Atheist Reconsiders

by Outaservice 14 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Outaservice

  Believer-turned-atheist A.N. Wilson, a pal of best-selling atheists Richard
  Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, made the stunning announcement last month
  that he has now returned to faith by becoming a follower of Jesus. (Wilson
  described a time when he was an atheist and was having dinner with Hitchens,
  who cross-examined him on his fidelity to spiritual skepticism. ³?So ­
  absolutely no God?' ?Nope,' I was able to say with Moonie-zeal. ?No future
  life, nothing ?out there'?' ?No,' I obediently replied.²)
  
  Why has Wilson now abandoned atheism to become a Christian? He concluded
  that ³materialist ?explanations' for our mysterious human existence simply
  won't do ­ on an intellectual level.² Read his personal account of his
  return to faith here. http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism

  Outaservice
• 

  Tuesday

  Is he planning on running for office? That seems to be the only reason that Atheists ever return to their former faith.
• 

  darth frosty

  Whatever. I saw a billboard the other day questioning atheism?!?

  Its like they are trying to make not believing in god a religion when its not. The way I see it you choose not to believe in a god or higher power controlling your life. Its not like atheism is a belief system one can be recruited to its just a realization some can come to at the end.
• 

  drwtsn32

  It does happen. I'm not sure I really understand how, once someone knows how to think critically. To me religion offers no real answers, although it certainly can give the impression that it knows the answer to things with absolute certitude.

  I think it is true that with atheism and skepticism you are left with fewer answers than the theist camp. Some people really dislike not knowing the answer to things and find that a very uncomfortable position.

  /haven't read his story yet
• 

  Outaservice

  Speaking of atheist Christopher Hitchens, Christian philosopher William Lane
  Craig trounced him last month in a major debate on the existence of God. How
  one-sided was Craig's victory? Here's how a well-known atheist blogger put
  it: ³Hitchens was rambling and incoherent, with the occasional rhetorical
  jab. Frankly, Craig spanked Hitchens like a foolish child.² Here are some
  observations from Craig on the event:
  
  ³Knowing Hitchens' penchant for denouncing and ridiculing religion, I said
  that I would approach the subject of God's existence, not from the
  standpoint of religion, but from the standpoint of philosophy. Hitchens
  showed himself utterly incapable of interacting with the philosophical
  arguments in a substantive way.
  
  ³The reaction in the blogosphere was immediate and unanimous. Hitchens was
  uniformly denounced for his empty rhetoric and posturing and his failure to
  interact with the arguments. For my part, I'm gratified that one of the
  so-called four horsemen of the new atheism should be publicly exposed in
  this way.²
  
  For more coverage of the debate, and to order a videotape, click here: http://www.biola.edu/news/articles/2009/090406_debate.cfm

  Outaservice
• 

  mkr32208

  Maybe he suffered a stroke? I would have to have some pretty serious brain damage to go back to that crap...
• 

  MissingLink

  Some people just cant face the harsh realities and prefer to "believe" myths because it makes them less afwaid.
• 

  John Doe

  He'll change his mind on his death bed--no one believes in god when they're dieing.
• 

  Awakened at Gilead

  It might be nice to talk to an imaginary friend when I am alone, but thinking that the world is nicer if there was a god does not make god exist.
• 

  rebel8

  Do these announcements coincide with book releases?

  I agree the word 'religion' does not pertain to atheism in its common usage. Yet it does fit some legal and dictionary definitions, which could be useful legally when standing up for one's rights to freedom of religion.

  Below is the dictionary's definition. Case law in the US has defined secularity as a religion.

  re⋅li⋅gion

  / r?'l?d??n /

  1.	a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

  2.	a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

  3.	the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

  4.	the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

  5.	the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

  6.	something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice