Difference between revisions of "Ex-atheists"

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[[Image:Mlogo.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Ex-atheist [[Lee Strobel]]]]  
 
[[Image:Mlogo.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Ex-atheist [[Lee Strobel]]]]  
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As far as '''ex-atheists''', there have been some notable incidences of [[atheism|atheists]] converting to [[theism]].  
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There have been some notable incidences of [[atheism|atheists]] converting to [[theism]].  
  
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[[Lee Strobel]] converted from atheism to Christianity and then became a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]].<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884</ref> Before investigating the claims of Christianity, Strobel had obtained a undergraduate degree in journalism and also obtained a Master of Studies in Law degree from [[Yale]] Law School. Strobel was an award-winning legal editor of the [[Chicago Tribune]], and he won [[Illinois]]’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from [[United Press International]].<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884</ref> After a nearly a two year investigation of the evidence for Christianity, Strobel became a Christian.<ref>http://www.leestrobel.com/LS_bio.htm</ref>
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[[Lee Strobel]] converted from atheism to Christianity and then became a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]].<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884</ref> Before investigating the claims of Christianity, Strobel had obtained an undergraduate degree in journalism and also obtained a Master of Studies in Law degree from [[Yale]] Law School. Strobel was an award-winning legal editor of the [[Chicago Tribune]], and he won [[Illinois]]’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from [[United Press International]].<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884</ref> After a nearly a two year investigation of the evidence for Christianity, Strobel became a Christian.<ref>http://www.leestrobel.com/LS_bio.htm</ref>
  
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Although [[Richard Dawkins]] declared he was an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] in 2006 and 2012, in 2002 Richard Dawkins publicly argued for the position of [[militant atheism]] and claimed that he will not feel anything after death.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3_rGbiT_3c Richard Dawkins Says He's Agnostic -- NOT atheist - video testimony of Richard Dawkins saying he is not an atheist, but an agnostic]</ref><ref>
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Although [[Richard Dawkins]] declared he was an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] in 2006 and 2012, in 2002 Richard Dawkins publicly argued for the position of [[militant atheism]] and claimed that he will not feel anything after death.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3_rGbiT_3c Richard Dawkins Says He's Agnostic -- NOT atheist - video testimony of Richard Dawkins saying he is not an atheist, but an agnostic]</ref><ref>
 
*[http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html Richard Dawkins on militant atheism]</ref> See: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]
 
*[http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html Richard Dawkins on militant atheism]</ref> See: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]
  
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== Other ex-atheists ==
 
== Other ex-atheists ==
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[[File:Alister McGrath.jpg|right|thumb|175px|[[Alister McGrath]] ]]
  
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*Sita Ram Goel, Hindu
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''See also:'' [[Ex-atheist testimonies of Christians]]
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*[[Alister McGrath]]
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*[[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]], Russian Orthodox Christian
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*[[Niall Ferguson]] is an [[Anglican]] and [[ex-atheist]] who married the Christian and ex-atheist [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]].<ref>[https://archive.is/RoSNu#selection-637.0-637.56 How historian Niall Ferguson became a religious believer], The Australian, 2024</ref><ref>[https://theamericanrenewalproject.org/2024/05/christian/ Why I am now a Christian] by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 2023</ref>
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*[[Peter Hitchens]], Christian and former Communist
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*John Warwick Montgomery, [[Christian legal apologetics|Christian legal apologist]]<ref>[https://jamesbishopblog.com/2017/02/27/evidence-for-jesus-resurrection-leads-distinguished-philosopher-atheist-john-montgomery-to-faith/ EVIDENCE FOR JESUS’ RESURRECTION LEADS DISTINGUISHED PHILOSOPHER & ATHEIST, JOHN MONTGOMERY, TO FAITH.]</ref>
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*[[Mark Zuckerberg]]
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*[[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]]
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*[[Enoch Powell]], politician, Christian
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*A.N. Wilson<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism A N Wilson: Why I believe again]</ref>
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*[[John C. Wright (author)|John C. Wright]]<ref>[http://www.scifiwright.com/2017/02/the-last-crusade-rip-van-con/ The Last Crusade: Rip van Con] by John C. Wright</ref>
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*[[Stephen Colbert]]<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/stephen-colbert-reveals-why-he-lost-his-faith-before-returning-to-catholicism Stephen Colbert reveals why he returned to Catholicism after losing his faith]</ref>
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*Teresa MacBain, Methodist
 
*Tamsin Greig, Christian
 
*Tamsin Greig, Christian
 
*Keir Hardie, Protestant Christian
 
*Keir Hardie, Protestant Christian
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*[[Peter Hitchens]], Christian and former Communist
 
