How to Persuade an Atheist to Become Christian

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How to Persuade an Atheist to Become Christian[1] is a WikiHow page aiming to help Christians with their witnessing technique. It is quite long, but is helpfully broken into steps, covering preparations and discussions and the usual talking points. However, it actually does have some interesting points, it doesn't suggest the usual Ray Comfort style guilt-trip. Like all wiki articles it has been prone wandalism where people have inserted asides to say where it does talk out of its arse.

"You may be concerned for the salvation of a friend, or you may want to assert the truth of your beliefs. For whatever reason though, if you want to convince an atheist to become a Christian, you probably have a tough job ahead of you. Here are some tips for how to proceed."

Well, damn right Skippy! The odds are that if someone is explicitly an atheist, they've probably become so through conscious choice, usually by de-conversion from religion. The ubiquity of religion often means it's considered a "default" status and plenty of people just carry on as their parents chose. So chances are, that if you're trying to convert an atheist you'll be trying to bring them back into something they've chosen to give up and not believe in. Alternatively the atheist in question might have never had religion or ever been exposed to it; so they're likely to have a completely unbiased opinion of all religions equally. So in that case, good luck converting them to a specific religion! Most of this sort of thing tends to be framed atheists as closed minded, but it's actually their open mindedness about all religions that would be the biggest barrier to converting them to Christianity.

Contents

[edit] Steps

[edit] Know your own reasons for doing this

Are you trying to convert them because their atheism makes you uncomfortable with your own faith, or makes you angry? Well, first consider how important your religion is to you.  

[edit] Imagine exactly how they feel about their beliefs

They hold them as settled and true to them, so pressuring towards conversion is an act of disrespect, not a gift. You cannot force belief in God on anyone. If they are interested in talking about the Gospel, then do. However, don't take every opportunity to inject your beliefs in detail. It becomes quickly annoying and counterproductive, but if you realize these things -- continue with the next step.  

[edit] Show genuine interest

If your only interest is in converting them, you are not likely to get a warm audience. If you are going to convince them of anything one on one, you have to first take a genuine interest in that person's point of view. If you find yourself pushing to talk more than patiently listening, this is probably not the case.  

[edit] Pray to God in private

Christians believe that it is up to God, ultimately, to convince people to follow him (John 6:44, 16:13). The Bible also says that a Christian is supposed to "pray in the closet" (Matthew 6:5-6). This means that you're not supposed to pray in public to impress someone. If God is going to answer your prayer and convince the atheist, then he would do so whether the atheist hears it or not. Most atheists have been prayed at by many people. They tend to find it extremely annoying and presumptuous. In fact, ending a failed attempt to conversion with: "I will pray for you," is often seen as an ugly attempt to get a last dig in--to use your God as an insult. That only hurts your goals.  

[edit] Do your homework

If you are a Christian, and you believe that the Bible is the direct word of God, then certainly you have read most of the Bible, especially the Gospels, right? If not, you may find the person you are trying to convert is better versed in the Bible than you. Remember that atheists live in a world that is mostly religious. They've had to defend their beliefs much more than a Christian who lives in a mostly Christian society would. So, they're generally good at it. In that vein, whatever you do, do not accuse them of "obviously not willing to learn" if they opt to not listen to you. It might be that they know many philosophical arguments on religion.  

[edit] Understand their arguments

If you're going to present an argument for your beliefs, skim over what atheists have said about such arguments in the past. This may show interest and respect for the other person's thoughts and time. You might try resources like the About.com atheism FAQ or Positive Atheism, but don't take it too literally; it's an entirely different "world view", perspective.  

[edit] Research how atheists experience conversion

What arguments have they heard (and dismissed), what tactics have been used before (and failed)?  

