a good friend of mine believes she is losing her faith. she is Presbyterian (i think). if not, at least christian. anyway, i would like to help her in some way to regain her faith in god. it's very important to her, but i'm not too sure what to do. one major problem here: i'm in no way, shape, or form religious. we both know i lost my faith a long time ago. any ideas?

Introduce her to the teachings of the Buddha.

Tell me about her lifestyle.

She needs to see a preist or whatever leaders that religion has. Or scare her into it.

How about leaving her figure out what she believes on her own, man? That would be the best thing to do.



[This message has been edited by Adrenochrome (edited 04-21-2006).]

Tell her to be strong. Also tell her that she doesn't need god to live her life happly.

P.S. Don't forget to mention to her that god doesn't exist.

quote:Originally posted by ohhi:

P.S. Don't forget to mention to her that god doesn't exist.

yeah... thats just dandy. i gladly would, but i dont want her to hate me. and yes, i had thought of that option. and i would leave her to it, but i inexplicably cannot.

Sit down with her and find the cause of her belief, then slowly refute the bible. Ask people on here for some tips?

How about not pushing her in one direction or another, making sure no one else is trying to push her in a certain direction, and leaving her alone to figure it out for herself?

Yes, I’ve posted this once before, but I think it’s the best thing to do.

hmm... probably gonna go with lack of input then. sadly, it wont do much good. there are about 5 other people involved in this, pushing her back into things. but, hey, thanks for the help guys.

You gotta stop them from pushing her, man. It’s wrong.

She has to be left alone to make her own decision, not forced into things.

If you can’t stop them from trying to push her in one direction, then you have to balance things out by showing her the other direction. If that makes sense to you...

yeah, it does. its none too easy to stop some, when they are in essence, bible thumpers. there's a low chance of my athiest input. she (and has vocalized this) wants to believe in full again. but, i'll try.

Her wanting to believe implies that she knows it’s nonsense. Ask her why she is trying to force herself to believe in something that she doesn’t believe in.

easier said than done. the relationship i hold with her holds much weight in what i will argue. i really dont want to jeopardize it. i will ask, albeit with some reluctance.

quote:Originally posted by RogueEagle91:

easier said than done. the relationship i hold with her holds much weight in what i will argue. i really dont want to jeopardize it. i will ask, albeit with some reluctance.

Fixing faith in people is a job for God. I'm afraid you will not do much good to try and pursuade her unless you lead her to it by your own faith in God.

How can a someone sell cars if they really don't care about cars? I doubt you can re-kindle an interest in God if you are not interested yourself. Fix yourself first~

quote:Originally posted by Interest:

Fixing faith in people is a job for God. I'm afraid you will not do much good to try and pursuade her unless you lead her to it by your own faith in God.

How can a someone sell cars if they really don't care about cars? I doubt you can re-kindle an interest in God if you are not interested yourself. Fix yourself first~

hey, thanks for the advice. however, i can survive without god in my life. and, if you had read the other posts, i'm not going to advocate god to her either.

quote:Originally posted by Interest:

Fix yourself first~

Ah shit, ease up on the self-righteousness will ya? God, you're turning out like digi. You're like the only christian on here I respect for your honesty in debates. Meh.

See, the thing is, we may not believe in God, but there is nothing wrong with us. Conversely, there is nothing wrong with you. Different strokes mate. We just like to make sure you don't let faulty religious views fiddle with anything else, like science or law. Figuratively, get off our nuts.

Refutations and attacks on a person's belief system often will only make them cling tighter to it, simply to prove to themselves that they weren't living a lie for the longes while.

Go to some church services with her. Laugh at the pastor. The sermon. The old farts in the pews. Point out how boring it is. Introduce her to the finer joys of life. Sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll. Let her have fun. Let her compare the two. It shan't be difficult for her to decide which she prefers.

quote:Originally posted by IanBoyd3:

Ah shit, ease up on the self-righteousness will ya? God, you're turning out like digi. You're like the only christian on here I respect for your honesty in debates. Meh.

See, the thing is, we may not believe in God, but there is nothing wrong with us. Conversely, there is nothing wrong with you. Different strokes mate. We just like to make sure you don't let faulty religious views fiddle with anything else, like science or law. Figuratively, get off our nuts.

The point was, don't push someone to do something you aren't willing to do yourself. How can you possible expect someone to go somewhere you aren't willing to go yourself?

It has nothing to do with being self-righteous. It was just a bit of advice. He is headed for some problems if he tells someone to fix themself when he does not believe in the need to do the same.

If, I teach someone that being drunk all the time is bad But, if I am drunk all the time then you'll do nothing but call me a hypocrite. I hope you see that in the message I left for him.





[This message has been edited by Interest (edited 04-23-2006).]

You don’t actually read the threads, do you, interest?

quote:Originally posted by Adrenochrome:

You don’t actually read the threads, do you, interest?

This is obviously a lead-in question so I'll bite.

What do you mean?

quote:Originally posted by Interest:

This is obviously a lead-in question so I'll bite.

What do you mean?



