for truth above all else and do not compromise

5) If they aren't interested in being friendly or learning what you have to say, do your best to be stern, but polite and continue to stand for truth.

Funny thing - that's how we're supposed to handle all nonbelievers.

In my experience, I find that inviting the out for pizza is a good thing to do as well.

[Philemon9]

No, that won't work on anyone because it lacks the power of the true Word of God. I hope you are not suggesting that we shouldn't use scripture itself to convince people of its truth? That is exactly what Paul did.

No I'm definitely not saying that. My point was around what to say to atheists in general. Quoting scripture is rarely the route to take right off the bat, because they view what you're saying the same way a Christian would view the Koran. I believe you have to first establish why God must exist before progressing on to scripture.

[apothanein kerdos]

In my experience, I find that inviting the out for pizza is a good thing to do as well.

Agreed, but that is really a manifestation of 1-3.

I think of a professor I know at a secular university who refuses to debate them in class. He invites them out to dinner in a group and goes about it that way.

[Esperanza32]

No, that won't work on anyone because it lacks the power of the true Word of God. I hope you are not suggesting that we shouldn't use scripture itself to convince people of its truth? That is exactly what Paul did.

Acts 17
1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

In that instance, Paul was speaking to Jews, who already believed in God and the scriptures.

In Acts 17:22-31, Paul tells the (non-Jewish, philosophical) men of Athens about salvation using a minimum of scripture quotation. He quotes their own poets, and talks about their own statue "to an unknown god". Paul knew how to meet people where they were, and tell them about Jesus in language and context that they would understand.

I'm not at all discounting the value of scripture. But it's often not the place to start when talking to nonbelievers. You have to meet people where they are, and every person is different.

[John146]

In that instance, Paul was speaking to Jews, who already believed in God and the scriptures.

In Acts 17:22-31, Paul tells the (non-Jewish, philosophical) men of Athens about salvation using a minimum of scripture quotation. He quotes their own poets, and talks about their own statue "to an unknown god". Paul knew how to meet people where they were, and tell them about Jesus in language and context that they would understand.

I'm not at all discounting the value of scripture. But it's often not the place to start when talking to nonbelievers. You have to meet people where they are, and every person is different.

I agree. It certainly depends on the person and their background as far as what the best approach to take with them might be. Eventually, though, you have to convince them of the truth of scripture with scripture itself, whether it's right off the bat or down the line. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17).

[John146]

No I'm definitely not saying that. My point was around what to say to atheists in general. Quoting scripture is rarely the route to take right off the bat, because they view what you're saying the same way a Christian would view the Koran. I believe you have to first establish why God must exist before progressing on to scripture.

I agree. Thanks for the clarification.