If an atheist asks you, "why are Christians right and Hinduists/Buddhists wrong"?

[ColdSummer]

Hi guys, I'm looking for this sort of evangelical advice. Arguing against atheism isn't that difficult since there's no explanation the the creation of the initial singularity during Big Bang other than a supernatural power. But imagine such situation. Let's say the atheist agrees with you that there must have been some higher force, but then gives you a simple question - why is Christianity right and the asian religion wrong? You can't just say "because Bible says so" or something like this because it simply doesn't mean anything to him and will remain completely untouched by it. He can argue that Indians believe in those dozens of idols the same way that we believe in God.

You need to come with some real-life arguments why Christianity, or generally a belief in that one God (alongside with Islam and Judaism) is right and having ton of elephant-faced idols is wrong. What would be some arguments for this? Can be e.g. Christian hospitals in India vs. hinduism presense in west, could be some passages in Hindu scripture (like Brhadārankyaka Upanishad 6.4.9,21), really anything that comes to your mind.

 

[Hieronymus]

It's about Jesus.
Is He who He says He is?
And so it's about the Bible too, because that's the main source of information.
Can the Bible be trusted?

This is how different religions originated:
Deuteronomy 32
8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God.
9 But the Lord's portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage.

This didn't go too well though:
Psalms 82
1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince.*)
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

*) or 'fall as one man, O princes'

 

[ColdSummer]

You're right but I'm looking for specific arguments to convince an atheist who has no experience with the scripture and just - at the moment - doesn't believe that what Bible says is true.

For him it's just "some book", just like some hindu scripture, and all in all to him it's just "many religions, one just like another". How do you convince that guy with arguments?

 

[Hieronymus]

You're right but I'm looking for specific arguments to convince an atheist who has no experience with the scripture and just - at the moment - doesn't believe that what Bible says is true.

For him it's just "some book", just like some hindu scripture, and all in all to him it's just "many religions, one just like another". How do you convince that guy with arguments?

Often you simply can't..
It's often not a matter of evidence anyway.
But you can find some documentaries and lectures to share in my playlist:
apologetics - YouTube
"Zeitgeist Refuted" is an important one.

 

[Wordkeeper]

Hi guys, I'm looking for this sort of evangelical advice. Arguing against atheism isn't that difficult since there's no explanation the the creation of the initial singularity during Big Bang other than a supernatural power. But imagine such situation. Let's say the atheist agrees with you that there must have been some higher force, but then gives you a simple question - why is Christianity right and the asian religion wrong? You can't just say "because Bible says so" or something like this because it simply doesn't mean anything to him and will remain completely untouched by it. He can argue that Indians believe in those dozens of idols the same way that we believe in God.

You need to come with some real-life arguments why Christianity, or generally a belief in that one God (alongside with Islam and Judaism) is right and having ton of elephant-faced idols is wrong. What would be some arguments for this? Can be e.g. Christian hospitals in India vs. hinduism presense in west, could be some passages in Hindu scripture (like Brhadārankyaka Upanishad 6.4.9,21), really anything that comes to your mind.

You have to come up with a plausible explanation that not not all proofs depend on falsifiability.

 

[Radagast]

You're right but I'm looking for specific arguments to convince an atheist who has no experience with the scripture and just - at the moment - doesn't believe that what Bible says is true.

Well, you can poke holes in Hindu cosmology, for example. It claims that people have existed for billions of years.

But you can't convince someone of the truth of Christianity without the Bible.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

Correct Radagast......is the Bible “A” book or is it “THE” book...that has to be way to begin. No short-cuts....no worldly logic will work

 

[Hieronymus]

Correct Radagast......is the Bible “A” book or is it “THE” book...that has to be way to begin. No short-cuts....no worldly logic will work

I disagree.
At least, to me it was a matter of following the evidence and subsequent logic.
But my angle of searching for truth was initially learning what makes the world and its leaders go round.
But, i was also willing to follow the evidence to where ever it leads too.
I did pray though, to the unknown 'God' (i was never an atheist), that i might find something of truth.

 

[JackRT]

Hi guys, I'm looking for this sort of evangelical advice. Arguing against atheism isn't that difficult since there's no explanation the the creation of the initial singularity during Big Bang other than a supernatural power.

If one can envision a hypothetical supernatural power existing from all eternity, then one should have no problem with a real universe that has existed from eternity.

But imagine such situation. Let's say the atheist agrees with you that there must have been some higher force, but then gives you a simple question - why is Christianity right and the asian religion wrong?

Christianity is an Asian religion too.

You can't just say "because Bible says so" or something like this because it simply doesn't mean anything to him and will remain completely untouched by it.

Agreed.

He can argue that Indians believe in those dozens of idols the same way that we believe in God.

Some years ago I visited a Hindu temple. I stood before the altar area staring in silent amazement at the multitude of images of various deities, some of them very bizarre indeed. I had been there several minutes when I heard a gentle voice behind me say "God is One." I turned to meet the pundit (priest) of the temple. As he escorted me around the altar area he explained that while God is One, we in our finitude are unable to comprehend the fullness of God in a single "take". Each one of the "deities" before us was simply a different manifestation of God's Oneness. We Christians have done much the same with our trinity theory. Interestingly enough, the pundit was also a nuclear chemistry professor at a nearby university.

You need to come with some real-life arguments why Christianity, or generally a belief in that one God (alongside with Islam and Judaism) is right and having ton of elephant-faced idols is wrong. What would be some arguments for this? Can be e.g. Christian hospitals in India vs. hinduism presense in west, could be some passages in Hindu scripture (like Brhadārankyaka Upanishad 6.4.9,21), really anything that comes to your mind.

Coming at it from an "I am right and you are wrong" perspective is almost doomed to failure especially since various Christian churches and denominations disagree with each as much as we differ from other belief systems. I find truths in all faiths and I think it better to search out our commonalities rather than our differences and to work together to improve this world.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

I disagree.
At least, to me it was a matter of following the evidence and subsequent logic.
But my angle of searching for truth was initially learning what makes the world and its leaders go round.
But, i was also willing to follow the evidence to where ever it leads too.
I did pray though, to the unknown 'God' (i was never an atheist), that i might find something of truth.

I think you are correct....I forgot the many who have come to faith by trying to disprove the Bible......I was too hasty with my answer and I stand corrected.Thanks for enlightening me.

 

[Albion]

You're right but I'm looking for specific arguments to convince an atheist who has no experience with the scripture and just - at the moment - doesn't believe that what Bible says is true.

For him it's just "some book", just like some hindu scripture, and all in all to him it's just "many religions, one just like another". How do you convince that guy with arguments?

I suppose that the same could be said of any other topic. That is to say, if a person is skeptical but refuses to take a look at the evidence which would establish the facts of the matter, then he's not seriously pursuing the answer. All he means is that he doesn't want to know the answer to his question.

But you may be hoping that there is something to be said to him on the spot, and all you need say is that the Bible is convincing. It's a remarkable record of people through time with a certain logic and consistency that is persuasive. By comparison, the Koran is little more than Mohammed's reflections upon other religions (Judaism and Christianity) coupled with his own advice for daily living.

And the sacred writings of Hinduism and Buddhism are essentially poetic and don't even suppose a God as we know God--a supreme being and Creator, etc. There's morality of a sort (mainly self-improvement), but these are not religions that are parallel to Christianity.

In short, the atheist does have to read the Bible and get back to you afterwards if he's serious in asking his question, although you could choose to lead him through it or recite it to him!

 

[1213]

...Let's say the atheist agrees with you that there must have been some higher force, but then gives you a simple question - why is Christianity right and the asian religion wrong?... is right and having ton of elephant-faced idols is wrong. What would be some arguments for this? Can be e.g. Christian hospitals in India vs. hinduism presense in west, could be some passages in Hindu scripture (like Brhadārankyaka Upanishad 6.4.9,21), really anything that comes to your mind.

I think it is good first to look, what exactly is claimed and then compare. Bible God has allegedly inspired the Bible and taught of love as told in the Bible. What has the elephant face said?

By what I know, Hindu god’s don’ have much to say, especially anything meaningful. But Bible God has told well what is good and right and also predicted the future.

And about Buddhism, by what I know, it doesn’t have god, so seems to be just one philosophy. Interestingly it still has idea of nirvana, that seems to be same as the hell in the Bible (end of life).

 

[concretecamper]

Hi guys, I'm looking for this sort of evangelical advice. Arguing against atheism isn't that difficult since there's no explanation the the creation of the initial singularity during Big Bang other than a supernatural power. But imagine such situation. Let's say the atheist agrees with you that there must have been some higher force, but then gives you a simple question - why is Christianity right and the asian religion wrong? You can't just say "because Bible says so" or something like this because it simply doesn't mean anything to him and will remain completely untouched by it. He can argue that Indians believe in those dozens of idols the same way that we believe in God.

You need to come with some real-life arguments why Christianity, or generally a belief in that one God (alongside with Islam and Judaism) is right and having ton of elephant-faced idols is wrong. What would be some arguments for this? Can be e.g. Christian hospitals in India vs. hinduism presense in west, could be some passages in Hindu scripture (like Brhadārankyaka Upanishad 6.4.9,21), really anything that comes to your mind.

Scott Hahn has a book "Reasons to Believe." The first part of the book is dedicated to the proof of Christianity. It is an excellent read.