How do I deal with a person with strange beliefs?
Question:
I had a conversation with a person of interesting beliefs. Their beliefs were:
- The Holy Spirit gave us the name "God" to comprehend him.
- Aliens and other life forms have different religions, like having a different Christ, as we have.
- The Holy Spirit didn’t mean everything literally, like in Genesis.
- I go with whatever I believe like I believe Jesus is God and that he was the son.
- Jesus was the one sent to inform us of God in a way we can comprehend.
- I think praying to Mary and the saints is fine.
- I believe that the holy water is the center of creation. As it was in the beginning.
Some of these I don’t know how to dispute, if you could give me an answer I’d appreciate it.
Also, I gave him a big biblical lesson on a phone call, but it didn’t change much. So, if you could help me understand and dispute it, that would be great.
Answer:
If there is no commonality, no standard by which two people decide what is true, then there can be no converting another person to the truth. For example, The claim that aliens and other life forms have different religions is based on the person's imagination. How many aliens has he interviewed about their religious beliefs? We have no evidence that there are other life forms in different worlds. Thus, the person makes decisions based on his imagination and not on his reason. He uses himself as his standard; thus, he believes he is always right.
Because of this, he contradicts himself. He claims the Holy Spirit gave us the name "God" to comprehend Him, but at the same time states that the Holy Spirit didn't mean everything He said. How does a person know what is literal or not? He claims that Genesis is not literal. Based on what evidence? See "Is the biblical account of Creation not meant to be taken literally?" Even the first statement is false. If I gave you my name, how much would you be able to tell about me? Could you actually say that you comprehend me? Does this person think that the infinite God can be comprehended by a single word? "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).
If you are not able to get him to agree to use the Bible as the standard for determining the truth, there is no reason to waste additional time with him.
