Comments on: Conversion out of Atheism http://www.reasonabledissent.com/conversion-atheism/ Open-minded thoughts on atheism, religion, theism and science. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:19:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Carl http://www.reasonabledissent.com/conversion-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-286 Carl Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:22:21 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=271#comment-286 It's true that I probably have misrepresented the more prominent evangelists on this subject. When I was thinking about this, though, I was thinking more about the experience I've had with non-famous religious groups. There's always the temptation to use a conversion as an evangelism technique, but is it still so proudly proclaimed when there's nobody to convert? In my experience, not really, but the opposite is true for "groups" of atheists it seems. This isn't to say that one is good and one is bad. It's just what I've seen. And maybe I've had it misrepresented in my experience. The people I know would have been proud of you coming back to God, but that doesn't mean they aren't more impressed by being strong in the first place. It’s true that I probably have misrepresented the more prominent evangelists on this subject. When I was thinking about this, though, I was thinking more about the experience I’ve had with non-famous religious groups. There’s always the temptation to use a conversion as an evangelism technique, but is it still so proudly proclaimed when there’s nobody to convert? In my experience, not really, but the opposite is true for “groups” of atheists it seems. This isn’t to say that one is good and one is bad. It’s just what I’ve seen.

And maybe I’ve had it misrepresented in my experience. The people I know would have been proud of you coming back to God, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t more impressed by being strong in the first place.

]]> By: Cat's Staff http://www.reasonabledissent.com/conversion-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-285 Cat's Staff Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:49:24 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=271#comment-285 Kirk Cameron... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKrTK_WUiCo&fmt=18 I have heard a lot of people trying to evangelize to non-religious people saying they were once atheists, but now they have seen the light. They usually mean they were once non-religious in the sense that they never went to church, not that they were, philosophically speaking, atheists. Kirk Cameron…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKrTK_WUiCo&fmt=18

I have heard a lot of people trying to evangelize to non-religious people saying they were once atheists, but now they have seen the light. They usually mean they were once non-religious in the sense that they never went to church, not that they were, philosophically speaking, atheists.

]]> By: David Ellis http://www.reasonabledissent.com/conversion-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-284 David Ellis Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:59:30 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=271#comment-284 I completely agree with Mike on this one. There's no stigma about being an ex-atheist among Christians. It's right up there with alcoholism for making the conversion testimony a more dramatic story. I completely agree with Mike on this one. There’s no stigma about being an ex-atheist among Christians. It’s right up there with alcoholism for making the conversion testimony a more dramatic story.

]]> By: mikespeir http://www.reasonabledissent.com/conversion-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-283 mikespeir Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:23:24 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=271#comment-283 "But is there a corresponding mark of pride for leaving atheism?" Absolutely! Notice how the likes of Strobel and McDowell advertise their supposed former atheism. Notice how Christians boast of C. S. Lewis' erstwhile atheism and how they go on about Flew's defection from atheism. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_atheists_and_agnostics While there's certainly a "taboo" against atheism in Christian circles as you suggest, the ex-atheist is paraded proudly there. He becomes something of a celebrity. I really don't think he would be given any reason to hide his former lack of belief. “But is there a corresponding mark of pride for leaving atheism?”

Absolutely! Notice how the likes of Strobel and McDowell advertise their supposed former atheism. Notice how Christians boast of C. S. Lewis’ erstwhile atheism and how they go on about Flew’s defection from atheism. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_atheists_and_agnostics

While there’s certainly a “taboo” against atheism in Christian circles as you suggest, the ex-atheist is paraded proudly there. He becomes something of a celebrity. I really don’t think he would be given any reason to hide his former lack of belief.

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