Anyone who had good experiences with atheists?

[johnnyjw01]

Hello brothers. Last time in service I found an atheists and it's hard for me to persuade them in order to believe in God and in the Bible. Does anyone here have good experiences with atheists? 

[ijsvogel]

In our country more than 50% is atheist. And beside those atheists quite a lot of people believe in "there could be something out there". For both groups I liked the tips in this article: https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-july-2019/reaching-hearts-nonreligious-people/

 

 

Sometimes I use Heb. 3:4 ("Of course, every house is constructed by someone, but the one who constructed all things is God."). When the householder says he/she doesn't believe in God, I just ask their opinion about 'a statement written some 2000 years ago' . I try to avoid the word Bible. Most of the times I add something like "when I should say your home exists by coincidence, what would you say?  There was an Architect, wasn't there? What about those beautiful flowers in your garden? Do they have a Designer? What do you think? 

 

I noticed that a lot of atheists don't believe in God because of all the suffering in the world. If God exists He would have done something, they reason. You could ask that, by saying something like: in this work we meet atheists who tell us they don't believe in God anymore because of.... And then add: is that for you too the reason? 

[Ahuvah]

Don't persuade them using the bible - at least initially - it puts their back up - use reasoning based on Creation - help them see it is design rather than chance ... also use quotes from the bible but change terms - Like an ancient poet wrote: .... then ask if they think it's logical or something similar.

 

I am in the middle of an experience with my little Atheist ... he's coming to some meetings (albeit because he said he's lonely and wants company - only reason for coming) but he's taking it in and comments on interesting points. Time will tell. He's been my biggest challenge to date- and not solely because of his Atheist beliefs. 

 

He reckons he's dying because of his habits so he has real reasons to change - and quickly.

I've even come to his home - and he bore long cuts down each side of neck/chest. So lots more to this hidden gem to just Atheism. I'm hoping Jehovah is indeed drawing him - he deserves a better life.

[New World Explorer]

From my ministry I have learned following:

Not every Atheist is the same (humans are complicated)

 

1. Some choose to be one, in order to do what they want without any accountability to God (scientific/creation reasoning do not work well with those, but we shouldn't give up)

2.Hardcore Atheist, who strongly believes in evolution ( Logical arguments can produce results)

3. Some university graduates who claim to be A, but know little about evolution or never went too deep to the root of their stand (they just accepted naively what they were thought) ... 1 of those accepted the truth (Korean girl) in our congregation.

4. Implicit atheist (lower case atheism) is a person who has not yet learned about god(s), theism or religion.

5. Gnostic atheists are those who are sure that no gods exist of any type. They have examined the philosophical arguments against god, and conclude that it is a self-contradictory or impossible concept.

6. Agnostic atheists are those who do not think that god(s) exist, but, who do not think it is possible to completely disprove their possibility. Many of these simply haven't given much thought to it, and are unconvinced by the arguments they have heard so far that god(s) exist

7.Weak atheists are agnostic atheists. They lack belief in gods, but don't think it is sensible to say that gods definitely can't exist.

8. Religious atheists belong to a religion that has no belief in creator gods (many forms of Buddhism), or, are atheist members of a religion that has no defined belief (for example... Scientology).

 

Freethinkers (people who form their opinions about the universe without the undue influence of religious authority)

 

[Old]

12 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

From my ministry I have learned following:

Not every Atheist is the same (humans are complicated)

 

1. Some choose to be one, in order to do what they want without any accountability to God (scientific/creation reasoning do not work well with those, but we shouldn't give up)

2.Hardcore Atheist, who strongly believes in evolution ( Logical arguments can produce results)

3. Some university graduates who claim to be A, but know little about evolution or never went too deep to the root of their stand (they just accepted naively what they were thought) ... 1 of those accepted the truth (Korean girl) in our congregation.

4. Implicit atheist (lower case atheism) is a person who has not yet learned about god(s), theism or religion.

5. Gnostic atheists are those who are sure that no gods exist of any type. They have examined the philosophical arguments against god, and conclude that it is a self-contradictory or impossible concept.

