Monicks: Unleashed

Tag: Christianity

  • How to Persuade an Atheist to Become Christian

    I wish they tried to convert me, I wonder if after a few attempts they would keep categorizing this task as “easy.”

    I found it funny, don’t you?

    ~

    By an eHow Contributor

    If you want to persuade an atheist to open up and listen to your Christian beliefs, you need to arm yourself with evidence, examples and a good testimony of what you led you to the Christian faith to begin with. Atheists often remain steadfast in the denial of a supreme being because they expect concrete proof that God truly exists. While no one can gather that type of evidence, you can use other resources to help convince them of your faith.

    Difficulty: Easy

    Instructions

    1. Focus on the emotional conversion to Christianity. Atheists tend to focus on the rational things of life, things they can test and touch. You cannot test and touch emotion, but you certainly can feel it. Try relating to the atheist on this emotional level by recounting the story of how you found Christ and why you decided to turn to Christianity. Retelling your story of the emotional journey you took to get to the level of faith you have now may peak the interest of an atheist.
    2. Ask the atheist what they believe caused the universe to be formed. Explain that a universe so complex and vast simply cannot come from nothing; a supreme being, often called in arguments an intelligent designer, must exist. Acknowledge that the existence of a supreme being does not necessarily negate the existence of scientifically proven data, such as evolution. In fact, science and religion can work hand in hand if one is willing to listen. An atheist need not give up his knowledge of science and the origins of the Earth to accept that a supreme being exists.
    3. Raise the question of morality with the atheist. Inquire of him where he feels he got his moral values and sense of right and wrong. Argue that morals are something many are innately born with. While our Creator has given us free will, he has also provided us with a sense of right and wrong and the choice to do right or wrong. Most of us experience that inner feeling of guilt and shame we get when we do something wrong. Acknowledge that the society and type of home our parents choose to raise us in greatly affects our moral values as functioning adults but it is difficult to deny the innate awareness we have of what is right and what is wrong.
    4. Present the stories of the Bible to the atheist and show Jesus Christ’s words in the New Testament of forgiveness and love. An atheist may think of the Bible as little more than a storybook but show the atheist your strong belief and faith in the Bible as the true word of God anyway. Persuade the atheist to come with you to a non-denominational church service that is open and informative so he can learn more.

    Tips & Warnings

    • Don’t present the evidence for your case in a threatening or accusatory way. Telling an atheist he may reside in hell one day for rejecting Christianity won’t persuade him at all to your beliefs. In fact, he may reject them completely. Explain your faith in a gentle and non-threatening way that shows him you truly care about his soul and not that you’re passing judgment or just trying to win an argument.
    via ehow.com

  • Dave Allen on Religion

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxo81Ok9Urk]

    Comedian Dave Allen remembers his introduction to religion – his first day of school!

  • Atheists can be ethical: Anglican archbishop

    Amanda O’Brien
    From: The Australian
    July 31, 2010 12:00AM

    PERTH Anglican Archbishop Roger Herft has clashed with his Catholic counterpart over Julia Gillard’s atheism.

    He warned it was “unhelpful and untrue” to suggest the Christian faith had a monopoly on moral integrity.

    The Anglican leader cautioned against making simplistic assessments of religious beliefs in an election context and said Ms Gillard had assured the electorate she would respect people with religious convictions.

    “Any statement which portrays the Christian faith as having some type of exclusivity to be the sole arbiter on matters of moral integrity and just policy-making are unhelpful and untrue,” Archbishop Herft told The Weekend Australian.

    “Christians need to remind themselves that those who do not profess the Christian faith are still capable of adopting an ethical and moral framework which assists in public policy decision-making for the common good.”

    The comments follow controversial statements this week by Perth Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey, who suggested Ms Gillard’s atheism could cost her votes.

    The Catholic Church leader said he was not telling people not to vote for Ms Gillard, but some would wonder what the future held under an atheist and it might influence their votes.

    “Many Christians are concerned that someone who does not believe in God may not endorse the Christian traditions of respect for human life, for the sanctity of marriage and the independence of churches, church schools and church social welfare agencies,” Archbishop Hickey said. But Archbishop Herft — who believes election campaigns have become so vicious they may tarnish the nation’s soul — said believers and non-believers alike should be embraced by the church.

    He said politicians were influenced by a range of factors, both religious and secular, when making cabinet and parliamentary decisions, but they were drawn to the job out of a desire to serve the common good.

    “It is interesting that in the context of an election, those who profess a certain faith and, indeed, those who do not, have their beliefs assessed very simplistically as either a positive or negative influence based on the whim of the day or the policy area to which it is being applied,” he said.

    via theaustralian.com.au