Atheism hits home
The largest growing religious demographic in the United States is those professing no religion. Not all of those are atheists or agnostics but they are an important part. Sooner or later you are going to meet someone who is an atheist. You may even know one now without realizing it. There used to be a time when it was socially unacceptable to be an atheist. Those days are quickly fleeting behind us. I know if you are reading this right now then you must be in pain. Do not despair. I was so closed to the truth that I would wait for my friend's lips to stop moving so I could know when to respond! And yet here I am. God will bring you through this. Consider what God wants you to learn through this experience.
This is not going to be politically correct but it is the truth. Theology matters and what church you go to makes a difference. Some churches have more atheists come out of them them others. If you are going to help your loved one then you are going to have to know your theology. You don't have to be a theologian but you should be able to defend all of your beliefs. If you were to ask your loved one to describe God you might be surprised at what you hear. You might even reply: "you're right! That god does not exist."
You do not have to enter into a debate to have a discussion with an atheist. You would be surprised at how much you could learn about exactly what they believe if you just give them a chance. Resist the temptation to refute every statement an atheist says. It is far more important to develop a relationship where both parties are comfortable discussing their views without getting emotional. It is not easy to do when it is someone you love who you are dealing with. Being prepared will help. You do not want to add the stress of trying to remember something when you are trying to explain why the trinity makes sense.
In the pages to come I will discuss what areas of theology are key to know. I will also talk about great questions to ask to develop good and healthy communication. The last part you will need to know about is what is traditionally treated in apologetics. I would urge you not to jump into this area without developing the relationship first. It is too easy to use knowledge as a weapon and come off sounding condescending.
This is not going to be politically correct but it is the truth. Theology matters and what church you go to makes a difference. Some churches have more atheists come out of them them others. If you are going to help your loved one then you are going to have to know your theology. You don't have to be a theologian but you should be able to defend all of your beliefs. If you were to ask your loved one to describe God you might be surprised at what you hear. You might even reply: "you're right! That god does not exist."
You do not have to enter into a debate to have a discussion with an atheist. You would be surprised at how much you could learn about exactly what they believe if you just give them a chance. Resist the temptation to refute every statement an atheist says. It is far more important to develop a relationship where both parties are comfortable discussing their views without getting emotional. It is not easy to do when it is someone you love who you are dealing with. Being prepared will help. You do not want to add the stress of trying to remember something when you are trying to explain why the trinity makes sense.
In the pages to come I will discuss what areas of theology are key to know. I will also talk about great questions to ask to develop good and healthy communication. The last part you will need to know about is what is traditionally treated in apologetics. I would urge you not to jump into this area without developing the relationship first. It is too easy to use knowledge as a weapon and come off sounding condescending.