Christ is the Lord
December 22, 2008
Three years ago, I promoted and appeared in the atheist documentary “The God Who Wasn’t There,” dedicated to the proposition that Jesus never existed.
TODAY I DEDICATE THIS SITE AND MY LIFE TO THE WORSHIP AND SERVICE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Comments
552 Responses to “Christ is the Lord”
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:03 am
Amen!
Welcome home.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:19 am
You disgust me. I’m sorry I wasted my time reading your blog, but I’m never coming back again.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 7:39 am
I hope you know this already, but not all atheists share the sentiments of Jose there. If your conversion is legit (and I assume it is) then best of luck to you. I know my life has been dedicated to doing the best I can to find a worldview I can live with. No religion has done that for me, but I can’t fault anyone for finding peace in one. And there is no crime in changing ones mind.
On that, if you don’t mind me asking, what is the nature of your conversion? Empirical, personal, a mixture of the two, one thing in particular, a general feeling, etc..
December 23rd, 2008 @ 8:34 am
Right on!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 9:18 am
God bless you, and may you find ever more peace, solace, and truth in Christ.
I am grateful to be able to read your writing.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 9:45 am
I am blessed beyond words to see this day come!! My son, Casey, saw me looking at the picture and said “It’s Jesus!“ Praise the Lord!! The Father and His angels are rejoicing in heaven!! I concur with Lily……..”welcome home”!!!
OXOXO
My heart breaks for Jose, but like you have always told me RT “no one is beyond redemption.” It is that truth and encouragement that gives me hope for my loved ones because I see that indeed “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) - you are the prime example!! :)
Jeremy, I see that your soul is thirsty and seeking His living water. You can have it!! ”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8). I understand how you feel about “religion” and why you might be hesitant in giving Jesus a chance. Though, let me assure you, Jesus is NOT “religion”. Religion is man made. Jesus Christ and His Word have been here since time began (John 1:1). Take it from a girl who was raised in the Methodist church….there’s a LOT more to God than what denominations and religions put out there!! It’s not about all the legalism, traditions, etc. it’s about a real one on one relationship with Jesus!! God didn’t mean as much to me then as He does now because back then, it was all rituals and traditions. Now, it’s PERSONAL!! IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD! (Don’t take it to mean that I am knocking my childhood church, or any church at all. I’m just saying that God is more than what many churches - particularly the denominational ones - make Him out to be).
Knowing Him is all about love and grace!! You don’t have to “earn” anything or perform in order to attain salvation. All you need to do is start believing: “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10).
Jeremy, I’m here to help you if you decide that you want to give Jesus a chance to change your life and fill you with hope and joy!! It will be the best thing that has ever happened to you!! Please, feel free to contact me!! (And that goes for anyone else as well!).
God bless you RT!! How fitting it is that you should declare your faith in Jesus right before Christmas!! What a blessed Christmas miracle! It makes Christmas even sweeter to me when I think of moments like these; the moments for which Christ was purposed and sent for!! I look forward to seeing more posts from you and hopefully, you will tell the world the details of your conversion story so it can bless others as it has blessed me!!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 10:14 am
Welcome to our family!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 10:15 am
Wonderful news. May you grow in the love and grace of Christ. Remember, a decision to follow Christ is just the beginning. The life of faith will bring great joy, but it will not always be simple, easy, or understood by others. Not every question you have will be answered in this life or answered in the way you hoped it would be. But God is good. Truly, truly good. And He is faithful.
I’m blessed to learn of this news here before the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Thank you and God bless.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 10:18 am
You may not remember me, but we went a few rounds on faith issues back when I was a blogger, RA. I was thrilled to hear of your good news. May God bless you, and welcome home!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Melissa,
Thank you for your warm sentiments. I believe they are sincere. But I feel I must clarify a couple of things. By using the term “religion” I’m simply using a sort hand for words like “faith”, “belief”, etc. in any variety of theistic worldviews. I am aware that faith is much more than the edicts of particular religious denominations. It is, perhaps, an inappropriate short hand, though, so am willing to use different terminology.
Second, when I say I am searching for a worldview I can live with, I simply mean that I attempt to live my life in as honest a way as possible. This means being honest with my self about what I believe “deep down” and admitting that I can never have all the fact with which to be absolutely sure about any position I might hold. I have looked at the Jesus story a variety of ways (albeit not ALL the ways) including deep introspection and I have come to the conclusion that I simply don’t believe and I can’t pretend to. I am, in fact, happy with this. I admit this may change one day. After all, RA has now become RT, so I guess anything is possible.
I am an atheist, I am a secular humanist, and I am a skeptic. I am also a husband, a son, a father and a brother. I try (and sometimes fail) to treat my fellow man with kindness and respect, which is the way I hope others would treat me. I try to learn as much about my world as I can in as honest a way as I can. I reserve the right to change my mind. This is my worldview and it does bring me joy. My only problem is that I don’t know everything.
Then again, who does?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Ha, ha; you a believer–better than any joke in a Christmas cracker!
Still, atheist, polytheist or monotheist, have a great Yule and a Happy New Year!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:25 am
[...] read his blog, this conversion seems rather sudden, and one might almost be tempted to worry that it’s some kind of [...]
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Rejoicing with you, TRA!!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 11:58 am
I almost fell over when I saw this.
When I first came across your site I was an atheist myself, back in mid-2006. Reading the comments from some of the Christians in your combox intrigued me — they weren’t the unreasonable people I’d stereotyped them to be. In fact, I found that they had some interesting arguments in defense of their faith. I decided to do a little research into this religion of theirs.
Long story short, I’m now a Christian as well, after being an atheist my entire life. Since your site played a big part in my own conversion, it brings me joy to see this that is hard to describe.
God bless you and merry Christmas.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Sorry, it is now and forever shall be TRT!!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
[...] read his blog, this conversion seems rather sudden, and one might almost be tempted to worry that it’s some kind of prank.However, it is on the [...]
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Welcome to the family!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
….and looking forward, at your leisure, to the full story.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
Heckuva Christmas present, dude!
Welcome! And thanks be to God!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Welcome to the family!
“”Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Luke 15:4
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”" Luke 15:10
“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:24
May God bless you and yours! Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
There’s a shocker! Who could have possibly seen that one coming? [/sarcasm]
Although I truly can’t fathom how someone can go from being a skeptic to believing that a deity poofed things into existence, and a guy rose from the dead after three days, based on a single book of dubious origin, more power to you if it makes you happy.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
The best Christmas gift ever. Welcome home. God is so great!
Jeremy - I look forward to many discussions with you.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
What will amaze me - and no doubt the proprietor of this blog - is how folks will come along here (like nkb above) and claim that this conversion is irrational, void of any intellectual substance or reasoning.
At any rate, congrats. I trust that you - just as I have - won’t give up on thinking about and fighting in your mind whether or not God exists. Read Aquinas and you can’t go wrong.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
LMAO!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
Professor Chaos — it’s funny, I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering what’s up with you. I’ve missed your comments.
Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Happy Monkey and Merry Winter Solstice to you too, Jen!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
RT - A hundred thousand welcomes, now and into eternity! I’m one of those who, knowing you only through your blog, respected your honesty and thought/hoped/prayed that it would lead you to God. Praise to Him Who is Father, Son, and Spirit, that it has - and thank you for the work you do, already so much more than that done by many who bear the name Christian.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
Alleluia! Welcome home!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
Wow. Good luck, RA, and thank you for creating this forum so many years ago, where many atheists found a true home on the internet. Don’t be a stranger, visit ravingatheists.com/forum and share your stories.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Great news … congratulations and welcome!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
huh.
why?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
Epic troll is epic.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Well – congratulations on burying your head in the sand. I wonder what horrific even in your life pushed you running screaming into the waiting arms of your invisible friend.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Your religion is about as believable as that picture of an Anglo-Jesus comforting a group of racially diverse children……as of course the Bible says he often did.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
oh my goodness. i’m so sad to see this. farewell, you were once a force for good and reason on the internet. i’m sorry to see your mind stolen away.
i wish you well nonetheless.
it’s like the twilight zone. i can’t believe it.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Welcome to the Church! May God bless you richly this year! Deo gratias!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
What happened to you? You used to have a brain, or at least seemed like it. Since the de-enlightenment has apparently occurred, I will no longer frequent. Perhaps some time in the land of ignorance will turn you around.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Love how you have the black kid staring in adoration at your white god. Given where he was supposed to have been born, isn’t Jesus just a little too Caucasian to be plausible?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
There is no way that this is for real.
Just like that, huh? On the same day that you posted an atheist related topic? No transition whatever. Still have the basic assumptions beginning with “there is no God” up on top right.
Nope. Once again an atheist proves personally and morally unattractive by jerking the chains of other people who are basically decent and want the best for you.
Then how you will laugh at how gullible and dumb they are for falling for it again. How very Bright of you.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
I see you’ve started this thread with a picture of a paediphile priest and four of his victims. I hope you’ve given their names to the police.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
It’s sad so see someone who’s too tired or scared to keep thinking. Have fun with your death cult.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Assuming that your conversion is legit, what I’d point out is that it likely happened (in part) because you were too dogmatically opposed to religion.
I see comments from atheists all the time denying that Jesus even existed, when the best inference from the evidence is that, of course, he did exist. Most stories (including outright fiction) have at least a grain of truth to them, and Xianity almost certainly coalesced around an actual figure, presumably Jesus.