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*Martin Lings, Muslim
 
 
*Gabriel Marcel, Catholic Christian
 
*Gabriel Marcel, Catholic Christian
 
*[[Dmitry Medvedev]], Russian Orthodox Christian
 
*[[Dmitry Medvedev]], Russian Orthodox Christian
 
*Nursultan Nazarbayev, Muslim
 
*Nursultan Nazarbayev, Muslim
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*[[Anne Rice]], beliefes in Jesus Christ and God, but does no longer considers herself a Christian
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*[[Anne Rice]], believes in Jesus Christ and God, but no longer considers herself a Christian
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*[[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]], Russian Orthodox Christian
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*Sita Ram Goel, Hindu
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*[[Enoch Powell]], politician, Christian
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*Martin Lings, Muslim
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*[[David Wood]]
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*Patrick Bet-David<ref>[https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/patrick-bet-david-christian FROM ATHEIST TO CHRISTIAN: PATRICK BET-DAVID TALKS RELIGIOUS CONVERSION]</ref>
  
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== Evidence related to Antony Flew's Conversion to theism/deism ==
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== Evidence related to Antony Flew's conversion to theism/deism ==
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[[File:Richard Carrier.jpg|thumbnail|165px|right|[[Richard Carrier]] ]]
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[[File:Richard Carrier.jpg|thumbnail|165px|left|[[Richard Carrier]] ]]
 
[[Athanatos Christian Ministries]] wrote concerning the book ''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters'' by Anthony Horvath:  
 
[[Athanatos Christian Ministries]] wrote concerning the book ''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters'' by Anthony Horvath:  
 
{{cquote|Famed atheist Antony Flew stunned the world with his repudiation of atheism in favor of deism about 2004 but the reasons for his change were unclear. Finally, in 2007, Flew released his book ''There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'' in an attempt to set the record straight.” It was immediately challenged by hostile atheists on a number of grounds, not all of them very charitable. One of the challenges was put forth most prominently by [[PZ Myers]] and [[Richard Carrier]]: Flew had lost his mind; the arguments weren’t his at all, but rather were the product of manipulating Christian apologists.
 
{{cquote|Famed atheist Antony Flew stunned the world with his repudiation of atheism in favor of deism about 2004 but the reasons for his change were unclear. Finally, in 2007, Flew released his book ''There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'' in an attempt to set the record straight.” It was immediately challenged by hostile atheists on a number of grounds, not all of them very charitable. One of the challenges was put forth most prominently by [[PZ Myers]] and [[Richard Carrier]]: Flew had lost his mind; the arguments weren’t his at all, but rather were the product of manipulating Christian apologists.
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For those interested in the best evidence and primary sources in coming to their conclusions, these letters by Flew will be instrumental.<ref>[http://athanatosministries.org/store/products/a-defense-of-the-integrity-of-antony-flews-there-is-a-god-from-his-own-letters ''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters''] by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: Athanatos Christian Ministries, September 3, 2011</ref>}}
 
For those interested in the best evidence and primary sources in coming to their conclusions, these letters by Flew will be instrumental.<ref>[http://athanatosministries.org/store/products/a-defense-of-the-integrity-of-antony-flews-there-is-a-god-from-his-own-letters ''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters''] by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: Athanatos Christian Ministries, September 3, 2011</ref>}}
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== Atheism and its retention rate in individuals ==
 +
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See: [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]]
  
 
== Recommended books ==
 
== Recommended books ==
  
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* ''Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'' by C.S. Lewis, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich (March 23, 1966), ISBN-10: 0156870118, ISBN-13: 978-0156870115
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* ''Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'' by C.S. Lewis, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich (March 23, 1966), ISBN 0156870118, ISBN 978-0156870115
  
 
*''There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'' by Anthony Flew (2007) with Roy Abraham Varghese (ISBN 978-0-06-133529-7)
 
*''There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'' by Anthony Flew (2007) with Roy Abraham Varghese (ISBN 978-0-06-133529-7)
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*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
 
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
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*[[Conversion from atheism to Christianity]]
 
*[[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]]
 
*[[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]]
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*[[Ex-atheist testimonies of Christians]]
 
 
*[[Ex-agnostics]]
 
*[[Ex-agnostics]]
 
*[[Books on the causes of atheism]]
 
*[[Books on the causes of atheism]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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*[https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/july-august/atheists-finding-god-jana-harmon-stories-faith.html 50 Atheists Found Christ. This Researcher Found Out Why.], ''Christianity Today'', 2023
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*[http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/christian-trends/why-are-so-many-former-atheists-coming-to-christ.html Why are So Many Former Atheists Coming to Christ?]
 
*[http://www.shockawenow.net Resource created by an ex-atheist]
 
*[http://www.shockawenow.net Resource created by an ex-atheist]
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[[Category: Atheism]]
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[[Category:Atheism]]
  
 
{{Nb Atheism}}
 
{{Nb Atheism}}

Latest revision as of 22:01, June 1, 2025

Ex-atheist Lee Strobel

There have been some notable incidences of atheists converting to theism.