[edit] Show by conduct how Christianity has impacted your own life in a positive way

Remember: "People don't light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone."(Matthew 5:15-16). But quoting the Bible at every possible opportunity may be a bit much, yet saying "I thank God for... (something that goes your way)" should be fine. However, explain that:
  • "All good things come from God" because some atheists will wonder why God bothers to bless you (with a parking space), help your football team win or set a twenty-dollar bill in your path when people starve to death every day--be realistic of how that seems to them! Also, the atheist will generally not just accept that "God did X" just because you say so. The atheist has a naturalistic view of the world, and generally may come up with answers other than: "God did it.", although you believe God can and does control your daily pathway, and such things.
  • "You and I are the hands of God, and He expects us to give water, other help and good things to those in need."
  • It may also be useful to tell your friend about people you've met at church; when listing their good qualities, include that they are "religious" as a very far side note. Their religious fervor is not going to impress the atheist.
 

[edit] Be honest if your Christianity is mocked

Give respect to the atheist, but also insist on respect for yourself. Discussion need not turn to angry, harsh argument or put downs. Don't accept something said in a mean spirit without letting the person know how it makes you feel. However, realize that while you deserve respect, your ideas should stand on their own merit. So, don't be thin skinned when your beliefs are challenged. Also, what you might think is mocking you, may have a serious point that can be explicitly addressed. Don't just assume that the mocking is out of a mean spirited motive. Before reacting, make sure you understand the point made and keep a "cool" (compassionate) attitude.  

[edit] Avoid the standard dismissive response

"Well, they are not true Christians," when asked about prominent or pervasive offenders (often committed by politicians, evangelists, preachers, etc.) within the faith. This is called a fallacy of ambiguity, often referred to as the "No True Scotsman" fallacy and it will be broken apart within seconds of you uttering it. And avoid making excuses for such people, because often these people are responsible for discriminating against the rest of society (often to an atheist's own loved ones) for what they have done themselves. Never defend hypocrisy. Never pretend it doesn't exist in your faith.  

[edit] Be ready to have your own faith challenged

You might get confronted with well formulated arguments. Many atheist who are interested in Christianity might be able to explain evolution, the big bang or other scientific theories in an easily understandable way. They might refer to solid scientific evidence and examples who support these theories. Before starting a discussion, these things must be understood. On youtube you can find many videos that explain these subjects very well, or you can read the wikipedia articles that provide all the most important arguments and evidence in detail.  

[edit] Discussions

[edit] In the discussions, you need to find out why this particular atheist may feel that way

Has your friend always felt that there is no [caring] creator? Or, has something happened in their life or have the experience the hypocrisy of some religious leaders or in historical events such as disgust with the Crusades and Inquisitions? Whatever is the reason, you need to get the core of it, reach their core beliefs, heart of any problem. But whatever you do, do not ask "Did God make you mad, is that why you don't believe?" because it's a nonsensical question. You don't disbelieve your neighbor exists if he makes you mad. Most often, atheists don't believe because of rational reasoning and not emotional trauma, so don't bring up emotional trauma or be prepared to lose credibility.  

[edit] An atheist will want definite evidence, not just a rehearsal of your faith

You'll have to provide concrete facts and scientifically thought out arguments, although do not focus on those too much; our beliefs based on faith, Christian love and joy of worship (all immaterial things), are not evidence to the unbeliever. In fact, a reliance on faith may be evidence to the atheist that you aren't relying on facts.
  • He that comes looking for God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him early, not as game -- for without faith it is impossible to please God... (Hebrews 11:6)
 

[edit] Discuss that human brains work with faith...

Discuss that human brains work with faith opinion, religious/spiritual issues, feelings, emotions, frames of reference, history, tradition, church and the Bible, and many other things than just intellectual/theoretical logic. If you do not know much about how the brain works, then avoid trying to be the answer guy/"expert." Atheists may be versed in their facts and opinions in such scientific areas. When things go beyond your capability to define it, then having faith in something larger than natural processes can bring you peace, but not for those who disagree. Maybe it's not the answer, but peace in itself is a huge reward, a great return for even a bit of faith. However, don't assume that the atheist hasn't found his own kind of peace in science, etc. -- perhaps as great as that of some Christians. Don't be arrogant in assuming that your peace can not to be compared to theirs.  

