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Have you known any atheists which got converted?
#51
RE: Have you known any atheists which got converted?
I'd stay away from talking about a "real" atheist the same way it also doesn't do any good to talk about a "real" Christian - you move into No True Scotsman range.

What probably happens, if people are atheists and 'convert,' is that they weren't rational thinkers to begin with and were either looking for something to believe, had a personal experience that they find too powerful to explain away, or already had a propensity to believe in things anyway and one of the major religions fit the bill. I've certainly known atheists who fell in with new age things rather than organized religion. Crystals and vortexes are just as bullshitty as Christianity, and yet atheists fall for that stuff all the time.

So, conceivably someone could have been an atheist and swayed by an experience.
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#52
Have you known any atheists which got converted?
Don't forget the people who make terrible choices, hang their poor decision making on a lack of faith in God, and assume everyone needs a formally codified belief system to behave morally.

The assumption that all morality comes from God is primarily made by people who couldn't hack it on their own and needed a guidebook.
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#53
RE: Have you known any atheists which got converted?
(March 20, 2014 at 1:52 pm)Rampant.A.I. Wrote: The assumption that all morality comes from God is primarily made by people who couldn't hack it on their own and needed a guidebook.

Yes, it does give one the warm fuzzies to think that without Yahweh/Jesus/Ghost watching their every move, a Christian would otherwise be raping, robbing the local 7-11 and taking candy from little children.

To those Christians I say (while slowing backing away), KEEP BELIEVING in your sky daddy BFF.
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#54
RE: Have you known any atheists which got converted?
Here's one:
http://hittingbedrock.blogspot.com/2006/...ut_17.html

He was a regular poster at the first atheist board I posted at.
Quote:After a lifetime of atheism, almost entirely devoid of any exposure whatsoever to religious practices; after cofounding a secular humanist club in undergrad; after spending way too much time picking apart really bad arguments for the existence of God; after declaring a few times (before witnesses) that I was an "incorrigible" atheist, probably the last atheist who would ever, ever convert to Christianity--after all that, I've converted to Christianity.

(What really tears me up about all this is that I proved myself wrong. I hate that.)

No, it's true. It happened a couple of weeks ago. I committed myself to God and accepted Jesus Christ as my saviour.

Yes, I'm serious.

No, really, I'm serious....
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#55
RE: Have you known any atheists which got converted?
(March 18, 2014 at 10:37 am)tor Wrote: Who are they and how did they got converted?

True story, I know someone who was raised as an Agnostic/Atheist and after taking a whole lot of acid in the 60s became aware of a second dimension. While he isn't a Christian, he is some type of Theist with a lot of goofy beliefs.
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#56
RE: Have you known any atheists which got converted?
(March 20, 2014 at 11:55 am)Mister Agenda Wrote: That's an unusual experience. Most people report being convinced one way or another and finding that their belief had ended or begun, not consciously deciding to believe or not to believe. I didn't decide to become an atheist for instance, I realized that I'm an atheist. Not that you're the only one to put it that way.

It seems weird to me, like you could choose to believe the moon is made of green cheese if you decided that was a good way to go.

Hey MA. With this belief you can't just fall into it. It demands definite commitment. It really only works that way. Yeah I accepted pretty much it was true, but still I had to cross the line into belief. Rationalising it is one thing, committing to that belief is another.

My deconversion was a lot lighter. I did decide in one moment not to believe. I don't know if that was necessary though.

If there was sufficient evidence of green cheese I would have to acknowledge that. I take best advice on a lot of things, and as I learn my views can change. It's interesting that you've never had that experience of this necessary flip flop. I can't think you could really understand it.
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