From atheism to Christianity? How so?

[Chas]

Let me ask you this: If Jesus is the real deal, would you want to know? Would you be willing to step out on a limb and pray for that information? If not, why not?

I always find it strange when, as an atheist, I'm told to pray to get the evidence I require, because generally speaking that suggestion is configured in some strange ways. First of all, I'd say that one only has reason to pray if they're expecting an answer, and hence an atheist, looking for evidence of a god, has no reason to pray in the first place. This is because prayer, and all the personal experience excuses that come bundled with it, aren't evidence or information at all; becoming convinced in your head that something is real doesn't constitute a cogent argument. It's just being convinced of something; and you already know this, because you discount the prayers of anyone who isn't praying to your god as mistaken, don't you? Those guys are equally convinced that their prayers are a method of communing with gods you don't think exist; why would you think an atheist would be compelled to consider your god the special exemption to that, sufficient to pray to it in the first place?

Well put.

My own, terser, version is:

If the only 'evidence' you have is locked up in your head and unavailable for objective evaluation, then you do not have evidence - you have belief.


Revelation? It's in your head, and is a delusion.
Prayer? It's in your head, and is an illusion.