Can a Believer Become an Unbeliever and Then a Believer Again

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Talking nigh Christianity with an atheist tin can be a hard feel. Some atheists are deeply opposed to religion, some find it uninteresting, and others respect it equally a different lifestyle. If you desire to talk almost faith with an atheist, it'southward of import to choose your words and deportment with care and compassion. While you may be unable to persuade them, it's possible that you could prove them a side of Christianity they've never experienced.

1. one

   Await at your reasoning. Why do you want to convert this person? Exist honest with yourself. How practise yous experience about atheists, and why do you feel that converting an atheist person would be a good thought? Practise you want to have a dialogue, or a one-sided chat in which they acknowledge y'all're right? Are you able to brand peace with it if they say no?

   • Are you wanting to be close to them? Endeavor non-religious means to hang out with the person, like taking walks, going to parks, or attention non-religious events such every bit concerts.
   • Are you lot worried virtually whether they're going to Heaven? Atheists can be practiced people who do things that God admires. Besides, their goodness is their ain business, and pestering them may drive them abroad from you.
   • Are yous wanting them to acknowledge that you lot are correct and they are incorrect? They probably won't, so don't waste material your time.
   • Are y'all looking for an open-ended discussion that may or may not result in conversion? This may go well. Ask if they're open up to it.

2. ii

   Consider whether your actions will have social consequences. Trying to push your religion onto somebody else may cause them not to similar yous, and may even impact your human relationship. Be mindful of how your behavior affects others, and seek open up-mindedness instead of pushiness.

   • Exist cautious about jeopardizing work relationships. Proselytizing at piece of work could get in the manner of a peaceful piece of work environment.
   • Inviting people to join you may sometimes be appropriate. Pestering rarely is. If they say no later on you invite them to a religious thing once or twice, stop asking.

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3. 3

   Approximate not. Atheists can still be good people who practice good things and reap the benefits of their goodness. Good values aren't exclusive to Christianity, or to any religion at all. Recognize that just like Christianity is a choice that makes yous happy, atheism may exist what makes them happy. Fixating on their lack of religion isn't helpful.

   • It would be logical for a caring, loving God to allow not-Christians into Heaven if they were kind people who did lots of skilful works.
   • Catholics may want to continue in mind that Pope Francis has said that atheists can go to sky if they accept a "proficient eye."^[1]

4. four

   Consider why the person is an atheist. Different atheists take unlike reasons why they aren't religious. Some are unsure about the conclusion, which means they might be open up to hearing your perspective, while others are certain nigh what they want and what they believe.

   • They think there'southward no logical reason to believe in God. These people are driven past logic, so disarming them to base decisions on faith is unlikely to piece of work.
   • They never understood the entreatment of religion. Sometimes, they'll be open to learning more, just other times, they won't experience like it's a adept time. Avoid rushing them.
   • They were hurt past the church, or see the church hurting others. People who encounter the church causing impairment (e.g., covering upwardly sexual abuse or bullying LGBT+ people) may question whether religious institutions are truly practiced.^[ii] Some people are open to finding churches that better comprehend expert values, while others leave religion for proficient. It depends on the person.
   • They are angry at God for allowing bad things to happen. This can happen afterward personal trauma. Sometimes, they return to faith afterward seeing the good in life, and other times, they break from religion forever. It is important to requite them time to process, without trying to push them.

5. 5

   Consider whether your arguments are rational or faith-based. Someone who has based their decisions purely on rationality is unlikely to be swayed by emotional reasoning.

   • Information technology's okay to make decisions based on emotion and faith. If you experience that Christianity gives your life spiritual meaning, emotional condolement, or a sense of community, then that is a good enough reason to be Christian! You are immune to choose to follow your heart. Just remember that other people become to follow their own hearts too.

6. half dozen

   Put yourself in your friend's shoes. Consider how y'all would respond, if someone were attempting to persuade y'all to turn down your conservancy in Christ. You would desire them to listen if you were to say "no" to them, and accept it if y'all didn't agree with them at the end. Speak to them the mode you'd want to exist spoken to.

   • Nobody wants to be judged. Speak from a place of dearest and friendship, not judgment. Continue your kindness unconditional, and make peace with their decisions.

7. 7

   Focus on living in peace with someone who is determined to be an atheist. This is their choice to make, and you should not waste your time trying to fight it. Instead, show them unconditional kindness and friendship, without trying to change them.

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1. 1

   Choose a skillful identify and time. The conversation should be 1-on-i, and it should be during a relaxed time when nobody needs to bustle to go somewhere else. It should happen in a individual or semi-private identify, like at home, at a coffee store, at a park, or during a walk around the neighborhood.

   • You lot don't want to make someone feel embarrassed, blindsided, or trapped. If they look awkward, driblet the idea.

