Give me your best come back to an Atheist!

[righteousdude2]

We all run into an atheist from time to time, and I'm sure many of you have some examples of what works and what doesn't work when witnessing with them.

The problem I have with atheists isn't that they won't listen, but it is the agressive, foul language attack that follows as they do their best to provoke you!

So, I'd like to know what is YOUR most effective come back, or opening to an atheist. You know, that thing you say that sort of puts a ebble in their shoe to make them feel uncomfortable enough to really listen?

​

Are they really hopeless causes, and NOT worth wasting your time on?

 

[salzer mtn]

Tell them there will be no atheist in the next life.

 

[SolaSaint]

Well Atheists don't really care about an afterlife. What I say is that it really takes more faith to be an Atheist that it does to be a Christian. Then I go the Cosmological route. To believe the entire Universe sprang out of nothing is absurd and it's much more logical to believe that there is a God that created.

 

[Jkdbuck76]

No, Sola! The elastic bands of this universe appeared in their own and in their own slapped into each other. Yes, this was actually on Discovery channel.

 

[Yeshua1]

We all run into an atheist from time to time, and I'm sure many of you have some examples of what works and what doesn't work when witnessing with them.

The problem I have with atheists isn't that they won't listen, but it is the agressive, foul language attack that follows as they do their best to provoke you!

So, I'd like to know what is YOUR most effective come back, or opening to an atheist. You know, that thing you say that sort of puts a ebble in their shoe to make them feel uncomfortable enough to really listen?

​

Are they really hopeless causes, and NOT worth wasting your time on?

Why do you get upset or angry with what I say to you, how can there be a true right/wrong if no absolute standard as God would be?

 

[blackbird]

I heard the late, great Dr. J Vernon McGee say when talking to an atheist----with his southern drawl, of course

FRIEND----SUPPOSE YOU ARE RIGHT AND I AM WRONG---THEN NEITHER ONE OF US HAVE LOST ANYTHING

BUT SUPPOSE I'M RIGHT AND YOU'RE WRONG---WHY, THEN, FRIEND---YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING!!:type::type::type:

 

[Deacon]

I've worked with an athiest every day at work for about 15 years; I consider him a good friend.

I also work with a Jewish cardiologist whom I've known since he was a lowly intern.

The three of us respectfully share our faiths frequently.

It frustrates my athiest friend (and amuses my Jewish boss) when I say that he has the strongest faith among the three of us.

Your opening post contains the key I've pressed for years.

I can't convince him with science or philosophy, he counters every argument.

But 'hope' is the one thing I have that he cannot claim.

I often fear that my continued witness - and his continued refusal to hear the good news - might bring him greater condemnation on judgement day.

But maybe someday his ears will hear what his heart needs.

Rob

 

[InTheLight]

I can't convince him with science or philosophy, he counters every argument.

But 'hope' is the one thing I have that he cannot claim.

Rob

This is good. ^ ^

Along those same lines you could say, "I know Christianity is true because it changed my life and millions of other people's lives as well," and then give your testimony. There is no counter argument against personal experience.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

We all run into an atheist from time to time, and I'm sure many of you have some examples of what works and what doesn't work when witnessing with them.

The problem I have with atheists isn't that they won't listen, but it is the agressive, foul language attack that follows as they do their best to provoke you!

The atheists I run into in real life could not be more different than the atheists who troll the internet.

Most of the time, the ones I meet in real life are pretty decent, but the ones online, I just gave up on and, when I take part in a thread with an atheist, I just remind myself that I'm posting for the benefit of the person lurking, and not for the atheist.

So, I'd like to know what is YOUR most effective come back, or opening to an atheist. You know, that thing you say that sort of puts a ebble in their shoe to make them feel uncomfortable enough to really listen?

Don't know if I have one just for atheists, but a couple of the things I always come back to with atheists are God as the source of objective morality vs their subjective morality in order to establish the reason for God's anger at sin, then I move into the law, asking them if they've kept the law.

If they say "Well, I don't believe in God, so that doesn't apply to me", I ask them, "Let's say you killed someone and were arrested and brought before the judge. You look the judge right in the eyes and say 'I don't recognize your authority!' Would the judge just say, 'Oh, well, in that case, I guess I have to let you go' or would he say, "Well, son, you may not recognize my authority, but I recognize the law and I'm remanding you over for trial"?