6. Agnostic atheists are those who do not think that god(s) exist, but, who do not think it is possible to completely disprove their possibility. Many of these simply haven't given much thought to it, and are unconvinced by the arguments they have heard so far that god(s) exist

7.Weak atheists are agnostic atheists. They lack belief in gods, but don't think it is sensible to say that gods definitely can't exist.

8. Religious atheists belong to a religion that has no belief in creator gods (many forms of Buddhism), or, are atheist members of a religion that has no defined belief (for example... Scientology).

 

Freethinkers (people who form their opinions about the universe without the undue influence of religious authority)

 

10.  Dyslexic agnostic one who doesn believe there really was a Dog. 

[Memeber212]

So you believe that God exists and he believes that God does not exist

I usually say this:

Let's assume for sake of this reasoning that God does not exist. So, taking into consideration all the physics you are basically saying that there was nothing and that nothing exploded and all the matter came to existence? So, what is/was the source of that initial energy that caused the explosion? It is quite unusual that all that energy and matter appeared out of nothing and yet we cannot even understand the size of the universe. That is against all the physics laws we know.

 

This kind of reasoning usually makes them thinking. Then, depending on how the conversation develops you need to shift the argumentation on them, they should defend their position because in that way they will find loopholes in their thinking.

[johnnyjw01]

Thanks brothers. This guy says "If God existed, why wouldn't he put this consciousness is our hearts? Why do we have to seek Him? 

How would you answer? 

Edited November 18, 2019 by johnnyjw01

[blueyellow]

For about an year I studied the old book Evolution/Creation with a Greek student. 

[Friends just call me Ross]

 

Having a spiritual need is hard-wired into each and every one of us humans.

Some just choose to disconnect the wiring, so they become unconscious to it.

 

Some are conscious of it and Jesus pronounces them happy.

Quote

PRINCIPLE: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.”—Matthew 5:3.
HOW THE PRINCIPLE CONTRIBUTES TO A MEANINGFUL LIFE: Jesus indicated that humans have an innate spiritual need. We long to know the answers to such questions as these: Why are we here? Why is there so much suffering on this earth? Does God really care about us? Is there life after death? We need to know the answers to such questions in order to have a meaningful life. Jesus knew that there is only one reliable source that can answer those questions—God’s Word. In prayer to his Father, Jesus said: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) Can God’s Word really help us to satisfy our spiritual need?
REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE: As the lead singer of a popular band, Esa was well on his way toward becoming a rock star. Even so, Esa felt that something was missing. “Although I enjoyed being in the band, I longed for more meaning in my life,” he says. In time, however, Esa came in contact with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. “I bombarded him with questions,” Esa admits. “His logical, Scriptural answers intrigued me, so I agreed to have him study the Bible with me.” What Esa learned from his study of the Bible touched his heart and moved him to dedicate his life to Jehovah. “In the past, I constantly drifted in and out of problems and crises,” he says. “Now I have a real purpose in life.”
 

Quote

SPIRITUAL NEED
(See also Spiritual Food; Spiritual Health; Spirituality)
common and unique to mankind: g 12/08 5-6; w05 7/15 3-4; w03 7/15 7; g02 4/22 3; g02 6/8 6
“conscious of” (Mt 5:3): it-1 279; w13 4/1 6; nwt 1719; w09 2/15 6; g 11/08 9; w04 9/1 5; w04 11/1 8-9; w01 10/15 20-21; w00 3/1 29-30
factor in accepting truth: w94 8/15 17-18
evidence in books being published: g99 6/22 28
evidence of Creator: ct 71-72
Jesus’ example in providing for: cf 164-165, 167
parental responsibility to provide for: w10 2/15 29; w98 7/15 6; g97 8/8 11; w88 9/1 30
provisions for, not to exclude physical needs: w86 10/15 10-21
responsibility to provide for aged parents: w97 9/1 6-7
satisfying one’s: g 2/14 9; w10 11/1 8; pc 21; g 12/09 12-13; g 12/08 6; w05 7/1 4-7; w04 2/1 4-7; w00 7/15 5-6; km 6/90 7-8
failure of false religion: pc 5-8
happiness from: w13 4/1 6; w11 7/1 8; w10 8/1 16; w09 2/15 6; w07 11/15 6-7; g 4/06 3-4; w04 9/1 5; w04 11/1 8-9; w01 3/1 4-5; w93 6/1 20; w87 11/15 6
principle behind Sabbath day: w06 6/15 21-22
 

 

[Bob]

I have had good experiences with the atheists I've talked to. One told me that he used to be Catholic and he left because it didn't make sense to him. I asked him why, and he didn't want to comment further. So instead of talking about God to him, I offered him our magazines and here's what worked. This is how it went:

 

"Sir, these are not designed to change you mind".