What’s sad is that you apparently converted because atheism gives you the freedom to question, and yet Xianity typically does not (yes, some of the more “liberal” ones do, to varying degrees). So it’s great that you felt free to take up religion if you so desired, yet it is not likely that you will have the same freedom within religion, unless you have specifically chosen such a religion.
I would not wish to follow. Then again, there does not seem to be much reason from the position of irreligion to fault the use of the freedom allowed by secularism, other than to warn about the frequent lack of such freedom under religion.
Glen Davidson
http://tinyurl.com/6mb592
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
[...] Raving Atheist to a debate. It doesn’t look like that’ll be happening after all, for obvious reasons. [...]
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Chump.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Bummer.
@AnglicanPeggy: Judge not, no? Or does that only apply to “real” Christians? *lol*
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Anglican Pegmeisterin, from what’s said here, I’m banking this is real. Charity, eh?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
I’m curious; Are you going to give us some insight as to how you went from your atheist viewpoint of no evidence of a god, to believing that Jesus Christ was the son of the Big Man, and that Christianity, of all the religions out there, is the right one?
What kind of evidence did you unearth that changed your mind that drastically?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
AnglicanPeggy,
The Raving Theist is sincere. I know this for a fact. He’s good friends with Dawn Eden in real life (read, “offline”). I ask that you please put your bitterness and suspicion aside. After all, it is Christmas, no?
Dear Atheistic Commenters,
I understand your frustrations and doubts. As the great philosopher Derrida argued, when a companion defects from our worldview, we often feel betrayed and fearful. We usually escape this unpleasant feeling by projecting scorn onto the person in question, seeking to discredit him in any way possible. This is nothing but a defense mechanism, and it keeps us from recognizing the real problem: deep down inside, we are afraid of the “other,” because we are afraid the “other” might be right, or else might at least know something which threatens our most cherished convictions. Thus, we naturally fear that which is different and unusual, as it threatens that which is familiar and normal (at least to us). Derrida suggests that such fears are unhealthy and baseless, and that we should be more open to the “other” and approach life with a hermeneutic of hospitality. By holding just a small amount of doubt about our own views, we can remain open to the views of others who may know something about the truth of things that we don’t. In the end, such an approach results in a strong and reasonable faith, which is open to goodness under all its various forms.
That’s what having an open mind is all about, as G. K. Chesterton said. You keep it open, at least just a tiny bit, to better discern what you should close it down upon when the time comes.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
It’s sad so see someone who’s too tired or scared to keep thinking
Yep. Because throughout the span of human history, only atheists have actually done any thinking.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
@#25 Warren. now that’s funny. Those kind of pictures always made me a tad uncomfortable. Ya, like jebus is a child molester and hey, he just found a “new friend”
Oh, i’m calling POE on this one.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
“[F]ighting in your mind whether or not God exists” need not go on indefinitely. It’s terribly tiring and, at some point, it becomes silly not to acknowledge reality.
After He saves
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Did death scare you that much?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
Fakey McFakerson!
Still, it was worth it to see the sheep bleat.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Some people are more easily influenced and led than others. After following you for so very long, it became clear that you were one of those people.
This was just a matter of time. It really is too bad, but then again, you weren’t exactly a pioneer for the other side — so not much of a loss. You’ll now be a poster boy for the deluded, and do more harm to the movement that you’ve joined than good. So thanks for that. You can clearly do more good for us by working for the other side.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
Is it April 1st already?
What’s with the “Christ is Lord” post title, with the “First, there is no God” in the sidebar?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Surely now, as logical humans beings we assume that we can be logical, and our faith in all logical propositions are built on the idea our logic is reasonable.
We can not say RA (or rather RT) is illogical simply because he does not agree with us. If we can be logical then it is reasonable that so too can RA. If he were to trace out those conclusions we could detect a logical fallacy, say an Ad Hominem, “I think A, because B is held by Mr. C, and Mr. C is stupid, therefore B cannot be true.”
But what is reasoning but our working out all the ramifications of our original assumptions we make and how they interact. If A & B = TRUE then C = TRUE, if A & C = TRUE then D = FALSE.
Were clear thinking Athiests and Theists differ intellectually it is not necessarily an account of one being more intelligent or more reasonable than the other, it is usually a matter of fundamental assumptions.
It seems as though RA’s “Basic Assumptions” have changed. Perhaps he now has different undestandings about good and evil, happy and sad, and time and space. If these assumptions change then his conclusions will as well.
Why do assumptions change or even remain the same? Some people are simply stubborn or resistant to change, others hold onto ideas for emotive reasons. Some people change their assumptions for logical reasons; because two assumptions conflict, or the conclusions of assumptions are self-contradictory. Some people change assumptions becuase thsoe assumptions are not modeled in reality.
Since RA has not given us the reasons he is converting, if this is not a holiday farce as bjorn_torunn believes and is a true conversion I think it is greatly premature to declare he “disgusts” any of us.
RA, as a Christian I can say I’ll keep you in my prayers.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
I’d be intrigued to know which particular church you plan to attend and why.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
If jesus existed he sure as hell didn’t have blond hair and blue eyes.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
why?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
RA, you still have freedom of thought. But only the atheists will admit it to you. Best of luck on your journey, wherever it takes you, and if it leads you back to us, know that we will welcome you with relief and understanding.
Until then, however, we can only do our duty to the truth. I regret that you accepted the lies, but if you ever change your mind, know that some of us will be waiting to hear your cry and to take your hand. We’ve all made mistakes.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Dang. I always envied believers to a certain degree, because you have the capability to completely shut down your faculties of reasoning and intelligence so that you can have the feeling and expecation of a warm fuzzy comfort of an afterlife. I sometimes wish I could do this. But no matter how hard I’ve tried, wishful thinking just does not make it so, so I’m stuck with the hard cold reality that we all will just be worm food someday, but I guess I can take comfort in that I enjoyed the trip and used my ability to reason and question the wonder of the universe while I was here. I wonder if there are any good prescription drugs (Prozac, Abilify?) which well help bend my will to see the sweet warm comfort of the fairy tales?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
I have to say that this is a fascinating insight into the manipulative propensity of human emotion. Either this conversion is one big scam, or it’s not. If it’s a scam, then you’re working on the emotional weakness of the evangelicals and deceiving them. If you truly have converted and become a believer, than all the rational readers who relied on a well written author now feel like their commitments have been in vain. Either way, congratulations on manipulating one segment of the population or another. Still, all the faith huggers here are ultimately the idiots to blame for abandoning empirical reasoning, and lying and cheating about their supposed atheist histories to convert others. I guess the end justifies the means in their mind. If you can lie and cheat a person, going against the very same 10 commandments you use to bash everyone over the head with, and then come around to accept the ethics and morality of that decision because you may be able to convert one person, you’re happy with yourself. Well, I guess one has to be the ultimate hypocrite to maintain such disingenuous notions.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Man, i used to check your blog years ago… i just read the news from Pharyngula and im really sad.
I wonder what made you change your mind this way ?
It cant be reason, since you already understood the
nature of theism… so its was emotion ? Did you need a friend
or a supporting hand and there was nothing there ?
Im sorry, but again i hope, may you regain your own mind someday.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
i am so sorry, tra….i will really miss you.
i can’t say how really sorry i am. there are not enough words…this saddens me to no end…
be well.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Epic troll is epic, indeed. You got P.Z. good. Unless he’s in on the joke.
And for Scorpy1 up there, which sheep are you talking about? The ones who are bleating “welcome back” or the ones who are bleating “you suck and I’ll never talk to you again”? Because they’re both funny, and the funniest sheep are the ones thinking they’re smarter than the other sheep.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
You are just making Odin angry…
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
@34. Please excuse me if I have very little respect for what your dear philosopher Derrida had to say. To discard the arguments of someone who disagrees with you simply because “they are nothing but a defense mechanism” is intellectual dishonesty of the highest degree. If a seemingly rational person suddenly started believing that an imaginary figure, such as Santa Claus, was in fact real in a way the surpassed just the reality that it was a belief held by some, then my negative reaction to it would not be because I had doubts in my own knowledge that the jolly old elf did not exist, it would be because this once rational individual had fallen into the depravity of superstition and fantasy.
I feel sorry for this “Raving Theist”, dismayed that he has now become delusional, and wish him a speedy recover to sanity.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Geoffrey bustin’ out the Derrida. Nice move!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
Like the old saying goes “don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.” You can’t possibly know God and all He has to offer if you’ve never given Him the chance. Those of us that have faith believe it not only because it’s true, but because we’ve experienced Him firsthand. I have witnessed far too many miracles and amazing things of God to think otherwise (and I’m sure RT will agree!!). I have story after story that I could tell you of things that have happened that have continued to solidify my faith, but nothing compares to when you experience it for yourself!! What do you have to lose? Why not honestly and sincerely seek Him for 30 days or more and see what happens?
Even if we were wrong, what have any of us lost? All of you stand to lose MUCH MORE when you are proven wrong!! I pray that doesn’t happen. Thankfully, the Lord is so loving and patient and not willing that any should perish and is giving everyone time to repent and come to Him before He decides that He’s let things go on long enough and finally ends the madness in the world.
If you all need proof, why not wake up and realize how all the prophecies given in the Bible have been fulfilled (and are being fulfilled even now in these end times!). May God bless you and touch your hearts!! HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
So, if I became a Buddhist, say, would you be glad? Just a hypothetical. (Or maybe Taoist?)