Lee Strobel converted from atheism to Christianity and then became a Christian apologist.[1] Before investigating the claims of Christianity, Strobel had obtained an undergraduate degree in journalism and also obtained a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School. Strobel was an award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, and he won Illinois’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from United Press International.[2] After a nearly a two year investigation of the evidence for Christianity, Strobel became a Christian.[3]

Although Richard Dawkins declared he was an agnostic in 2006 and 2012, in 2002 Richard Dawkins publicly argued for the position of militant atheism and claimed that he will not feel anything after death.[4][5][6] See: Richard Dawkins and agnosticism

C.S. Lewis abandoned his atheism and became a Christian and he was very much influenced by the writings of George MacDonald and G. K. Chesterton.[7] In Surprised by Joy, Lewis says: "In reading Chesterton, as in reading MacDonald, I did not know what I was letting myself in for. A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. God is, if I may say it, very unscrupulous."[8]

British philosopher Anthony Flew abandoned atheism and became an deist after as a result of the intelligent design issue. According to the news organization MSNBC, Flew became a deist because he believed a super-intelligence was the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature.[9] In 2006, Flew and 12 prominent academics urged that intelligent design be taught in British government schools.[10]

The work of ex-atheist and psychologist Dr. Paul Vitz is often cited in regards to atheism. Dr. Vitz wrote the work Faith of the Fatherless which is a book which touches upon the subject of the causal factors in regards to atheism.

Other ex-atheists

Alister McGrath

See also: Ex-atheist testimonies of Christians

Evidence related to Antony Flew's conversion to theism/deism

Richard Carrier

Athanatos Christian Ministries wrote concerning the book A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters by Anthony Horvath:

“ Famed atheist Antony Flew stunned the world with his repudiation of atheism in favor of deism about 2004 but the reasons for his change were unclear. Finally, in 2007, Flew released his book There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind in an attempt to set the record straight.” It was immediately challenged by hostile atheists on a number of grounds, not all of them very charitable. One of the challenges was put forth most prominently by PZ Myers and Richard Carrier: Flew had lost his mind; the arguments weren’t his at all, but rather were the product of manipulating Christian apologists.

There is just one teensy-weensy problem with this line of attack. In 2006, before it was even known to the world that Antony Flew would be releasing a book, a Christian apologist and author by the name of Anthony Horvath (Athanatos Christian Ministries) was in correspondence with Dr. Flew. Horvath wrote Flew specifically to ask him to commit his current positions and arguments to written form because even then there was much speculation. The answer was that the book was already in the works!

The correspondence was brief but turns out to be decisive against those claiming that “There is a God” did not reflect Flew’s actual positions. In this e-book, Horvath releases copies of the original letters along with his lengthy rebuttal to Richard Carrier’s assertions. To date, though Carrier has been made aware of that rebuttal, no answer has been received. And no wonder: these letters settle the matter once and for all.

For those interested in the best evidence and primary sources in coming to their conclusions, these letters by Flew will be instrumental.[18]

”

Atheism and its retention rate in individuals

See: Atheism and its retention rate in individuals

Recommended books

  • Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich (March 23, 1966), ISBN 0156870118, ISBN 978-0156870115
  • There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind by Anthony Flew (2007) with Roy Abraham Varghese (ISBN 978-0-06-133529-7)

See also

External links

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Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884
  2. ↑ http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884
  3. ↑ http://www.leestrobel.com/LS_bio.htm
  4. ↑ Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!
  5. ↑ Richard Dawkins Says He's Agnostic -- NOT atheist - video testimony of Richard Dawkins saying he is not an atheist, but an agnostic
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n23_v47/ai_17863106
  8. ↑ Lewis, Surprised by Joy op cit.
  9. ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6688917/
  10. ↑ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/newspapers/sunday_times/britain/article1265412.ece?token=null&offset=12
  11. ↑ How historian Niall Ferguson became a religious believer, The Australian, 2024
  12. ↑ Why I am now a Christian by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 2023
  13. ↑ EVIDENCE FOR JESUS’ RESURRECTION LEADS DISTINGUISHED PHILOSOPHER & ATHEIST, JOHN MONTGOMERY, TO FAITH.
  14. ↑ A N Wilson: Why I believe again
  15. ↑ The Last Crusade: Rip van Con by John C. Wright
  16. ↑ Stephen Colbert reveals why he returned to Catholicism after losing his faith
  17. ↑ FROM ATHEIST TO CHRISTIAN: PATRICK BET-DAVID TALKS RELIGIOUS CONVERSION
  18. ↑ A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: Athanatos Christian Ministries, September 3, 2011
  19. ↑ A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: Athanatos Christian Ministries, September 3, 2011
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