There's just something about theists that say they were once atheists....

by logansrun 21 Replies latest jw friends

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  logansrun

  You know the type, the ones that say, "Oh yes. I tried to not believe in God..." or "When I left the JWs I became an atheist, but since I found Jesus..." Simply put, I don't believe them.

  I don't think they EVER really stopped believing in God. I think they went through a phase, a period of doubt that lasted for a moment. There probably was not a lot of research or thinking put into their temporary non-belief in God, just a feeling. Not liking this feeling they rededicate themselves to Jesus or get swayed into some Evangelical movement. Then they can say, "You know, I was an atheist once..." and rattle off how they have since "seen the light." This is supposed to be an example for atheists or agnostics of someone who was "one of them" who is now a Christian. I find personal examples like this wholly unconvincing. Simply put, they were "atheists" for all the wrong reason.

  So, that's what I think is happening with people like this. Their "atheism" was not a clearly thought out, reasoned quest to find out if belief in God or the Bible is rational. No, their "atheism" was a passing fancy not backed up by research or honest introspection. Just a thought I've had.

  Bradley
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  rem

  Bradley,

  I agree. I think many people mistake non-religious for atheist. And yes, those people bug the hell out of me when they say they are a converted atheist.

  I'm sure it must happen - extremely infrequently, but I don't believe the stories I've heard. There is a Christian book called 'letters from an atheist' or something. I browsed through it while I was still in my questioning phase. The atheist arguments were such blatant strawmen that even as a Christian at the time I knew the 'atheist' was not a real atheist, and if he was, then he was just really dumb.

  Most people seem to be totally confused about atheism in general. Many people seem to be surprised if they hear you are an atheist like it's so horrible, but then they calm down when you explain you are an agnostic athiest. (I'm not aware of too many gnostic atheists!)

  rem
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  drwtsn32

  Good comments... both of you.

  Another thing that bugs the heck out of me is when people view atheists as simply those who do not want to believe in god. "Atheists are people who simply do not want to be accountable to anyone!"

  Argh.
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  onacruse

  Yes, it often does boil down to: Are you (editorial) willing to do the homework and learn why you believe what you believe, and even perhaps to openly admit that you believe it only because you want to, and not because you have any rational reasons?

  That's where the Bible (or any other supposedly "inspired" literature) can be such a crutch. "Because the Bible says so!" is the typical war-cry of those who've not really done any independent investigation. I include my past self in this group.

  For myself, leaving the WTS had no impact whatsoever on my belief in the existence of God. However, I can now see that my life-long Biblical conceptions about God need serious revision, and include my putting the Bible in its proper place. I still value the Bible as a remarkable record of the stupidity of organizations (e.g. the nation of Israel), and the simplicity of the Christian method (just 2 laws). But every word directly inspired by that God in whom I still believe? Naw.

  So, for now, I believe in God; not the God that is portrayed in much of the Bible, nor even because the Bible says there is a God (I now consider that "testimony" irrelevant).

  I'm not sure if this is to the point of your topic, but I suspect you might have something to say about my opinion, eh?

  Craig
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  SixofNine

  I agree. The worst are those who think it helps their position to say "I was angry at God, and then I became an atheist". Blah! I suppose some real atheist were "angry at god" at one time or another, but obviously, anger at god can't have been the driving force behind their lack of belief.

  People who can't distinguish feeling from thinking, suck.

  Six~ have a nice day, lol class
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  logansrun

  People who can't distinguish feeling from thinking, suck. 6/9 -- That sums it up more succinctly than I've ever seen before! I like that! Bradley
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  crownboy

  I largely agree with the comments here, but I suppose it is wholly possible to be "converted" from atheism to Christanity or some other form of theism.

  The folks who were "angry at god" obviously were not atheist, since you can't be angry at something you don't believe exist . And I get pissed at people who go with the "you don't want to be accountable to god" arguement as well. Why the hell would I put my eternal well-being at stake like that if I believed in all the Christain stuff? It's not like most atheist become crazy party animals who have sex 50 times a day with people they aren't married to while simultaneously eating the hearts of babies and robbing liquor stores while holding up a burning crucifix (or torture stake ). But I guess some people have to maintain delusions.
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  jgnat

  C.S. Lewis may have been a genuine athiest turned Christian.

  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/2000/001/2.26.html
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  logansrun

  Crowboy, People that supposedly convert from atheism to Christianity usually are not very proficient in sound logical argument, nor are they familiar with modern Biblical criticism. I think it's easy for the untrained mind who has never had any contact with Christianity to be taken in by some slick arguments. But, if they research these "logical conclusions" further they would find that the Christian "logic" is seriously flawed. B
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  rem

  C.S. Lewis was a good writer, but his grasp of logic was pretty sad as revealed in some of his apologetic works. It's not surprising that his views were trounced in public debate:

  Lewis did hit at least one jarring bump in his intellectual road: a 1948 debate with British philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe. Anscombe read a paper before the Oxford Socratic Club (a forum Lewis led for many years) in which she attacked Lewis's recently published Miracles and his whole argument against naturalism. Anscombe won the day, and Lewis was reportedly "deeply disturbed" and "in very low spirits." He never wrote straight apologetics again, though he continued to communicate his faith through fiction and other literary forms.

  rem