P.S. Why is Jesus white?
Did he speak English? (I know the answer; I’m asking you.)
“Welcome to our family.” Interesting homily. All humans are part of the same family, no matter what.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Swapping cold reality for a comforting myth is something of a tragedy. Celebrating ignorance is not something I’m comfortable with. Nevertheless, you gotta do what you gotta go, so good luck!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
You believe now, I don’t believe. I believe you don’t believe. You don’t believe I believe. I don’t believe, I believe.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
“Those of us that have faith believe it not only because it’s true, but because we’ve experienced Him firsthand.”
Yeah, like the people who have experience alien abductions firsthand.
And what prophecies have been fulfilled from the Bible? Wars and rumors of wars? Pfft. That’s been pretty much the status quo since the beginning of recorded history.
As for prophecies fulfilled in the Bible, that’s not very impressive. One guy writes out some prophecies, then another guy writes to say “Oh, yeah, they totally happened” with no real evidence. Well, I’m sold. That’s not a prophecy, that’s just foreshadowing. Even Heroes can do that, and with the same degree of lousy writing.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
“Even if we were wrong, what have any of us lost?”
Only your ability to reason, an essential part of being human.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
If I ever get an abortion, I’ll dedicate it to you. Enjoy the vapid, glassy-eyed company, moron.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all.”
“Spiritual doctrines do not actually limit the mind as do materialistic denials. Even if I believe in immortality I need not think about it. But if I disbelieve in immortality I must not think about it. In the first case the road is open and I can go as far as I like; in the second the road is shut.”
“The sane man knows that he has a touch of the beast, a touch of the devil, a touch of the saint, a touch of the citizen. Nay, the really sane man knows that he has a touch of the madman. But the materialist’s world is quite simple and solid, just as the madman is quite sure he is sane.”
(all quotes from Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton)
Merry Christmas. He is Risen.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
You took the blue pill. Understandable, but sad.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Dear me, how pathetic. You used to think for yourself, and now you’ve let a bunch of Christians brainwash you. Hope it was worth it.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Hey, Melissa!
Please don’t pass the kool-aid.
Thanks.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
nkb wrote: “I’m curious; Are you going to give us some insight as to how you went from your atheist viewpoint of no evidence of a god, to believing that Jesus Christ was the son of the Big Man, and that Christianity, of all the religions out there, is the right one?”
He converted, most likely, for the woman.
Even assuming he writes a post explaining why he converted, it will doubtfully make any sense, and we could reply using his own words from the past — back when he knew what the score was.
Wouldn’t that be fun?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
OK, so I guess now it’s time to look at all your old blog post and use all the logical and evidence based arguments that you use to discuss and use them against your new belief system.
Let’s start with this one: Can you name ONE true thing in the Bible? Since you can’t prove that God exist or that Jesus ever existed answers like “God loves you” do not count as true. It has to be provable, not just an emotion based “wouldn’t it be nice if . . .” sort of truth. Show evidence. Circular logic is not allowed, none of this “the bible is true because the bible says it’s true” sort of stuff.
Go ahead, find the most profound thing that is absolutly and provably true in the Bible and then ask yourself :”Is that it? I’ve thrown away a rational thought process to believe in an invisible supernatural unprovable and probably non-existent being when the most profound and evidence based truth of the entire bible is this?”
And even if you throw evidence and rational thought out the window and decide to keep your new faith based phylosophy PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t start to follow the anti-gay and mysoginistic wing nuts of the christian faith. It’s bad enough that you’ve given up ration thought. Don’t compound the problem by adding christian based bigotry as well.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
urghh. That just makes my skin crawl!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Ugh, my! Atheists are such an arrogant, nasty bunch. (I used to be one!) Darwinfish alone is enough to make you want to believe in divine justice!
Anyway, RT, have a beautiful Christmas!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
I was struck by the similarity between the athiest commenters and Melissa. The athiests are upset at the thought of the conversion to Christianity. Melissa is upset at the thought that you might have converted to a form of Christianity she doesn’t agree with. At any rate, God bless you. Remember, Christ founded a visible church and religion is not a dirty word.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
any reason you’ve put up a pic of such a historically silly european jesus? or is the idea of a non-white middle-easterner somehow scary?
i guess you’ve already sacrificed rationality, a little side of racism should get things good and finished.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
oh yes and merry christmas: the holiday where christians celebrate the impregnation of a 14 year old by a murderous diety…who then lets a king slaughter all the under-2-year-old males in town! yay!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Seems to me a folksinger named Bob Dylan made a public statement of his conversion to Christianity. Slowly he realized that the people who had converted him had targeted him for conversion because it would be a feather in their cap among the evangelical community. He was discouraged at the way he had been used.
