Atheists who become Christians

[Mister Agenda]

I was a (born) Atheist and turned Christian when I reached the age to reason.

You mean the official age of reason, like 12? You didn't believe God was real until you were 12?

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I was a (born) Atheist and turned Christian when I reached the age to reason.

I have to admit, I've never known any atheist who became a Christian. Although I've heard of it. I've witnessed agnostics become Christians!

Hi, ronedee, glad to see you're still around. I'm a contrarian on the 'born atheist' thing. The suffix '-ist' denotes a person with at least some interest concerning a particular thing. So I'm not in the camp that calls babies and dogs and rocks, 'atheists'. Which is rather an aside from me agreeing with you that people who identify as agnostics are more likely to convert.

My take on this subject is that we all start life as an agnostic.

I think 'agnostic' denotes some sort of awareness of what is not known, so no baby agnostics, either. But I take it you mean that we start with no opinions formed yet, and I'm with you on that.

And (for a % of us) either through experience or suggestion tip to one direction or the other. I believe most of the world, are agnostic.

That could well be true. It's hard to justify 100% certainty on things that can't be proven one way or the other.

Just for the fact that if people who called themselves religious actually when to church/temple/mosque etc... there would be lines around the globe to get in!

If we go by attendance instead of self-identification, you definitely have a point.

I prefer to debate w/ aggies. Not because they are less confrontational than there more decided "cousins".... but for their open-mindedness on "personal" experiences. Of course I'm speaking in generalities. And I'm using my father and brother, (an atheist and agnostic respectively) as my major source.

At least you have first-hand sources, and not just what your priest told you about us.

My brother will listen intently to all religious arguments, and witnessed events and miracles! My dad on the other hand eye's start to glaze, and is formulating a response before any information has had a chance to enter his brain. In the end they both want more proof. But, my brother is "using" ALL information received. My dad couldn't tell you what my last statement was... just "buzz words" that give him ammo for his next assault!

Maybe he's considering the likelihood that such anecdotes actually constitute 'evidence' or 'information'. My father and step-mother inundate me with miracle stories every time I visit. If their plan was to convince me they're more wrong than I already thought, they couldn't do better. Not once has one of their stories that had enough to go on to check out stood up under scrutiny, and most of the rest don't even hold up under their own weight. What their approach convinces me of is that they'll believe anything, so long as it fits in with what they already believe. They're ruined for me considering them a reliable source on such matters, because I know they're standards of evidence are 'believe first, ask questions never'. I wish my parents understood and respected me enough to at least try a different approach.

But you know your own dad better than anyone here, maybe he's just argumentative, as you seem to be indicating. I may be over-empathizing with the eyes-glazing over thing.

Whats really interesting is to watch them "debate". My brother (aggie) is very mutable in a good way, in his stance. When they go at it, I keep my mouth shut and ears open! My dad is super intelligent...to his fault! Everything is measured, calculated and in order.

My experience has been that when people consider someone 'intelligent to a fault', they disagree with the person's conclusions without being able to refute them. Perhaps his actual fault lies elsewhere.

His problem is that he gets heated during a debate w/ either of us. And that's when he breaks down!

Because he's short-tempered or because he's frustrated at trying to discuss something with someone shose stance is 'mutable' except in regards to disagreeing with your father? There isn't a good way to be 'mutable' in a debate. Position-shifting is a dishonest tactic, or at least a sign that one of the people involved doesn't even know what their own position is, or is unwilling to defend the belief they actually hold.

Of course, you were there and I wasn't. Just trying to empathize with your father as an atheist in hopes of giving you some insight. I could be completely off-base.

At times my brother puts up a better argument for God than I do! LOL!

That's a slow ball, and I'm going to let it go by out of pride in my batting ability.

He (my dad) uses his life experience and knowledge to demerit God. And I don't need to explain this here! But it resorts to: "If there is a God, this life (as it is) makes no logical sense to me!" aka: "babies dying in Africa", "Tsunamis killing 200k people", "his mom (my grandma) dying young of cancer"...etc.

Of course that's only a problem for the God of theodicy: all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good. The current pope seems to acknowledge a God who works within nature, so not completely all-powerful. That version of God might address those particular objections.

Whats interesting is.... My brother and I agree, that just because life "as it is" doesn't square-up for him ..... does it really mean there is no God?

No, it doesn't. It's only an argument against the God of theodicy. If that's not the God you believe in, it's all good. If it is the God you believe in, your father has made a point that really needs addressing if you want your belief to be reasonably justified.

When the argument finally stops, around 3am... I usually ask him & my bro "if" there is a God, and they meet Him what would happen?

You instigator!

It gets interesting again! They both have "questions", they want Him to answer!

Alas... I smile hug them both and we all trail off into the sunrise. Them believing they've put doubt in me to some extent. And me realizing just how far they are away from God, Spiritually, and knowing His ways. And its been like this for years! I don't fault them. Or anyone. The important thing is Love for one another. God will take care of everything else!

Sorry to run on... just thought it may be interesting to hear the Catholic, Atheist an Aggie in a boat story!

Any story that ends with hugs can't be all bad.