Re-read this entire thread, and think carefully for a very long time. Then you’ll know what I mean. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Adrenochrome:

Originally posted by Interest:

This is obviously a lead-in question so I'll bite.

What do you mean?



Re-read this entire thread, and think carefully for a very long time. Then you’ll know what I mean. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

ok..you'll need to spell it out for me then...I answered the question directly with my .02 for what it's worth...

What did I miss?

quote:Originally posted by RogueEagle91:

a good friend of mine believes she is losing her faith. she is Presbyterian (i think). if not, at least christian. anyway, i would like to help her in some way to regain her faith in god. it's very important to her, but i'm not too sure what to do. one major problem here: i'm in no way, shape, or form religious. we both know i lost my faith a long time ago. any ideas?



You can't. Faith is a choice. Everything you do is a choice. Have you ever heard someone say, "I choose not to believe that, and it's my choice." Well, it's the truth. You choose what you do and don't believe, but regardless of what you decide, it doesn't change the Truth. If she wants to believe, she'll REFUSE to doubt. Doubt your doubt.

God loves you.

-Shelly

Added: Ya know, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Or Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, (and receiving it because YOU have to CHOOSE). As a Christian, I do doubt my doubt, and when the ENEMY comes at me with CRAP, I pull out the Word of God, and began to say, "I am what the Bible says I am, I can do what the bible says I can do."

If the enemy comes at me with "IF" "WHAT IF" Like he came at Eve in the garden, (God didn't say that did He?), or like he came at Jesus on The Mount of Olives, "IF YOU BE THE SON OF GOD...), do by the example Christ left for the Church to do.. "IT IS WRITTEN." Find out what's written. Satan knows the bible. He will come at you with scripture taken out of context, that's why you rightly divide the Word of God, that's why you have to KNOW JESUS, and have a RELATIONSHIP with Him, to where YOU KNOW if it's HIM or NOT.



**You know, this is happening all over the place, it seems, in churches. Your religious people are leaving because of offense, but those who fight are really fighting.

Jesus appeared to 500 people after His resurrection, and told them to TARRY in prayer until they received the promise...

Less than half of whom He had appeared to, received the promise. Why? Only a few were willing to GIVE UP what the cause required, to get what He had for them.

I think one of the biggest things Christians struggle to GIVE UP for Him.. is simply TIME. To TAKE THE TIME to know HIM.

If you love your friend, tell her, I can't promise you she'll take your advice, if you too once had faith, and GAVE IT UP.

Love you ALL. I love you all with such an intensity, It's Christ's love for you all, in me. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!! DON'T GROW WEARY, HAVE PATIENT ENDURANCE!!

[This message has been edited by HellzShellz (edited 04-29-2006).]

/\ One day I realized that faith is just your mind playing tricks. Religion=brainwashing to believe that some guy in a toga in the clouds is looking out for you.

quote:Originally posted by HellzShellz:



You can't. Faith is a choice. Everything you do is a choice. Have you ever heard someone say, "I choose not to believe that, and it's my choice." Well, it's the truth. You choose what you do and don't believe, but regardless of what you decide, it doesn't change the Truth. If she wants to believe, she'll REFUSE to doubt. Doubt your doubt.

God loves you.

-Shelly

Added: Ya know, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Or Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, (and receiving it because YOU have to CHOOSE). As a Christian, I do doubt my doubt, and when the ENEMY comes at me with CRAP, I pull out the Word of God, and began to say, "I am what the Bible says I am, I can do what the bible says I can do."

If the enemy comes at me with "IF" "WHAT IF" Like he came at Eve in the garden, (God didn't say that did He?), or like he came at Jesus on The Mount of Olives, "IF YOU BE THE SON OF GOD...), do by the example Christ left for the Church to do.. "IT IS WRITTEN." Find out what's written. Satan knows the bible. He will come at you with scripture taken out of context, that's why you rightly divide the Word of God, that's why you have to KNOW JESUS, and have a RELATIONSHIP with Him, to where YOU KNOW if it's HIM or NOT.



**You know, this is happening all over the place, it seems, in churches. Your religious people are leaving because of offense, but those who fight are really fighting.

Jesus appeared to 500 people after His resurrection, and told them to TARRY in prayer until they received the promise...

Less than half of whom He had appeared to, received the promise. Why? Only a few were willing to GIVE UP what the cause required, to get what He had for them.

I think one of the biggest things Christians struggle to GIVE UP for Him.. is simply TIME. To TAKE THE TIME to know HIM.

If you love your friend, tell her, I can't promise you she'll take your advice, if you too once had faith, and GAVE IT UP.

Love you ALL. I love you all with such an intensity, It's Christ's love for you all, in me. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!! DON'T GROW WEARY, HAVE PATIENT ENDURANCE!!



Bla bla bla. Bla bla bla bla bla,bla bla. Bla bla.

P.S. Bla bla

well, here i was, thinking a thread i started had died out. listen people: this topic has served its purpose. i am sitting this one out. she is going to figure things out for herself. let this thread go away. oh, and thanks for the help.