[edit] Make a never ending list:

inspiration, intuition, dread, hope, fear, faith, industriousness, procrastination, calmness, anxiety, anger, ambition, initiative, enthusiasm, boredom, fatigue, illness, health,... family, friendship, trust, honesty...
  • To know "everything" is impossible but being a functioning human and striving further to "know" more... Priceless! Discuss how the support of the church can help in one's life. Discuss the good that your church has done recently, but don't assume that the church is the only source of good works. Often, the atheist is already involved in charitable works that are non-sectarian.

Before you try to argue against scientific theories, such as evolution and the "Big Bang," learn more about them and not just from religious view points. Atheists may tend to be versed in their ideas of sciences, and may be put off by your bringing up what they may call stale, old arguments. *Also, don't be confused by the so called scientific use of the word "theory" with the common use. In science, a theory is not a conjecture at all, but is the result of exhaustively tested hypotheses, gathered test data, and the rigorous scrutiny from science peers. A theory is a well tested, well documented part of the "scientific method". It is nowhere near what we call "opinion" such as gravity is a theory and not merely an opinion. When people use the word "theory" in the common sense, really they mean "hypothesis".

  • Realize that human theories are not evidence whether God exists or not. Atheists are put off by logical arguments of the form, "In my view X did not just happen, and you can not logically say that various theories of science demonstrate that God does not exist." This includes arguments that require the person to accept your beliefs of how life came about, of how "ideal" the Earth is, or how the Big Bang happened. They have already decided. The fact that we don't know everything about the origins of life does not demonstrate to the "unbeliever" that God did it. Again, not listening to their views on "science" may cause the atheist to shut down to anything else you might say.

Discuss how self-awareness, self-development and personality all point to highly organized and purposeful traits -- not randomness in our mental processes.

 

[edit] Point out that science is a wonderful thing

Note: This section is massive, so has been mostly cut for this.
Point out that science is a wonderful thing, but discuss "natural" processes like the ones called entropy (definition: disorder in a system, which resolves to equilibrium--like dust settles) and chaos (definition: inherent unpredictability) are not thought of as building anything.  

[edit] Talk about many billions, not millions, of years

Talk about many billions, not millions, of years of natural processes from a big bang possibly proceeding through time to a tidal pond -- or some "incubator" near volcanic vents -- producing "primordial soup" (in nature's primitive junkyard), or "rock garden" could create or produce a "rubble-soup" of what: Minerals, ore, sand, dust, water, alkaline and acid, etc. But, if nature could not create wire or a crystal diode (forget the storm in a junkyard producing a computer or any precision mechanical device), nor create knowledge (without intelligence present) -- then how/what does pure-logic say that "any or all" of those primitive natural processes or materials plus, static electricity, entropy and chaos can create simple life (not) and bring previously lifeless matter to amazing abilities in millions, billions, trillions or quadrillions of years from that primordial mineral soup (mother nature's "primitive" rock-garden, tidal pond, or ocean vent "soup")? "Simple-life (not)" means there is no such thing as simple life with multiple thousands, millions, billions of genetic and epi-genetic "creations" -- from primitive natural origins -- without a mother cell or organism. However, this is all just incredulous pondering, so be prepared for this not to work, either.  

[edit] Talk about the existence of anything at all and especially reproductive life:

how it's here or why it's here... But be prepared to discuss the previous topics above, which will explain it.  

[edit] Express the amazing interdependency of systems within even simple life to allow it to live

  • Talk about the thousands of "precisely" balanced and regulated bio-chemical and electrical systems in the body. But evolution explains this, so again, be prepared.
  • How could chaos create precision, perfect sight, hearing, unfathomable depths of nerves and multiple intelligences plus gender, various amazing species (lightening bugs, electric eels, blind bats with sonar, worms and starfish that can regrow body parts...), racial and familial characteristics? But then "chaos" is being personified here, and actually it was all a matter of evolution over the eons. Be prepared.
 