Are they really hopeless causes, and NOT worth wasting your time on?

Aren't we all?

 

[Iconoclast]

Depending on the conversation.....

establish the bible as God's word to man

point out the bible declares that the conscience is God given

go over and open up psalm 10 where it describes the inner thought of sinful atheistic man

describe mans sin breaking God's law and God's remedy the law keeping of Jesus and the cross..
make it clear it is a command, not one of many options....

If he persists....I will explain that God has not planned to save everyone, but has elected a multitude to be saved In Christ.

Then let him know that Jesus said that everyone given to Him.....will come.....by God given faith...

I leave him with no other hope than the blood of the cross.

 

[Yeshua1]

Depending on the conversation.....

establish the bible as God's word to man

point out the bible declares that the conscience is God given

go over and open up psalm 10 where it describes the inner thought of sinful atheistic man

describe mans sin breaking God's law and God's remedy the law keeping of Jesus and the cross..
make it clear it is a command, not one of many options....

If he persists....I will explain that God has not planned to save everyone, but has elected a multitude to be saved In Christ.

Then let him know that Jesus said that everyone given to Him.....will come.....by God given faith...

I leave him with no other hope than the blood of the cross.

Also good to ask tjem about jesus, presenting his claims to them, for not even athiests ;ike to be cornered into calling him a liar or deluded!

 

[Bro. Curtis]

I would ask them to explain how procreation evolved, and how the emotions involved came to be. How did we go from cell division to gestation ?

 

[quantumfaith]

For me it would depend upon the "nature" of their atheism. If they are intellectual skeptics I would reference three things

1. The Anthropic Principle
2. Pascal's Wager
3. Kalam cosmological argument.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

So, I'd like to know what is YOUR most effective come back, or opening to an atheist.

"Tell me about yourself. What do you do? How do you relax?"

It's called "friendship." You use it down the road when it is established.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

"Tell me about yourself. What do you do? How do you relax?"



It's called "friendship." You use it down the road when it is established.

I wish we got along in politics like we do in these discussions.

Brilliant answer. I have an atheist friend and that is the approach I take and he is kind and gracious in response

 

[quantumfaith]

"Tell me about yourself. What do you do? How do you relax?"

It's called "friendship." You use it down the road when it is established.

:applause::applause::applause:

 

[just-want-peace]

I wish we got along in politics like we do in these discussions.

Brilliant answer. I have an atheist friend and that is the approach I take and he is kind and gracious in response

Just hit me as I was reading this thread!!

IIRC, Jesus was ALWAYS cool, calm & collected when talking about eternity, salvation etc with everyone EXCEPT those who were supposed to already know the basics; IE Pharisees, Saducees , etc.

If so, there is a precedent here, depending with whom you are talking.

(After-thought) With this in mind, how would He talk to the bulk of today's "church members"??:tear:

 

[Deacon]

With this in mind, how would He talk to the bulk of today's "church members"??:tear:

Probably with grace and gentleness (Galatians 6:1-2).

Rob

 

[Winman]

My argument to an atheist goes like this, I ask them if it is true that all scientific observation supports the fact that life always comes from life.

Most people will agree that scientific observation always supports that life comes from life. If they object, I ask them if science has observed even one instance of life springing from non-life. Almost everyone will agree that science has never observed this.

You have to stress that true science is based on observation. Things that can be observed and tested. Folks will try to get away from this, don't let them.

I then ask them, if all life everywhere ceased to exist, would life ever appear again? Most folks reflect for a moment, and then answer NO.

I then remind them that we exist now and that we are very much alive, and then I ask them, Doesn't this prove there has ALWAYS been life? For if life ceased to exist, there would never be life again. But we are alive now, and this proves that life has ALWAYS existed. Isn't this so? Most folks will reflect a moment and say, YES.

Then I say, This is God.

Folks have told me that this is a very good argument.

 

[Gina B]

Are they really hopeless causes, and NOT worth wasting your time on?

Were you always a believer? I'm slightly confused here...