2. 2

   Bring upwardly the subject area and ask if they're interested. This allows them to gracefully decline if they would prefer not to talk about it and gives them an opportunity to start expressing their thoughts and ideas if they are in the mood. Some people feel awkward or uncomfortable talking about organized religion, especially since religious discussion can issue in heated debates or hurt feelings.

   • For instance, you could say "I've been thinking a lot about religion lately, and I was wondering if yous feel similar talking about it."
   • Respond gracefully if they say no. Don't push. If they say no to you several different times, assume it means that they are very shy near religion and don't similar talking almost it, so information technology's all-time to stop asking.

3. 3

   Go along your heed and heart open up at all times. If the person feels ambushed or attacked, they'll shut down and have no interest in what you lot have to say. Thus, endeavor to keep an open and friendly tone, without pressure for them to deed a certain way. You want them to exist comfortable with you.

4. iv

   Know when it's best to leave information technology alone. Not every atheist is open up to existence converted, and it's of import to make peace with this. Don't whine, wheedle, or browbeat your fashion through a conversation that someone else doesn't desire to accept.

   • If someone says "I don't like talking nigh faith," then stop bringing up organized religion.
   • If you offering to talk well-nigh religion a few times, and they say no each fourth dimension, that pattern may hateful something. Terminate bringing it up, or inquire "I've noticed that you've declined each time I asked you about faith. Is information technology a topic yous're uncomfortable with?" And so stop if they say yes.

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1. i

   Tell your friend what your Christianity ways to you. Explain how religion has influenced your life, both for you lot as a person and for your relationships in the world effectually you. Proceed the conversation focused on the tools that following God's son gives you lot.^[3] Reasons you might like existence a Christian include...

   • You lot similar being part of a community centered on good values.
   • You appreciate the reminder to exist your best self.
   • Yous feel that religion helps you lot connect to a higher purpose.
   • You find that the concept of an afterlife comforting.

2. 2

   Don't attempt to fence about logic or the Bible. Believing in God is a fundamentally casuistic choice considering you lot are choosing to have faith in a power beyond what yous know. It's a jump of the heart. Information technology's best to acknowledge this and focus on the emotional power of faith.

   • Many Christians have very different relationships with the Bible, and you may be quite knowledgeable about Bible study and the history of the document. Conversely, many Christians emphasize a personal relationship with Christ as the fundamental aspect of their being blessed in Christ.
   • Some atheists pass up to believe in things they don't accept evidence for. Chalk it upwards to a difference in priorities, and concur to disagree.

3. 3

   Have time to truly listen to them and understand where they're coming from. Yous don't just want to lecture them. Inquire well-nigh their experiences, ideas, and opinions. Accept that they're coming from a different place than you lot are.

   • Don't make assumptions about how they feel near atheism. Not all atheists are "aroused" at God, lapsed believers, or are upset well-nigh their lack of belief. Listen to how they say they feel, and believe them.

4. 4

   Be kind. Avoid condemnations or threats of hellfire. This is likely to drive a person away from organized religion (and you). Share the best of Christianity instead of pushing negativity. Let them meet the proficient in religion.

5. 5

   Allow your friend enquire questions and limited their ain opinions. Your friend may exist curious nigh your behavior, specially if they weren't raised as a Christian. And if this person feels comfortable with you, this volition lead to questioning and challenging you. The less defensive you lot are, the more than reasonable you seem. Be comfortable in your faith in God and remain at-home. If y'all're having fun, the other person will, as well.

   • If your friend constantly wants to discuss Biblical fallacies, or "Can God make a mountain God tin can't motility?" types of questions, don't engage in fence. All y'all demand to say is "That's not possible to know, and I'm comfy with that. Information technology doesn't make me any less of a believer."

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1. ane

   Walk the walk. If you're going to talk a large game about how great your life as a Christian is, y'all've got to prove it with your actions. Demonstrate beloved with your own life. The Bible tells united states of america not to try and entice people with words, but to demonstrate the Spirit and power. Some atheists are atheists because of their often-justified perception that Christians are hypocritical. But you know they're non all that way. Prove it.

   • Don't limit your kindness to your prayers. Leave, help others, brand friends, and exist there for people who are having a hard time.

2. 2

   Invite your friend to come with you to church. The best mode to introduce atheists to your organized religion is by treating it like you would any social function. Emphasize the fellowship and the camaraderie, and invite them to a non-service function, like a dinner or a cookout.

   • If yous invite an atheist to a religious function, tell them that information technology is a religious function. Don't try to trick someone into attending past pretending that it is not.
   • Respect a "no." Not everyone is open to changing their minds virtually religion, so don't try to force things.

