I'm an atheist, for all practical purposes. I just like to keep an open mind; I would like to consider whatever changed you. I'm not quite interested in personal experiences or dreams. That's obviously something I can't usefully consider. I'm more interested in known information, something verifiable by multiple sources.
2007-10-02 06:41:01 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
@morkie: A curious claim, but couldn't one simply revise the statement by saying, "There is no truth, beyond this sentence,"? My point being, once you consider epistemology, philosophically, you'll come to realize that there exists no true knowledge, and that ultimate truth is ultimately unattainable via the human mind. We can only use induction, when talking beyond the logic of our minds.
2007-10-02 07:00:10 · update #1
I experienced my gods.
Sorry, that makes me a former atheist. You don't have to believe it, and frankly, I don't care. If my gods wanted you to follow them, they'd ask you.
I was an atheist from birth until the moment I met my gods...frankly, I tried to be an atheist for quite a while afterwards.
2007-10-02 06:50:01 · answer #1 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If I had to choose one person who is responsible for my conversion, it would be a fellow I met at a seminary named Eric. I had a few conversations with him, but the pivotal one was a half hour talk where he pointed out to me that the statement "There is no truth" is a self-contradiction. To say that there is no truth is to claim that the statement itself is true, which makes no sense. Another alternative is to say and think nothing at all, which also makes no sense. The only consistent position is to say "There is truth". Once I realized there was such a thing as truth everything else fell into place.
2007-10-02 06:50:13 · answer #2 · answered by morkie 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'd disagree that you don't move backwards, one claimed to be a former atheist in a previous question and sited the "Evolution Cruncher" as the reason. Just for grins, a quote from the back of the book:
"Browse through this book, and you will be amazed at what you find. You will soon know more about a far wider range of scientific facts than many scientists are taught".
I'd say that some atheists are still gullible...
2007-10-02 06:49:16 · answer #3 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many people who cared for me helped me, but the reason that I am now a believer is because of the Bible. After an extensive study of the Bible I recognized its truth. I'm not saying that I just sat down and simply read it. I studied it and cross referenced the verses between the old and the new testament. What once seemed ridiculous became very clear, once I understood what it was teaching.
2007-10-02 06:49:29 · answer #4 · answered by L.C. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used to be a hardcore atheist and outspoken evolutionist for 20 years. I used to go online into boards like these and tell creationists and Christians how stupid they were for believing what they did.
At the time, I had a boyfriend who was a "cradle Catholic"; I tolerated his faith while I was with him. I got to know his family and they were really nice people. One day, I went, out of obligation, to his niece's baptism. While I was sitting in the pew, I was looking around at all these people kneeling and praying before the service started. I thought, "What do these people have that I don't have?" I decided to take a chance for once, and I said a little prayer, "God, if you're really there, I don't understand how all these people seem to have the Holy Spirit, and I don't. Tell me how to get the Holy Spirit, too." So I sat back, feeling relieved, and when the priest began his homily (sermon), it was about "How to get the Holy Spirit"! I was totally blown away! Now, even as an atheist, I didn't believe in those kinds of coincidences. I knew that God was answering my prayer and trying to communicate with me. I got on my knees and said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you", and I apologized profusely for rejecting him all those years. I asked Him to come into my heart and make a new person out of me, and He did! I was a totally changed person after that.
God still had one more major area to work on with me - even though I was a new Christian, I was still an evolutionist! I just thought that there was so much evidence for it, how can it not be true? I eventually left the Catholic Church when I broke up with that boyfriend, and married another man. I eventually joined a Protestant church. One day, I told my pastor my concerns about evolution, and I even showed him a book I had about pygmy chimpanzees, who look remarkably human. He then pulled out a CD-ROM and gave it to me to watch. It was a 17-hour seminar on creation science. The information in that just blew me away! There is so much science out there that we are never taught in schools. After watching the whole series, I dropped evolution like a hot potato and became a young-earth creationist. I kept watching the series over and over again to get the information stored in my head. I was so excited to share the info with others like myself that I now want to teach a class in creation science at a local community college.
2007-10-02 06:55:53 · answer #5 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I by ability of no skill left, as I by ability of no skill belonged. regardless of the undeniable actuality that, being a guy or woman, and appreciating very lots the employer of others, consistent with danger a greater powerful question is what keeps me from starting to be to be to be a member of. regardless of each thing, a non-believer, reckoning on the placement he lives, is something from tolerated to despised. Now, given a church that grants me a loving God and eternal existence, why could I no longer connect. for an comparable reason i do no longer drink (no offense to those of you who do) i could extremely be satisfied or unhappy in accordance with what i've got have been given faith is actuality. as at as quickly as as I watch a action picture or learn a e book, I "willingly slump" my disbelief. i'm purely no longer prepared to stay a existence-time in that state
2016-12-17 15:13:42 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know you'd prefer an answer from a fellow athiest, but since you profess to having an open mind, if you are a reader, I think one of the greatest minds who was a devout athiest, is C.S. Lewis, who was a great friend and encourager to J.R. Tolkien who wrote Lord of the Rings.
I believe at least two of his books could enlighten you to how he thought and felt prior to and after converting. They are "Mere Christianity" and "The Most Reluctant Convert: C.S. Lewis". It seems to me that reading his journey could at least give you something to compare your own thoughts and feelings to as well as assessing the validity of his conclusions.
The only advice I can share is keep an open mind and open heart.
2007-10-02 07:05:21 · answer #7 · answered by Elizabeth Ann 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hello there! I highly recommend the book "Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Evidence for the truth of Christianity", by Robert J. Morgan, to you.
Jesus Christ (God manifested in flesh - 1 Timothy 3:16, John 1:1-3 and John 1:14-15 in the Holy Bible), was here on earth to reconcile fallen man back unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). He had many disciples, with 12 major ones who went on to become the early church leaders after Christ's resurrection and ascension (mind you, Judas Iscariot was replaced by Matthias as one of the 12). After Jesus rose from the dead, He was seen by the disciples and 500 witnesses. Apostle Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit said in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, "1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."
~~~
Also, personal experiences or testimonies of God (Jesus Christ) being real are very powerful in edification of God's existance. I have witnessed miracles and the Bible is proven real to me based on the experiences I've had being in fellowship with Jesus Christ. This is beyond religion. Christianity is about a one on one relationship with God, which Jesus Christ made possible by dying on the cross for our sins and raising from the dead. I have witnessed speaking in tongues, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, I have seen how the Bible is revealed to me more and more as I mature in Christ, I have seen the wiles of the devil, etc. I am willing to share more with you if you are interested. God willing, I will be participating this coming saturday in a theology school workshop that is teaching the wiles of the devil (how he deceives and so forth). You can email me anytime and I'll share more with you.
Stay encouraged to seek God and find out the truth, because whether you know it or not He loves you dearly. And He wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-6).
2007-10-02 07:05:29 · answer #8 · answered by Heather G 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No such thing as a former atheist.
PERIOD.
No child grows out of santa and then decides he's real again.
2007-10-02 06:44:00 · answer #9 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
It was those godd@mn bananas, man....
2007-10-02 06:55:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