The same may occur to you. You may not be in danger from the atheists, although some have expressed their disappointment in strong terms. I would watch for the Christians who have deceived you for their own ends.
And Melissa, as a former Christian, your belief system is a house built on sand.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
It’s obvious that you can’t be convinced of anything even if I told you. Historical evidence can’t convince you and neither can my own experience, as evidenced by your rude and ignorant remarks. I could tell you to read Revelation to start with, but I don’t suppose you would.
I would be happy to share more with you if you really wanted to know. Though, it’s clear that you only want to argue, refute, and shoot down anything I have to share. I know that it’s not good to cast pearls to swine. You can’t very well hear anything when you have your fingers in your ears either. So, I will pray that your hearts will be opened and when you’re ready to receive, you’ll hear the truth…..I pray this in the name of Jesus.
As you have seen with RT, it took him a while before he decided to believe. Lots of Christians debated all they could to change his mind, but it couldn’t convince him. So, what DID convince Him? Only a personal experience in which he witnessed God’s sovereignty and wonder-working power! (I look forward to when he’ll share the details of his conversion story with everyone!) Only GOD could change his heart, and only God can change yours.
Like I said, just give Jesus a fair chance. Honestly seek Him. See for yourself!! I’ll be praying for you guys!! OXOXO
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Geoffrey,
You keep telling yourself that atheists are just afraid that theists may be right. That must be it!
Armchair pychology at its best (or worst, depending on your view).
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
Derrida can blow me. No one’s “afraid the “other” might be right”, they’re incensed that a companion, who previously held their worldview, has now apparently got intellectual conjunctivitis and “defected” to a belief system he’s spent so long arguing against.
Sad to see the Raving Atheist is now just raving.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Is this a joke?
Did someone hack the site?
Too bad.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Melissa “Only GOD could change his heart, and only God can change yours.”
If that is the case, why are you flapping your lips about this? Let him do His job, and shut the fuck up.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Pepsi, Coke. Left, right. Widdus er aginus. Red, blue. Cristian, atheist. Sure love them false dichotomies.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Oh you poor deluded guy!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
I thought you’d been hacked when I first saw this. Apparently it’s in the up-and-up. I’m joining the chorus: Welcome home!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
On the up-and-up. Oops!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Melissa, you can’t be serious. You just spouted a monologue that could be said by any member of any religion and then followed it up with Pascal’s Wager.
We don’t believe your signs and miracles any more than you believe a Muslims and we’re not afriad of your hell any more than you’re afraid of the Hindu’s.
You also seem to be unaware that most athiests were christians (or members of some other faith) FIRST. We have tried it and found it terribly wanting.
It still remains unanswered what suports this conversion. I do hope that the Raving blogger has a better answer than the one you just gave.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
darwinfish
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
“If I ever get an abortion, I’ll dedicate it to you. Enjoy the vapid, glassy-eyed company, moron.
darwinfish
December 23rd, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
oh yes and merry christmas: the holiday where christians celebrate the impregnation of a 14 year old by a murderous diety…who then lets a king slaughter all the under-2-year-old males in town! yay!”
God, I miss you.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
“Why not honestly and sincerely seek Him for 30 days or more and see what happens? ”
have you tried honestly and sincerely being an atheist for 30 days or more?
“Even if we were wrong, what have any of us lost?”
If you’re doing a cost/benefit analysis on belief, you have no dedication to the truth.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
white jesus is white.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
Without even meeting you I can tell that you have the personality construct of an addict which is evident in your see-sawing from one extreme to another. You were a crappy atheist to begin with. Enjoy your mindless devotion to Jebus and the Deathcult.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Perhaps, in the spirit of peace and goodwill, it would be interesting to state the rational case for God’s existence? I find the atheist community’s tendency to brand those who disagree with them as “vapid, glassy-eyed company” quite unsettling. Such characterizations remind me of the way Jews were vilified as money-squandering, occultic Christ-killers in medieval Europe. Such stereotypes always lead to violence sooner or later, because it is human nature to war against the other, if the other is perceived as a threat.
The insistence of some atheists that they have a monopoly on reason only serves to indicate that they severely overestimate the capabilities of reason and entertain an extremely narrow mind concerning the truth claims of others. My suggestion is that they actually listen to their supposed opposition for once, rather than the caricaturistic narratives they either consciously or unconsciously project onto their opponents.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
If we were called to be silent, Jesus wouldn’t have told us to make disciples of all nations. You can’t very well make disciples if you never speak your faith to anyone. You also make another assumption about God based on your ignorance. God works in many ways; through people, events, etc. Just because you aren’t open to hearing anything I have to say about God doesn’t mean that someone else won’t reach you in another way. Maybe you aren’t one who will be reached through a blog. Maybe it will happen face to face with someone. I don’t know. All I know is that I am not ashamed of my Lord and Savior, and I am not afraid to speak about Him and all He has done for me. You don’t have to like it or believe it, but I care enough for you to share my heart because Hell isn’t something I would wish on anyone!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Since you can’t prove that …Jesus ever existed…
There is historical evidence the Jesus did exist.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
Notice how nasty the atheist are and how their lives are consumed by hate. If that is atheism, I want no part of it.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
I am sorry if I came off too harsh or uncahritable but I remain very skeptical.