3. three

   Be patient. See if this person develops whatsoever interest in attending your identify of worship. You may extend an invitation to attend church building with you, but information technology would be all-time if your friend comes along due to their own curiosity, feeling comfy and in control. Don't push besides hard. The more your friend has to come to you, the more invested they'll be in the result.

   • Change must come from inside. You can't motivate someone to become Christian. They must desire it for themselves.

4. 4

   Recognize when to let get. Not every atheist can exist convinced to become a Christian. If a person is resistant to the thought, don't waste your time by pushing more than and more than. Instead, let it go. They volition come back to y'all (or some other Christian) if they alter their listen. Focus on means you can make a real divergence in other means.

5. 5

   Keep any prayers for your friend private. Like Jesus, pray with the door airtight. If you tell an unhappy atheist that you will pray for them, they may feel insulted, because of the unsaid implication that you are praying for them to change their minds. If God chooses to answer your prayer, it will happen whether the atheist knows virtually it or non.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do I terminate Christians from trying to convert me, and learn to stay out of my business?

  

  •Don't initiate discussion on religion with them. •Politely explicate them that you are non interested in converting to Christianity. •Ignore them.

• Question

  Why are atheists then mean?

  

  Don't generalize. Just considering some atheists were mean to yous doesn't hateful all of them are hateful. Perchance you were trying to strength your beliefs on them, something which no one appreciates. Most people are not interested in existence converted. Instead of actively trying to catechumen people, attempt simply existence a good person. You'll get a much better response.

• Question

  Is Atheism a belief system?

  

  Disbelief is better divers as a lack of belief. Virtually atheists choose not to believe in something they have no prove for, and the choice is logical more than than emotional. All atheists are different, and they don't necessarily share beliefs beyond "I don't recall God is real."

• Question

  How practice I help my friend stop being angry whenever someone mentions Christianity?

  

  Ask yourself whether information technology'due south just Christianity being mentioned that triggers her anger, or whether it's unconstitutional encroachments of religion into laws, schools, and government or attempts to convert that friend.

• Question

  Why do parents raise their children equally their conventionalities? Wouldn't they want what's best for them?

  

  Parents often remember that their own behavior are what's best for their kid. Unfortunately, information technology is harmful to force behavior upon others, specially through threats, accusations, shaming, and other punishment. Parents want their values and culture to live on in their children.

• Question

  My Christian daughter is marrying an atheist. How can I mentally handle this?

  

  Remember that your girl is choosing a spouse that is right for her, and that it is not well-nigh you. Beingness an atheist doesn't make your daughter's spouse a bad person, so focus on his proficient qualities.

• Question

  Why does it offend me when someone tries to brand me a Christian?

  

  Because you have the correct to have your own beliefs, which people should respect, and it's irritating when someone tries to force their beliefs on you.

• Question

  I am in a relationship with a non-believer. I really desire to reach out to him, what do I do?

  

  Timothy Bryan Keen

  Community Answer

  If yous are in a relationship, you should never try to change your partner's beliefs, nor their lack thereof. Information technology is essential to exist patient and sympathize that not everything tin and will change virtually a person, and that trying to practice then could prove detrimental to the force of the relationship. He might even leave if you're too pushy. I would suggest embracing the things you love about him, and not domicile on what he won't believe in.

• Question

  How do I keep my self from beating him whenever he says there is no god? I just feel like I want to punch him in the mentum.

  

  Peradventure you should try to see from his perspective and educate yourself in an atheist's lack of belief. Or you could just avoid that person.

• Question

  How do I convert a not-believer?

  

  Don't. Let that person believe as they wish, and that person should show you the basic respect of doing the aforementioned.

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• For some people, Atheism is a belief. For others, atheism is not a belief; information technology is a doubt. This is important to understand when discussing Christ. If, for a particular person, it is a doubtfulness, instead of trying to convert them from one conventionalities to another, think of information technology as trying to provide evidence for a belief. Nowadays your evidence, heed openly to their responses, and accept their pick. The rest is up to God.

• Never trick someone. Never lie. When inviting an atheist to a Christian role, brand sure they know exactly how overtly religious the outcome is. Is it just a social role, a church service, or is it a Bible reading?

• These things have time and patience. Don't try to rush your friend, no affair how much you want to.

• Listen carefully to the concerns and reservations of the unbeliever. Try to understand his or her stated reasons for not assertive, then address each of those concerns directly. Emphasize verifiable truth over unverifiable dogma, and piece of work together to find what is actually true, with honesty and integrity. If you bear witness an openness to understanding your friend's beliefs and opinions, you'll earn respect.

• To convert someone, tell him or her to consider accepting absolutes like "proficient" and "evil." Your friend may have atheism, doubts, and questions, and and so it may accept months or years of kindness to convince them.

