Franics Collins

[Jehanne]

He seemed like he converted to evangelical Christianity out of despair, in particular, being exposed to suffering, death and anguish in patients of his, young children, who were dying of cancer.  After that, he had an "experience" while walking in the woods (seeing three frozen streams of water) which lead him to a belief in the Trinity.

While we can all sympathize with the loss of young children, what does the board think of Dr. Francis Collins and his alleged "conversion" from atheism (assuming, of course, he was ever a true atheist to begin with, having been raised, by his own admission, by liberal Christian parents)?  It seems to me that his "justification" for his new theistic beliefs came ex post facto after his religious conversion.

That's the thing. Religion is often based on feeling and what feels good. Atheism has no "it feels good" bit. For us this is it, and the only thing we have to hang on to is that we see the gig for what it is, "no gods included tm"

That's why I converted to religion (Catholicism), out of despair.  But, it was always superficial, and I attended Mass, often wondering and dreaming if extraterrestrials existed.  I could not focus on the Mass at all (that is, the "Holy Sacrifice").  I kept saying to myself, "This is silly, this is stupid; why am I here?  Just to please my wife and family?"  Eventually, I just quit attending.  I found atheism to be a huge relief, in that I could at least be honest with myself, in that I simply did not believe.