[edit] Talk about how precisely designed the earth is

Be prepared though, that "designed" necessitates allowing for a "designer", the very one you're trying to convince them of. It probably won't work.
  • Talk about the numerous instances of well-documented miracles, citing examples, talking about Saints from recent times. Although, what we call "miracles" are actually not impossible feats, just highly improbable, not impossible at all. And these "miracles" happen with such rarity that they can be reasonably explained that even with the rarest of odds, those rare odds do occur. Someone always wins the lottery, "despite the odds".
 

[edit] Counter their evidence

Their evidence is sometimes from atheistic scientists who portray their results in ways specifically conceived to disprove the existence of God, so use research from Christian scientists to rebuff their arguments. Though you will find many Christian scientists agree with their science.
  • Do not use obviously false evidence (e.g. irreducible complexity). These concepts are already disproven and any atheist who is interested in honest discussions knows them and can debunk them in seconds.
 

[edit] Use logic

Remember that some aspects of God and his existence cannot be explained logically just as they will sometimes try to, but can not explain the origin of life (yes, they can: abiogenesis). Their doctrines of secularism (which is an untrue stereotype, admittedly, since there is really isn't a written doctrine) may prompt the atheist to dismiss God, but remind anyone that, as Creator and the all knowing and on an altogether higher plane of understanding than man, that he is not bound by nature or man's concepts of theories of time, space and cosmology so that the totality of time and space is God's lab -- and He can control and does grasp all of that at once, being all and in all, all powerful...  

[edit] Know your stuff, it will help

Know your stuff, it will help, if you are ready to give an answer of why you believe that nature does not explain the existence of even the very simple reproductive living cell. They can not explain how the so "called" the simple cell came to be (again, yes, they can: abiogenesis). But you cannot either but can try, ie: tell them about the God, who is not so mysterious as natural existence from a big bang without a plan or a purpose.
  • God would (already) know whatever there is to know about time warps, time, black holes, black matter, anti-matter, parallel universes if they were to exist. There is no mystery to the creator of this laboratory (the universe or multi-universes) that He made, spoke into existence and uses as His field of interest. Although, to the scientifically oriented atheist, the fact that something isn't explained (yet!) by science is no reason to fill in the gaps with God, and that doing so only discourages pursuing research.
 

[edit] Explain that there is no simple cell

Note: Section has been cut for length.
It has many dependencies, not just thousands but actually millions and billions of genetic processes including the very basic system of genes that pass instructions for self-manufacture of life by that specific form of life -- and perhaps, epigenetic tags that act in an approximately stepwise process by which genetic information is thought to be translated into the substance and behavior of that specific organism.  

[edit] Think also of the "RNA-messengers"...

Think also of the "RNA-messengers", specific "DNA-plans" (genetics) for one particular kind of living cell. So how could that have just spontaneously bubbled up in a "tidal-pool" or "deep oceanic, volcanic hot-water-vent" -- or wherever they may say.  

[edit] Show the evidence of the illogic of how millions/billions/trillions of genes just happened

Show the evidence of the illogic of how millions/billions/trillions of genes just happened, merely existed and got together here or there, and got going without a mother cell, no prior life, just springing from sterile volcanic dusts of whatever kinds, watery soup of acids, alkaline-base, resultant salts, oceanic chemicals, static electricity,... some would tell you that reproductive life bubbled to life by chaos, natural replicating and entropic processes, plus the processes similar of erosion and settling dust; so sprang life from hydrogen which made helium, and then all the elements, ie: from stardust that just happens to follow very orderly laws of physics that just found a way to make life in a conducive environment like earth. Really that's not simple simple, and there is no simple genetics, and no simple living cell at all.  

[edit] Footnotes

  1. The article itself
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