(January 30, 2016 at 3:00 pm)Cecelia Wrote: Except he didn't say that he felt smart because he was an Atheist. He said he was 'absolutely certain' there was no afterlife because 'that's how really smart people thought'
Yes, all atheists are different. But no Atheist becomes an atheist because it's 'cool' or 'popular' or 'smart'. Nobody "chooses" atheism. Just like nobody really 'chooses' religion. We can't really chose what we believe. No matter how much we want to. You can't choose to believe in a Pink and Gold Unicorn. Go ahead and try. If that were the only evidence for him not being an atheist, I might concede that point. But there's much more to it than just that. He definitely sounds like he's always had a theist viewpoint.
I think you may be reading a little too much into that comment.
Perhaps it's true that he was not an atheist, but I wouldn't say that comment is what gives it away.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
