[alenbarbaf]

I have an atheist/agnostic friend who is interested in practicing virtue. I don't know his reason for practicing virtue, and I asked him once what is the purpose of such a thing, but he didn't have a response. He said he had to think about it. But this man seems particularly virtuous (at least externally), and it seems obvious that he struggles to attain humility. I'm surprised at his desire to learn about and practice virtues. And I'm positive he was like this way before he met me, so this has nothing to do with me.

He recently started getting interested in Orthodox asceticism. He is interested in learning how to guard his thoughts, how to protect himself from pride, how to practice "remembrance of death", etc. For example, I copied for him some quotes from "the Ladder", and he absolutely loved them. He asked me where he could find a copy of the book. I pointed out the Holy Transfiguration Monastery website, but I suggested that the book might not be good for him, because it might be "too much", and he probably won't understand a lot of the contents.

I must note that he doesn't seem at all interested in Christianity, and he seems very set on remaining an atheist/agnostic.

This is the scenario that caused me to ask this question. But the question is meant to be general, and not concerning this specific case.

In general, is there any benefit for any atheist to read Orthodox literature, if they just want to use it to learn how to be "a better person"? Should we try to prevent them from reading such things? Should we encourage such behavior? Are there any dangers? Would it be a sin to share the Orthodox "practices" with someone who isn't interested in becoming Orthodox? Can these people become virtuous by practicing Orthodox asceticism, even though they don't have a desire to become a Christian? Is it possible that they reach a higher level of purity, which makes them more receptive to converting and becoming Orthodox?

Thank you for your thoughts.

[Sipewrio]

It might lead him to Christ.

[BGThomasis]

I was an atheist who started reading Orthodox literature for similar reason, and then I was an atheist who started lurking around the closest Orthodox church, and it wasn't more than a year or so before I figured out that I was not an atheist anymore.

[ticskebasse]

Of course it's dangerous! Life is dangerous. Choices are dangerous. The big problem is when we as Orthodox focus too much on the esoteric writings of monastics and become prideful.

[HawksBurnDown]

A virtuous, thoughtful atheist is certainly preferable to a nihilistic thoughtless one.

[Mypepraipse]

I dont think it could hurt. It may be leading Him to Christ. The Lord may be calling, but he is just not fully listening yet. As long as his skepticism/unbelief doesnt affect you, I think it should be OK.

[ElenaEvgeevnaa]

Thanks for all the responses.

Since all the responses are saying that it's not a bad thing, and rather that it could lead him to Christ, it got me wondering if maybe I should've known the answer beforehand. Then I was thinking "Why did you think it could be dangerous?" Then I remembered that many months ago, we had a thread here where a few members were suggesting that certain ascetical texts were dangerous for Orthodox laymen to read. I don't remember what the thread was called. I think there was a friendly debate there, with some suggesting that all texts are profitable, and others suggesting that certain texts should only be read by monastics.

Is it possible that some texts might be more on the dangerous side for Orthodox Christians to read, while these exact same texts would have no danger for an atheist to read? I find that question to be very interesting.

Of course the Orthodox Christian should preferably get a blessing from his/her spiritual father in terms of what books should be read. But there are always the cases where the spiritual father just says: "Read whatever you want", or other cases where people don't have such a close relationship with their spiritual father.

[arriftell]

I was an atheist who started reading Orthodox literature for similar reason, and then I was an atheist who started lurking around the closest Orthodox church, and it wasn't more than a year or so before I figured out that I was not an atheist anymore.

This is similar to my own story. I just finished reading Inner River, Kyriacos C. Markides' latest book. And in one of the chapters, Fr. Maximos speaks very highly of a humble and virtuous atheist that he knows.

And anyway... what Mike, Andreas, and Herman said!

[preachadaq]

Many things are dangerous. You can pray to God to be protected


The wise man said, listen lets say there is a math or soccer contest and you and your team have to meet a team that is 1 billion times more powerful and skillful and better than any team on Earth than any dream team on Earth. What you do knowing that if u loose, your living conditions can became worse or desperate?
I don't know said the man.
Well, what you do is to try bring in your team somebody better than adversaries all together. Once you did that, you can win. You are in the team of humanity and against the team of sick angels that stand against salvation threatening the well being in after life. Asking God to be on your side, you can put your team including those that temporally lost the battle, in an advantage and win. Pray to God to show you what to do and to be on your side.
The 1 billion+ more powerful team is watching over you. Ask God for help.