My apologies to the blogger if I am wrong about him. But I would like to see more evidence of what looks like a sudden unexplained 180 degree turn around coming from the same person who pulled just this sort of prank before.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
“I find the atheist community’s tendency to brand those who disagree with them as “vapid, glassy-eyed company” quite unsettling. Such characterizations remind me of the way Jews were vilified as money-squandering, occultic Christ-killers in medieval Europe. Such stereotypes always lead to violence sooner or later, because it is human nature to war against the other, if the other is perceived as a threat.”
You realize, of course, that it was typically Christians who were villifying those Jews, right? And that Christians do the same with atheists to this day? You can’t be elected president if you’re openly atheist, much less senator.
Sure, atheists might seem like they’re being mean to you when they call you deluded, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to try to kill you. Besides, most atheists believe that this life is the only one we have and thus, it’s a much more precious thing than it would be if we had any kind of afterlife to look forward to. Thus, taking that life from someone else is unforgivable.
On the other hand, someone who thinks you’re reprobate, who thinks an all-powerful deity is on their side, someone who thinks you’re an affront to that deity (who happens to be their bestest invisible friend in the whole world)… now THAT’S the kind of person you have to watch out for.
And I’m eagerly awaiting the rational case for God’s existence.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Hahahahahahahah!!
Great parody dude! It’s funny that people can still get yuks with phoney conversion gags.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Melissa,
Why not try informing some of us that haven’t been so rude as some of the other commenters?
I’ll be honest. I used to be a Christian, and even thought I had personally felt God’s presence. But once I realized how strong of faith people from other religions have, and how convinced they are that they’ve witnessed the miracles of, and felt the presence of, their own deities, I realized how inadequate a warm fuzzy feeling is for determining a world view.
I’d be interested if you could provide any good examples of Biblical prophesies being fulfilled. The website, EbonMusings gives a good rationale for what would be considered “good.”
http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/theistguide.html
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
I think we should consider the possibility that TRA was overpowered by a group of theists several years back who kept him alive only so they could witness his horror as they mutated his once-respectable blog into this mealy-mouthed pile of shit…this breeding ground for godidiots and their vapid sentiments. The horror…OH THE HORROR!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Geoffrey: “Perhaps, in the spirit of peace and goodwill, it would be interesting to state the rational case for God’s existence?”
I’m all ears, Geoffrey. Have at it, while keeping in mind that you yourself limited yourself to a ‘rational” case. So, no arguments from awesomeness, ignorance, wishful thinking, etc.
Ready when you are.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Who is Aubrey?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
“It’s obvious that you can’t be convinced of anything even if I told you. Historical evidence can’t convince you and neither can my own experience, as evidenced by your rude and ignorant remarks. I could tell you to read Revelation to start with, but I don’t suppose you would. ”
I’ve read the New Testament seven times, as well as bits and pieces of the Old Testament.
I was a Christian for my entire childhood up until I was about twenty years old, believing fervently, praying for salvation, being baptized and evangelizing.
I’ve given Jesus a chance.
Then, thanks to nagging doubts, I started doing research, trying to find solid evidence to validate my beliefs. As you can imagine, this didn’t turn up the desired results.
Oh, I fought against the doubts and feared I would burn in hell, but the more I learned, the less worried I became, because there was no evidence that my soul was in any danger of hellfire, much less that I had a soul at all.
But I guess you could always say that God works in mysterious ways and he deconverted me so I’d have a super neat testimony at some point in the future or I hardened my heart to him at some time (probaby during those years where I studied the Bible obsessively, talked to pastors and prayed for help. Guess I just didn’t believe enough or maybe it was one of those cute generational curse things. Those crack me up).
Also, no offense, but more and better people than you have prayed for me in the past. Maybe seeing Jesus come down in shining glory would convince me, or maybe it would mean I was hallucinating.
And maybe I’ll see Bigfoot.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
“And I’m eagerly awaiting the rational case for God’s existence.”
Then you shall have one, Brandon. Visit http://anothertheologyblog.stblogs.com/,
and leave a comment with your email address. We will be in
touch and set up a time to debate.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
Apparently, my comment is held up in moderation due to a link, so I’ll post it again without the link. Apologies if this turns into a double post:
Melissa,
Why not try informing some of us that haven’t been so rude as some of the other commenters?