• The post-obit are about communicating Christian beliefs that may aid in dealing with atheists students:

  • Assist! I'yard a Student Leader by Doug Fields -- with suggestions, ideas, beliefs and examples plus notes that have been written by actual students at the end of each chapter that were made while developing the volume... Publisher: Zondervan, ISBN: 0310259614.
  • Max Q past Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall -- the title refers to the greatest stress on a spacecraft at a critical point of acceleration in its launch, with stress of gravity and the atmosphere. Here information technology about dealing with life'due south stress similar temptations and behavior while accelerating in God's will, following Christ. Publisher: Howard Books, ISBN-x: 1582291780. There is also a companion volume available: Max Q Student Journal with questions and suggestions for journalism.

• Some Atheists will never be Christians. Imagine how you would feel if your friend was trying to catechumen you lot to another faith.

• Cocky examine your own faith and the reasons for it.

• Heed very carefully to what an Atheist says to you. If y'all observe they have a valid argument don't immediately reject information technology.

• Let your friend empathize what your religion means to yous and and so ask them what information technology means to them.

• If the atheist is uninterested in or does not want to go a Christian, let them be. Nagging them will end up being annoying them, and it's okay for people to have different beliefs.

• Don't bring upwards the subject of a sudden. Try to connect it to your conversation in a natural affair; if your friend wants to drop it then driblet information technology.

• Continue in listen that Atheists often perceive Christians as beingness unintelligent or misinformed. Set up for their arguments past learning as much as you lot can nearly the issues they are likely to bring up, and avoid taking offense if they are disrespectful.

• Don't talk to people like you lot're a salesman, making them targets for a sales pitch. Treat them like actual people.

• Disbelief is a rational subject, you may find that some people will never believe in Christianity.

• If all else appears to have failed do not lose heart! If the person(s) yous are reaching out to in faith elect to remain Atheist, retrieve that, according to all denominations of the Christian organized religion, everything that happens on this Globe happens according to God's will. Accordingly, it may be God's volition that the person remain an Atheist (at least for now). Too, yous may wish to consider whether or not the purpose of your meeting and give-and-take religion with them was, in fact, part of God's programme for you instead of them.

• Consider that your atheist friend may exist concerned about you for participating in an illogical, unscientific and outdated system of explaining the world and morality.

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• Don't make an effort to engage on atheism each and every time you get together. Information technology becomes wearying for both of you lot, and your friend volition begin to avoid you lot because people don't like to exist treated every bit "Godless sinners", being targeted.

• It is very likely your friend will non convert. Most atheists accept a solid view of what they believe, and while nigh are open to discussion, the gamble of ane converting is more than unlikely.

• Be warned that when approaching the subject area of faith with atheists (peculiarly with an eye to conversion) that many atheists you are likely to encounter were brought upwardly in or effectually the Christian organized religion. Many in one case believed, honestly and wholeheartedly, were actively involved with their church and held every bit truthful all aspects of the faith. In time these ex-Christians, through personal reasons came to a place where they did not hold the beliefs anymore and turned away from them. Frequently they had questions in their religious life and beliefs and went seeking answers, some in discussions with their priest, pastor, peers, and some studied the Bible, studied philosophy, religious history, comparative organized religion, and science. You may believe you are bringing them a fresh and bight message of good news, one they are unaware of, but they may have a greater academic noesis of their ideas of their subjects than you do of yours. Such questioning leads to them to dismissing their organized religion. Some have a background non just of a Christian faith but also take information about a big number of other religions, philosophies, history and science. Also, if they have lived information technology, they know what information technology was like to exist a believer in church building, and had experienced the light and dearest of God. Many openly admit they miss the clarity and community/cultural aspect of church and Christianity, but believe that to feign a conventionalities simply to re-gain that, would be hypocrisy for them. And, every bit atheists, they discover information technology hard to pretend. So be careful, and recollect more than than twice earlier attempting to convert your atheist friend. Talking with your friend on the subject of God and religion just might open up questions yous tin can't readily answer, and might crusade confusion or incertitude.

• Insisting that someone discuss or worship in a religion is not effective. No matter what your organized religion, ane should be fully persuaded, but not exist treated every bit "unacceptable". Remember it'south upward to each person to decide, "but how can anyone believe, except after hearing, and if someone is sent". Jesus said: Peace (don't worry); as the Father has sent me, fifty-fifty so, "I send you". (John 20:21).

• Showtime and foremost, recognize again that there is a skilful adventure you will fail to convert the atheist in question. If you do fail, don't be disheartened! Y'all may either keep trying, or accept this person's behavior and remain friends (or relatives). Try non to lose a friend y'all value over whether or non they believe in a God.

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