Calling all Converts -- Atheism to Christianity OR Christianity to Atheism?

Question

I'm curious to see which direction Christianity/Atheism conversions tend to go and why. If you used to be one, and now you're the other, tell us which and what was it that made you begin to change you way of thinking.

hznfrst -- no, I just used the term becaused it seemed like the word that would be best understood by the most people. Con + vers = completely turn around. Doesn't that seem to be the right word to use in this case. More semantics!

Cheir, could it be said of the atheist to Christianity converts then that they never were true atheists?

bestonnet, some interesting points. However, I'm not sure that the idea that "those who are raised without religion very rarely end up getting a religion later on in life" strictly applies here. I've personally known several people raised in a non-religious home (which would be different from being raised in an atheist home), who later do consider themselves "Christian", although they might not affiliate with a certain religious denomination.

aranum70s, I am intrigued... Fractal math? Would you recommend it for spiritual enlightenment because that's one path I've never taken.

So far, it's 2 Atheist to Christianity and 5 some kind of religion to Atheism. I'm afraid I may not have made my answer broad enough -- I didn't consider non-Christian religions and non-atheist non-believers.

Answer 1

I was raised Catholic and rejected it after becoming a truth seeker of the sixties . the facts just don't support it .
My life has become more intelligent less confused more happy & peaceful and less hateful and more ethical as an atheist. facts are my guide for the here and now is when one furthers life not death.

Answer 2

For the most part it is widespread for Christians to become atheists and very rare for an atheist to become a Christian (though the few that do it tend to be very outspoken).

Studies of religious belief have indicated that about a third of people raised to be religious abandon their religion with some going to other religious but most just becoming non-religious (of which about half are atheists) while those who are raised without religion very rarely end up getting a religion later on in life (though there are people who go from being non-religious to religious they are a small minority but can be vocal (and the religious leaders often like to point to them as examples of new members for reasons I'm sure you can figure out for yourself)).

Trying to enforce the beliefs more strongly seems to be backfire as well since the fundamentalist brands of religion have a higher drop out rate of about half (though some of them do go onto more liberal version of their religion) and is only able to increase in numbers because of a lot of conversions from the more liberal versions of their religion.

When it comes to conversions between religions every case is different but in general those few who go from being non-religious to religious tend to have done so at a time of weakness when they are down while those who leave religion will usually leave it to the hypocrisy of the church.

Answer 3

As I said in an earlier question. I was an atheist all my life ( but not like the evangelical atheist's on yahoo...I didn't obsess over something I claimed to have no believe in and didn't try to convert believers). Fractal math was the catalyst that led me to becoming a Christian.

I would recommend it. Boiled down to it's basic elements fractal math proves that nothing is random in the universe and therefore there had to be a creator.

Answer 4

On his way from a religion to atheism,one meets hundreds of co travelers now a days and each has his/her reasons.One rarely, if ever, comes across some one traveling from opposite direction.It appears that domain of God is shrinking as the human awareness is expanding more and more.Having joined the ranks of atheists ,I find it so liberating that it's going to be a case of never to look back.

Answer 5

I was raised Christian. I questioned the Bible. I realized the Bible was crap around the time I realized Santa didn't exist. From there, I became agnostic for a while during the questioning process and eventually made my way to atheism.

Answer 6

I was raised Christian and had a crisis of faith when I began in-depth study of science. I decided to read the Bible, cover to cover, do find some clarity; and that's exactly what I got.

Answer 7

Was atheist, now Born again christian and the reason is that now Christ Jesus has revealed himself to me, before I was not aware that Jesus is alive and has his Holy spirit here and now that I know, I have received his Holy spirit, and it is because of this spirit that I can not deny him any longer! And then when you read his word with this spirit it is the REVELATION OF WHAT HE HAS DONE AND THE BIBLE SAYS YOU MAY KNOW! And after seeing the angels and the demons,, I know! here is how to get that spirit right now!
http://www.freedomcame.com/glory/
!

Answer 8

Your use of the word 'conversion' makes me suspect that you think atheism is like a religion, when it isn't anything like it.

Answer 9

Neither- atheist all of my life. I can't play. Waaah!

Answer 10

Bit of a problem here - if people say they have changed from Christianity to some other religion or cult - the argument is that they were never true Christians in the first place.