Prominent Atheist blogger converts to Christianity... (paradise, salvation, soul, grace)

[agnostic soldier]

What others believe doesn't affect what I believe. For example, Francis Collins, one of the people that worked on the human genome project, converted from atheism to christianity. This isn't going to affect what I believe, however. This would be like if a christian becoming an atheist if Lee Strobel were to do so. Someone would need to provide a rational justification for their beliefs in order to have a credible reason for adopting them. This means that they would have to provide evidence gained through empirical means. The problem with this girl's conversion and the conversion of other former atheists is that none of their reasons for converting are based on reason or evidence. They're always based on ignorance or emotion. On the otherhand, the reasons that many atheists give for deconverting from their former religion are based on facts and rational thinking.

[meep]

Originally Posted by LuminousTruth

you're forgiven. It seems you are missing the point. she is increasing flow into her site and blogs. the news were fanning the story even though its basically meaningless, just like that girls reasons for her conversion to Catholicism. its not a conspiracy I know, just a bunch of accidents that led to her deciding that morality had to be external to humans and gods, but not YHWH and the Catholic church owned a firm understanding of the morality that YHWH subjectively decided upon. but Plenty of people change religions all the time... I don't understand why it is such a miracle that an atheist decided to chose Catholicism almost with her eyes closed. I'm assuming that perhaps she heard from a Catholic scholar that a Jewish historian mentioned Jesus and so she converted because she used to think it was completely fictional like harry potter. She's likely never looked deeply into Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism so I doubt she know what she's even doing.

Even her atheists friends were telling her that the things she believed made more sense in a religionist frame work. Its weird that in the video she says that she felt that believing that goodness was only her responsibility made her more closed off now that she thinks its everyone else's as well. She rather seems to like the authoritarian attitaude that religion provides rather than the libertarian view of freedom.

So because she hasn't looked "deeply" into all other religions she doesn't know what she is doing. interesting complaint.

[chielgirl]

Originally Posted by In God We Trust

Mostly true, but remember that some Atheists were born that way and was taught from an early age to dislike God and religion.
I had a neighbor who was 7 years old and my son asked him what religion he belonged to, and he responded back to him: "I'm an Atheist and I hate God because it is all fake". My son asked him why he said that, and he responded: "My parents' told me that".

I see you don't know the difference between do not believe in and "dislike god and religion." Even though there is absolutely zero proof of any god thing.

For some reason, I don't believe your second paragraph.


I do believe that a lot of christians are taught to hate atheists, though.
I know that's what I was taught in school and in church.
Funny, now I am atheist.

[hiker45]

I think some people are inclined to be religious and others are not. Simple as that.

Some people use religious beliefs to find more meaning and satisfaction in life. Others of us are satisfied to just observe the world as we see it and learn how to adapt to it. We don't need or want anything more.

The harm comes when people are raised in an environment that does not suit them. Several people in this DG seem to have hard feelings against organized religions, I guess because they had a religion forced down their throats.

My wife is a non-practicing Catholic who got turned off by the Church. We made our children aware of religion but did not encourage them to have certain beliefs. They both believe in a god, and our son got baptized Episcopalian the same day he and his wife had their second daughter baptized.

I hope we Americans don't take our freedom of religion or freedom from religion for granted.

[hiker45]

Originally Posted by Randomstudent

I guess I am the third, though I converted to Paganism when I was 20. A testament to that origin is that I still agree with Atheists 95% of the time.

How about the other 5% of the time? Do you worship trees and rocks?

[rifleman]

Uncharacteristically low-level of thinking from you, Thomas! C'mon man! I expect a lot more from you! My point was simply what others have also now commented: So what? A testimonial from a loneconvertee who also, by her own words, notes her rather deep inhibitions, social problems and her need & enjoyment of a more organized social structure & community. So what!

Did I say "so what"?

Quite right, SA! Again, so what.? What is the OP's point? That people can have life-altering social & philosophical positions, esp. @ her philosophically young age? Why exactly did the media pick up on this one, or was it on a Xtian network "special presentation"? Earth-shaking, mind-altering? Deeply omving? None of the above, IMHO.
But still... anyone else moved to tears of joy?

Oh what a biased "load'a" thou bringest to every discussion. "theft" by whom? Oh yeah, I forgot: Satan. Yup. Science (aka: logical, step-wise thinking...) is crud huh? Then throw away that laptop, and commence to sending your posts in by snail mail! (Honestly, the blatant hypocrisy rampant in religion is pathetic, and very Selectively Convenient!)

Your hatred of atheism is tangible, and what's that smell around here? Oh yeah; you must have left a bad post r'oun' heah... FYI: I was a Christian, simply seeking to get some timely and polite answers to further my faith and my beliefs, but those in positions of authority were unable, or categorically unwilling, to provide any simple answers to my very simple and friendly questions.

