Atheists Becoming Religious?

[David.B-88]

I was thinking about this today.

Does anyone know anyone or statistics about any Atheists becoming religious and converting? Obviously there's plenty of people have went the other way-like myself-but I can't think of anyone famous or not that has made the switch from Atheist to a believer.

When I say Atheist I mean people like ourselves on this forum who have a decent level of knowledge about evolution, the cosmos, the bible and who have read works by the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens and others.

I can't comprehend it even being possible after having "enlightenment". From thinking rationally and using logic, looking at evidence to leaving behind the importance of these notions and believing in a particular religion on faith.

[renasimplified]

In reality men are still subject to strong emotions, some of which may interfere with rational thought.  So I would conclude a sufficient circumstance can cause an atheist to convert to a religion to cope. I can also say some switch FROM religions to atheism because of emotional turmoil, fail to study and see the rational choice as it is, and eventually convert back.  Beliefs change with information, whether that comes from firm fact, or shaky sensationalism, depends on the person.

[PickelledEggs]

I do.

100% of people that are theists have converted from being atheists.

Source: when people are born, they don't believe in god until they're brainwashed to.

Other than that, I never heard of someone fully comfortable in their atheism and conciously converting to theism without the lingering thought that there is "something bigger out there"

Once your faith goes lack, you don't go back.

[Atheon]

I've heard a number of theists claim that they were once atheists (not counting babies), but I have my doubts. Most of the time they seem clueless about what atheism entails, and their reasons for reverting to theism are flimsy.

The road between theism and atheism is pretty much a one-way street. A few nuts might end up driving the wrong way.

[PickelledEggs]

I've heard a number of theists claim that they were once atheists (not counting babies), but I have my doubts. Most of the time they seem clueless about what atheism entails, and their reasons for reverting to theism are flimsy.

The road between theism and atheism is pretty much a one-way street. A few nuts might end up driving the wrong way.

Yeah. I have had a few people tell me they were atheist for a while as well, but then they followed that statement with something to the effect of "but it still felt like there was something more to it than (insert reason here)"

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I've heard a number of theists claim that they were once atheists (not counting babies), but I have my doubts. Most of the time they seem clueless about what atheism entails, and their reasons for reverting to theism are flimsy.

The 9th Commandment doesn't apply when you're Lying For Jesus.®

[aitm]

no matter now intelligent or rational a person may be, it cannot compare to fear.

[GSOgymrat]

Here is a wiki. It is a short list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_atheists_and_agnostics

[stromboli]

Here is a wiki. It is a short list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_atheists_and_agnostics

I'd be willing to bet, after looking at the list, that there were reasons other than "true" conversion, i.e. political or monetary gain. No different than claiming an after life experience.

I have never personally seen an atheist convert, though I haven't been an atheist that long.

[Alexnvy]

I have never personally seen an atheist convert, though I haven't been an atheist that long.

I formed an atheist club back when I went to high school and now I contacted my fella militant atheist and they became watered down and "spiritual" (h8 that undefinable word) they were all about putting atheism away and sort of even being a closet atheist, but that is because we were geeky bunch of guys I went more of thuggish nones way and they buddyed  up with the christianish  anime  group, so they put away their beliefs to make friends and I constantly kept steering my gang twords atheism,




DOSNT matter but they have found spirituality!!!!!! And I see that as some sort of mythical faith like god left over and I honestly think that is ...... Idk how to say that i have a migraine ügh ......that's too religious for my comfort, I had a problem with "luck" that is as far as I have fallen, I found a horse shue and Crystal necalas when something bad happened  I wore it for a week then looked in the mirror and felt such shame because I pride myself on my secular mind set,

So point I'm trying to make, I have seen atheist turn into spiritualists!


(shit idk if I shoold even post this I got such a migraine I can berally see, and the iPad Is guessing my words for some fucking reason so idk if they are even correct but just tell me what you think)

[Alexnvy]

though I haven't been an atheist that long.

I have always been an atheist became militant in 5th grade when we learned about religions and their Atrocities, how did you become atheist? Just wondering.

[The Skeletal Atheist]

I suppose it could happen (as the result off a brain injury), but I have never personally seen a well documented atheist convert. I'm not going to say that it doesn't happen because I don't know that, but I assume that it's quite rare.

[JohnD]

  David Robertson was a failed Atheist and claims to have seen the light and is now a minister. He also wrote the book 'why i am not an Atheist.' He's debating here with Matt Dillahunty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GcPFfCfUak   I'm a great fan of Matt Dillahunty but found that he lost out on a good opportunity debating with Robertson.

[Shiranu]

I'm sure it happens, just like people can go from a dye-in-the-wool conservative to a "commie-loving" progressive. It is certainly not the norm, but people change ideologies from time to time.  If it is possible for people to overcome the fear of hell they were brainwashed from a child into believing in, it's it truly that hard to believe that people can come to believe in salvation and eternal bliss at the cost of it being irrational? I don't think so, anyways.