Former Atheist Philosopher Now Believes in God?

Question

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/atheist_philosopher_041210.html

Sorry, my question is: "What do you make of this?"

Note that I am not posting this to "convert" you paranoid atheists to Christianity...hehe...I just wanted to get feedback. Hopefully you can remain calm without getting defensive....

I see nothing wrong with deists...what, are some of you atheists assuming that deism goes against what I personally believe? What a stupid assumption...

Demo: Your video featuring that guy who sounds like a brainwashed hick isn't scoring any points with me...he sounds like he could be converted back to Christianity again if I used enough big words. Proof of evolution and science does NOT rule out God, I wish people would get that. The 2 can co-exists in my opinion. Obviously some smart people think so as well.

zgzig....care to explain why atheists "wax and wane" between believing in something and believing in nothing? Which is it? I thought most atheists can say for certain they believe in nothing? So perhaps more atheists switch back and forth than those on here claim?

Goldcoll...I appreciate your post.

Answer 1

Whatever makes that person happy.....

What do you think of this former Christian?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq5TWTTPHF8

Answer 2

In a form of a 'god' .. not that God...read it again.

Lots of atheists wax and wane between deist and atheist

I do!
EDIT
Not all atheist wax and wane.. just some.. but yes, I'll try to answer.

The world and Universe is as this Former atheist realized just too well balanced to be just an accident or co incidence. Everything has a purpose, i.e. (not starting from the beginning here) frogs are eaten by snakes, snakes are eaten by hawks/eagles..on and on up the food chain.

The sun, moon, earth and other planets all in synchronization, earth to our knowledge so far the only one with human life on it. (in our universe)

Trees intake carbon monoxide, excrete oxygen.. we need oxygen.

Those are just a few things.. that at times make an atheist like me wonder...not necessarily in a God, but a higher being of some sort, as it's hard to deny the those facts.
hope that's clear, it was condensed.

Answer 3

Flew made some mistakes in how he applied the concept of probability. He is also arguing from first cause but that has been a weak argument ever since St Thomas Aquinas wrote it down.
Here is an article that was not written with Anthony Flew in mind but which demonstrates where he is going wrong.
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/WhyAtheism.htm

It is ironic that while Flew and the Intelligent Design advocates are claiming Science is disproving abiogenesis the biologists are quite contentedly assembling living molecules from common dead laboratory chemicals, and demonstrating that they could have combined naturally on their own under the conditions of the early earth.

Answer 4

Please point out where he says that he believes in the Judeo-Christian god Yahweh. As far as I see it, he's stating that, at the age of 81 no less, the way he sees it is that the universe couldn't come about without divine creation. Nowhere is he claiming that he believes that your god is the creator.

This is an example of an older man creating his own beliefs, not following yours.

Answer 5

He was one of the smart ones. Not for changing his mind about God's existence. Rather for being a "It makes sense" Atheist rather than a "I hate religion" Atheist.

I referenced a couple of his works after reading the article, just to get a feel for the man. He was one who was in a genuine quest for the truth, not like many Atheists who merely live to disprove the history and theology behind the world's religions.

Answer 6

"Flew said he's best labeled a deist like Thomas Jefferson, whose God was not actively involved in people's lives."

and lots of people change their minds about all sorts of things every day. I'll bet you could find an atheist ex-bishop if you cared to look.

Answer 7

perhaps his new book written with roy varghese will finally explain why he thinks that. or not. i can imagine my own reasons in the meantime... "former atheist philosopher upon reaching 80 decides he would really prefer not to be dead any time soon". or perhaps he has gone senile and is now unable to deny that he believes whatever roy varghese tells us that he believes. i'm not sure why i should care too much.

Answer 8

Big deal?

"Flew said he's best labeled a deist like Thomas Jefferson, whose God was not actively involved in people's lives."

Pointing out his weak deism seemed appropriate as I assumed you were attempting to imply that this man now believes in "God", or rather the Biblical Judeo-Christian deity Yahweh, as evidenced by your capitalization the word "God". He doesn't.

Answer 9

Okay? What, now we should all convert based on the choice of one man?

What do I make of it? Nothing really, it's his choice, I don't hate or think any less of him or anyone for believing in a god. It's not like I say "Drat! Lost another one!" every time someone proclaims a belief in god.

Answer 10

LoL - took him 81 years to figure that out? He's going to get some serious teasing in heaven (if he becomes a Christian that is) :)

Wow I bet C.S. Lewis prayed for him all the time.

"A Methodist minister's son, Flew became an atheist at 15."

Wow... Darwin, Stalin... this guy... why is it that all the serious hardcore Atheists are preacher's kids? hmm??

Answer 11

So what? Shall I compose a list of believers turned atheist? Either way, it proves nothing.