It therefore became painfully obvious to me as a practicing Christian, but one wanting to move beyond the "fall down and yowl in unison & on command!" prototype, that there were no good answers, unless one was also willing to suspend all of their common sense. Some, of course, simply buy into whatever they are told, and then quietly go and sit down and call it "good". Remind you of anyone, lw?

I can of course easily prove this to you, lw but again, not a one of you is EVER interested in an actual RRoO debate. (Roberts' Rules of Order; look it up. It's not atheist, it's just how real debates are conducted! Too bad that frightens the heck out of you types.... Not to mention that you've probably never heard of those Rules, now have you? The UN and the US Senate & House and British Parliament as examples, have; that's how they all operate. But... be honest now, for a change... You simply won't allow for such a controlled exchange, now will you? [waiting for the predicted and vicious ad hominem response instead of a "Well, I guess we could give it a try...")]

Me Delusional? Christians claim: All known organisms were set afloat on a leaky pitch-sealed unpowered barge for 18 mo, with no food and water, only to be disembarked at the frozen 13,000 foot level. Imagine: a lone Amazonian Parrot pair left to fend for themselves in such a wondrously "special" environment!!!?

Or, an Instant Genesis event all backwards and illogical, but also out of nothing? Absolutely no evidence for Evolutionary processes? Co-existing T-Rex pets amongst the village children & goats? Brontosauri pulling the agri-plows? Geological evidence of an ancient (very VERY ancient..) earth all haphazardously and hand-wavingly dismissed and discarded as all being faked by every geologist?

Numbers of felony-faker pseudo-scientist bloviating Christians who have granted themselves "honorary" PhDs in "whatever" and then posting utter nonsenses on the 'net, which you loyal and blindered guys and girls all lap up like dehydrated rat-dogs, then fatuihfully and unquestioningly re-parotting it ad nauseum & ad infinitum for all of us to read?

You who are all unable to answer even the simplest technical question, or explaining your positions and decisions absent another ambiguous biblical post (as proof, no less...) and yet then presenting yourselves as some sort of technical gurus, all the while denigrating those of us who have, yup, the actual credentials to comment on technical issues?

And I'm delusional? Boy, you REALLY need help, my laddie! Such knee-jerk reactionist and fear-inspired accusations are entirely predictable, sadly for any of your arguments, ever.

But still, if I'm so SO wrong, and if you wish to deny the "unwilling to answer a simple question" accusation, will you be willing to engage in a test debate?

Please... do lemme know, and be sure that you tell all of us right here and now that you're willing, so it's on record!

Otherwise, keep your cake hole... well you know.

Nope, just wondering why the OP? What's his/her intent, versus any other funny story about any other conversion? From, for instance, clogs to hi-tops, or omnivorous to Vegan? so what? (I think I already asked that one. but no harm...)

It's too bad that simple & direct truths, and giving my opinion when the OP specifically asked for it, is seen as my BAD, huh? Apparently Christians only want positive responses. if so, then they should trot such threads on over to the Christian sub-forum if they only want "Glory Be, PTL!" accolades!

Seems my brand of logical but direct (oh, and yep, often sarcastic..) responses and questions do bother the timid and insecure.

Best watch out, ag: the defensive and awe-struck apologist fringe is apparently on the hunt for any honest opinions and well-thought-out personal convictions here, unless you want to fall down and howl "PTL!" alongside them!

[mythunderstood]

Originally Posted by Woodrow LI

You are there fore the first I have met either in person or online. Or perhaps only the first to have said so.

Nice to meet ya! I am another lifetime atheist. I have always stated in my posts that I was born without a belief in god (atheist) and still remain without belief. You would be suprised how many of us are out here. You just are not aware of it.

[Vansdad]

Originally Posted by sanspeur

I was a prominent Catholic....Now I'm an atheist....So what? I'll bet that a large majority of atheists on CD are former Christians, and very few Christians are former atheists....Wanna bet?

I'm not a Catholic or religious but I was agnostic for many years before believing that God does exist. It happens everyday that people believe and stop believing.

[Vansdad]

Originally Posted by agnostic soldier

What others believe doesn't affect what I believe. For example, Francis Collins, one of the people that worked on the human genome project, converted from atheism to christianity. This isn't going to affect what I believe, however. This would be like if a christian becoming an atheist if Lee Strobel were to do so. Someone would need to provide a rational justification for their beliefs in order to have a credible reason for adopting them. This means that they would have to provide evidence gained through empirical means. The problem with this girl's conversion and the conversion of other former atheists is that none of their reasons for converting are based on reason or evidence. They're always based on ignorance or emotion. On the otherhand, the reasons that many atheists give for deconverting from their former religion are based on facts and rational thinking.

Lack of evidence is not evidence. And what one person calls reasonable is not reasonable to another. Ignorance goes both ways.

[Collective]

Wonder if CNN if taking a % of the increase in Google Ads revenue from her blog... I wish I had thought of that myself.