"Thank you" he replied

"But they have practical things in there even engineers like yourself can use".

"I appreciate that. I'll take them".

 

The key is not to talk about God immediately. I think they'll just roll their eyes. Sincere non-believers do want to know what can help them practically. I've made progress going that route.

Edited November 21, 2019 by Bob

[Norbro]

On 11/18/2019 at 8:10 PM, johnnyjw01 said:

Thanks brothers. This guy says "If God existed, why wouldn't he put this consciousness is our hearts? Why do we have to seek Him? 

How would you answer? 

I was an atheist from my mid-teens until my late twenties, until a year of Bible study convinced me of the Truth. Actually I think I saw it was the Truth after just six months, but accepting I had been wrong all my independently thinking life was an extremely tough pill to swallow. Not least because I had tried to make an objective assessment before. I was about 15 when I came to the conclusion that there can be no almighty God considering all the suffering in the world.

 

To me it was pointless to study subjects like God's traits or anything else without a link to what I considered to be historical facts. This is why I studied the book on Daniel's prophecy. It was quite overwhelming to see how prophecies are confirmed by "acceptable" sources such as encyclopedias, and how well-reasoned the explanations of apparent contradictions were.

 

The more you make statements which are confirmed by non-JW sources, the more likely it is that my kind of atheist will listen. I had the perfect Bible study because even though I constantly awaited attempts at skipping logic or insinuating something negative about my way of life, the brother just kept answering all my questions with a very open and humble attitude. It impressed me the lengths he went to in order to dig up information relevant to my queries.

 

In the end I felt like I had no choice but to change (it would have been insufferable to ignore what I had learnt), and became an unpublished baptiser. The next convention I got baptised. 🙂

[Norbro]

I meant to edit my post and put this at the top, but it seems I can't as it is pending approval. To answer the question about how to reply:

 

On 11/18/2019 at 8:10 PM, johnnyjw01 said:

Thanks brothers. This guy says "If God existed, why wouldn't he put this consciousness is our hearts? Why do we have to seek Him? 

How would you answer? 

 

Maybe the analogy of the director of an organisation can be useful. He wants to be acknowledged as the one in charge. But of course there is much more to it. He has done so much for us because he loves us. The analogy of a loving father is even more on point. He wants us to come to him out of love.

 

[johnnyjw01]

12 hours ago, Norbro said:

I was an atheist from my mid-teens until my late twenties, until a year of Bible study convinced me of the Truth. Actually I think I saw it was the Truth after just six months, but accepting I had been wrong all my independently thinking life was an extremely tough pill to swallow. Not least because I had tried to make an objective assessment before. I was about 15 when I came to the conclusion that there can be no almighty God considering all the suffering in the world.

 

To me it was pointless to study subjects like God's traits or anything else without a link to what I considered to be historical facts. This is why I studied the book on Daniel's prophecy. It was quite overwhelming to see how prophecies are confirmed by "acceptable" sources such as encyclopedias, and how well-reasoned the explanations of apparent contradictions were.

 

The more you make statements which are confirmed by non-JW sources, the more likely it is that my kind of atheist will listen. I had the perfect Bible study because even though I constantly awaited attempts at skipping logic or insinuating something negative about my way of life, the brother just kept answering all my questions with a very open and humble attitude. It impressed me the lengths he went to in order to dig up information relevant to my queries.

 

In the end I felt like I had no choice but to change (it would have been insufferable to ignore what I had learnt), and became an unpublished baptiser. The next convention I got baptised. 🙂

Very encouraging, thanks for your experience.