Atheists: Is it true that once an atheist, always an atheist?

Question

That is, is it impossible to “fall away” from atheism? Do you really “believe” this?

…and I am NOT joking.

It NEVER ceases to amaze me that when I publicly share my testimony, there are a good number of atheists that have the audacity to claim that I never was a “true” atheist!

Immersed in a science major in college, I DID become an atheist. I was “MORE” of an atheist than others, IF that was even possible! I even sat down to read the Bible and prove it wrong in order to “save” Christian’s from their fears, myths, delusions, and cults. I KNEW there was no God, KNEW that I was right, and KNEW that all theists were wrong. I didn’t “think” it, I didn’t “believe” it, I KNEW IT.

And then, ironies or ironies, Jesus revealed Himself to me, personally.
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Now look I am SORRY that this has yet to happen to you, and I thought it more impossible than YOU.

But even those atheists that claim they would have dismissed God’s personal or direct revelation as a trick, illusion, delusion, or a sign of insanity…
….I say, “Yeah right. You won’t be ABLE to…especially if you are even HALF as logical, rational, intelligent, and level-headed as you think you are…”

You ought to read about Thomas in John 20 and Saul/Paul of Tarsus (Acts 7:54-8:1-3, 9:1-22, Acts 22)
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Call me a liar. Fine.
Call me a lunatic. Fine.

But don’t give me any of this GARBAGE and nonsense about “once a TRUE atheist, ALWAYS as atheist.”

If you do believe this nonsense, you are BRAINWASHED and GULLIBLE – pure and simple.
…and you are NO less deceived then Muslims, Christian cults, and other man-made religions.
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Answer 1

Not true. God's intervention called regeneration, can change an atheist's heart to repent and believe in God. This is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit whereby a sinner who is spiritually dead is made alive. It is this that enables a sinner to see and enter the Kingdom of God (as Jesus teaches in John 3). In other words, it is God who regenerates sinners and enable them to repent and believe.

"With God all things are possible."

Answer 2

I used to be an atheist, but now I am a Saint.
St. Eak and you can try topping that however you like!

Anyhow. People can change their minds. If that was not possible then they would be nothing more than robots.

To address your description of your own behaviour you seem to have become a true believer in college. You experienced your epiphany, your conversion to atheism. Then you felt the need to become evangelical and win converts to your faith.
These are not the traits of a free mind.

You describe the conviction of a true believer in your statement that you did not think you were right or believe but that you "KNEW," where almost everybody stating they are atheist here at least recognize they would need to change their opinion if evidence was presented to them.
Even while you were most convinced you were an atheist and all that you missed the distinction between believing God does not exist and simply not believing gods exist.
Not believing leaves many more options open.

So why is it that I do not find your conversion to Christianity a surprise? Why is it not in the least bit ironic?
You simply swapped one belief for another. It required no change at all in your thinking patterns. It was just another "ism"for you to devote yourself to.
Now you can be evangelical about what you now "KNOW!"

I wish you all possible joy and happiness with your new belief system, and the next one if you decide to convert again.

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Green Meklar and Anardri both write faster and more clearly than I do. I agree with them totally.

Answer 3

>Atheists: Is it true that once an atheist, always an atheist?

Certainly not! There are many cases of atheists converting to various religions. In fact, a true freethinker must be ready to accept the existence of any deity which evidence and logic support, and someone who believes it is completely impossible for God to exist is no less faithful and irrational than theists who believe it is impossible for God NOT to exist.

That said, when we read down your question...

>Immersed in a science major in college, I DID become an atheist. I was “MORE” of an atheist than others, IF that was even possible! I even sat down to read the Bible and prove it wrong in order to “save” Christian’s from their fears, myths, delusions, and cults. I KNEW there was no God, KNEW that I was right, and KNEW that all theists were wrong. I didn’t “think” it, I didn’t “believe” it, I KNEW IT.

This doesn't sound like atheism as I experience it. Judging from how you describe this, I would say that, atheist or not, you have probably always based your beliefs more on emotion than on logic. You may have rejected the existence of God, but it sounds to me like you rejected it for emotional reasons rather than scientific and logical reasons. This doesn't mean you were not an atheist, an atheist is anyone who believes that no deities exist regardless of their reasons. However, if true, it does mean that you were not a freethinker, and that in itself is a problem.

