Pastoral Musings Thoughts, essays, and miscellanea…

The Conversion of An Atheist

08.26.2008 · Posted in Genesis, apologetics

“The only controversy I had ever been taught concerning the history of the world was where life had originated and how it developed from there. I had never even thought to question the foundational principles; I had never even considered taking a metaphysical look at the framework that I assumed to be truth. The unspoken rule seemed to be that anyone who did would automatically become contemptible. One could be a genius one moment (as long as they followed the evolutionary principles) and an idiot as soon as one stepped beyond those bounds.

Now, I wanted to know why I based all my preconceptions on an evolutionary foundation. It wasn’t so much that I believed the creationist material; it was just that I needed to start with “what did I know” and “how did I know it.” I began re-reading some of my anthropology textbooks with an eye to find the basis for the extrapolations. What I found was that the texts themselves assumed evolution to be true from the beginning. Thus, all data was interpreted to fit that paradigm. Many of my professors had often accused creationists of the same thing as a means to destroy their arguments. But these textbooks, too, were starting from a framework (naturalism) to construct hypotheses.

To be honest, the one recurring argument I read on the Internet to support evolution was the same “all evidence supports it” argument. But I found that to be very unsatisfying. Where was all this evidence?”

Read the whole article here.

  • pastoralmusings
    onsrn,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
    Jason
  • onscrn
    I gather that the original article, which I haven't read I'll admit, was the story of someone who was won over to something of a Biblical literalist view of creation etc. I don't think many people are likely to take that path, nor need they to reject atheism. I was an atheist for decades, and it was the perfection of creation as seen in its laws, including the evolution of mankind from mere atoms, that was one of the most compelling arguments for the Creator in my mind. I wrote a bit about how I now look back at my years as an atheist on my blog in a post called "On the Breaking of Bad Habits Acquired in One’s Youth: Smoking and Atheism."
  • pastoralmusings
    Morsecode,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Honestly.
    My intention was simply to give a little more coverage to the article. I don't have time to debate this particular topic, because I am devoting my time to a couple of other topics. I am also very busy, so I must try to balance my time. I have two small children, so I must use wisdom in how I manage my time. I feel sure that you will appreciate the fact that I desire to give my children time and seek to give them a good life and joy with it.
    I suppose you wish to debate, and take joy in it?
    If so, I'm sure you can find much that's already on this blog, or on someone else's that will furnish you with plenty to debate.
    I did not think about closing comments, to be honest.
    Thanks again for coming by.
    Jason (The Pastor)
  • If you don't wish to debate the topic, why post the letter? Or better yet, why leave comments open?
  • pastoralmusings
    Forknowledge,
    Thanks for stopping by.
    I don't intend to debate this article, since I didn't write it. I just put it up so that it could be read.
    I'm glad that you did read it, even though you disagree.
    Jason (The Pastor)
  • pastoralmusings
    Morse,
    Thanks for stopping by.
    I don't intend to debate this article, since I didn't write it. I just put it up so that it could be read.
    I'm glad that you did, even though you disagree.
    Jason (The Pastor)
  • That article is atrocious. (Par for the course when it comes to AiG, I guess...) I could have made a little bingo card ahead of time. Peppered moths? Got it! Out of date abiogenesis experiments? It's there too! All fossil dating methods require stupid assumptions? Bingo!

    AiG really needs to step it up a bit if they want anyone to take them seriously. Peppered moths are certainly not a cornerstone of evolutionary theory. It's just an easily understood example of how natural selection works, which is why it finds its way into highschool-level textbooks so often. AiG is realling aiming at the 'lowest common denominator' version of evolution here.
  • Sorry, but it's unconvincing.

    First of all, evolution, abiogenesis and the big bang have nothing to do with atheism.

    Second of all, the evidence does support them. Whether it be observational in terms of astronomy or genetic and chemical in relation to biology.

    Thirdly, if you could show that evolution, the big bang and abiogenesis were false tomorrow, that would be fine. However, it wouldn't mean that the answer was creationism. You still have to show evidence for your side, you can't just disprove others and assume your idea is the only other alternative. It's not.

    Nice try though.
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