>And then, ironies or ironies, Jesus revealed Himself to me, personally.

It's not actually that ironic when you think about it.

Answer 4

I'm not really certain whether I was an atheist or an agnostic and I really don't care what the definitions are-I just plain didn't like God, the idea of God or anyone who tried to force Him on me. I ridiculed and felt myself superior to those "Christians", even to damning them for having the audacity to push their beliefs on me.
The Christians I had known were hypocritical, as far as I could see, and no less likely to sin than me.
And then I became one. Go figure. It was then that I realized just how much God had to forgive me for, and just how very self-righteous I was about being a nonbeliever.
Having a relationship with God, trusting in Christ, it's not a once-in-your-life thing, it's ongoing, the more that you thought you knew, the more you find out how pitifully ignorant you are.
The one thing I'm sure of? He is here for me, He answers my prayers, and I love Him. I'm no longer afraid of death, and my nights are no longer haunted.
That which I once resisted fiercely I now embrace with all my heart. I am so thankful that He doesn't hold against us the sins of our stupidity. I am glad to be a Christian.

Answer 5

Well, ummm... you wouldn't be the first to say this. I think C.S. Lewis had the same thing happen to him. Mind you, I'VE read the Bible and Jesus did NOT reveal himself to me. Since only you've had your personal experience, I suppose I'll have to accept it at face value.

Just curious, do you still accept the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Natural Selection as being valid scientific principals?

Update: To those of you saying his "conversion" isn't "logical", since when have humans ever truly been logical? Come on, you're giving humanity way too much credit. We're not Vulcans here.

Answer 6

No. that's obvious that all of us commence out as atheists yet a lot of human beings learn a faith. it is likewise sparkling that some atheists that have in no way extremely theory approximately their place could convert later. Then too some atheists will return to the religion of their youngsters as demise techniques. that's stupid to think of that any human interest is a one way street.

Answer 7

I suppose it's happened, but it would be extremely, extremely rare. If you are really, and truly atheist, then any idea whatsoever of the existence of a "God" is so completely absurd, that it would be almost impossible to convince you otherwise.

There are other people on this Earth that are every bit as convinced as you are that "Allah" has revealed himself to them, personally. (As well as ANY other "god" that is believed in by various religions around the world. Every "god" has someone who is convinced that they have been personally contacted by them.) How do you explain those situations? Do you claim that they are delusional? Why would you think that their experiences were false and yours wasn't?
Your experience is *no* different than any other person in any other religion who has claimed to have had their "god" reveal themselves to them.

Answer 8

I can only speak for me. Personally adequate evidence is presented to support any claim I'm willing to accept it. So for me the answer would have to be no.

That evidence however must be equal to the claim. And the claim that an all-powerful all-knowing being created everything is a pretty big claim. The biggest claim ever made in fact.

But if there is god then there is the possibility of evidence equal to the claim since proof is only in a thing itself. So, while I would never say that there absolutely is no god I will wait for adequate evidence of him before accepting him as existing. In other words no one can prove god except god.

If as you claim Jesus presented himself to you as proof of his existence then that is I suppose what it would take for me to also accept the existence of Jesus. But even if we are to believe that Jesus came to you and presented whatever evidence necessary to prove he was Jesus that still doesn't prove god...

At any rate - I invite Jesus and/or god at any time it's convenient to visit me. In fact I wouldn't refuse speaking to Satan, Zeus, Shamash, Robur, Brahma or any other deity also if he/she/it wishes to. And I don't say that jokingly or facetiously. As I said I am open to accepting the existence of anything with adequate evidence.

Answer 9

I'm a skeptical cynic. If you want to believe, fine, I don't really care.

By the way, since I am a skeptical cynic, can you prove the things you stated, did you graduate with your science major, did you have some life threatening episode, have you ever taken any powerful hallucinogenic substances, have you ever been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition.

Just trying to get to the bottom of your rant.

Answer 10

Everyone is different, so anything can happen, but IN GENERAL I'd imagine it's hard to re-delude yourself once you have shed the shackles of delusion.

It doesn't sound like you actually bought into atheism. You were trying to find a reason not to believe, but failed. That is a personal issue.