I’ll be honest. I used to be a Christian, and even thought I had personally felt God’s presence. But once I realized how strong of faith people from other religions have, and how convinced they are that they’ve witnessed the miracles of, and felt the presence of, their own deities, I realized how inadequate a warm fuzzy feeling is for determining a world view.
I’d be interested if you could provide any good examples of Biblical prophesies being fulfilled. The website, Ebon Musings gives a good rationale for what would be considered “good” in the section “The Theist’s Guide to Converting Atheists.”
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Drusilla; “There is historical evidence the Jesus did exist.”
Really? Once again, I am all ears.
Now, maybe we need to define what constitutes evidence. For example, people writing about some vague figure, generations after his alleged existence, just doesn’t cut it.
Please tell me you weren’t talking about “evidence” like Josephus’ writings.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Drusilla - there’s as much evidence (more, actually) for the existence of Harry Potter than there is for Jesus of Nazareth. There was no city of Nazareth around the time period during which he was supposed to have lived, by the way (although London is real) so that’s one for Harry right there. Get it through your head: if a book says that it’s the infallable word of a mystical magical deity, you can’t take it seriously, let alone foist it upon others to substantiate your claims of the supernatural without any SHRED of additional evidence. It’s incredibly frustrating, not to mention sad, that there are still people in every generation who manage to choke down this desicated turd hook, line and sinker. People, we’re fucked. Only idiots are breeding.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
Can’t you just make the rational case for God here in the comments? Even one or two paragraphs to get us started and we can see how things go.
I’m a little hesitant to give out my email address in a situation like this, since the last time I did, someone signed me up for the OneNewsNow newsletter. Cute, but mildly annoying.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
Geoffrey,
Does that mean you can’t make your case here?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
I didn’t harden my heart to god…i just hardened my arteries with Wendy’s
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Melissa: “If we were called to be silent, Jesus wouldn’t have told us to make disciples of all nations.”
Jesus didn’t tell you jackshit, Melissa. A book, written by some random people 2000 years ago, of which not a single one ever met this alleged Jesus, told you that this is what Jesus said.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
By the time Jesus comes in all His shinning glory and every knee is bowing and tongue confessing, it will be too late.
There is always hope for everyone until then. I’ll just keep praying. Like RT has told me ever since I have known him “no one is beyond redemption……if I can can change, anyone can change.” AMEN TO THAT!!
I can hardly see why anyone would prefer RA over RT. What’s so desirable about someone who swears and defames everything under the sun? Do you all truly think society would be better off if everyone lived with such discontent and hatred?
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
“Jesus didn’t tell you jackshit, Melissa. A book, written by some random people 2000 years ago, of which not a single one ever met this alleged Jesus, told you that this is what Jesus said.”
I disagree. Considering you acknowledge that it was written by so many people and over a huge period of time, how could all their stories agree if they hadn’t witnessed it? And, since you have yet to experience Jesus at all, you can’t argue with my position since you have no idea what the presence of God is like….though I pray that you will experience Him and know Him soon. I’m praying for you.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
Melissa,
What’s so desireable about being a mindless sheep, following a deity that seems to be kind of a sadistic prick?
By the time you die, you will have wasted your entire life (the only one you’ve got) repeating inane assertions for which you have absolutely no evidence.
I prefer to live my life in an enlightened fashion, and enjoy what the world has to offer, instead of cowering and praying to a non-existent entity.
To each his/her own, I guess.
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
“Why not honestly and sincerely seek Him for 30 days or more and see what happens?”
well, most atheists find that belief is based on evidence and probabilities, not based on “trying a belief out” and “seeing how it goes.” for me, belief is not a choice–it’s something that occurs when enough evidence has accumulated to make it implausible to deny something. as an observant and thoughtful individual, i’m always on the lookout for more evidence for what the nature of existence is. you know what continually provides newly discovered evidence, producing a strikingly detailed and cohesive and beautiful world-view? science. religion never produces anything new! it’s just rehashing the same old stories over and over, jazzed up with completely subjective anecdotes that have no explanatory power.
anyway, i started my life out as a hardcore christian, went to a christian school, etc. at age 11, it suddenly occurred to me that the entire thing made no logical sense, and consequently i stopped believing. i’ve been much happier ever since. :-) so yes, that was a lot more than 30 days, and i really tried with all my heart to make it work. it just didn’t!
December 23rd, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
The issue isn’t that Christians are nicer than atheists or not. Some people are nicer than others. I’ve seen nice Christians and nice atheists, just like I’ve seen mean one on both sides.
The issue is that one group is glorifying faith, which is belief without evidence. That’s a dangerous thing to start doing, since it throws critical thinking right out the window. If you believe one crazy, unprovable thing, why not more? Why not anything? And what if your invisible superman “tells” you to start killing the heathens? Well, you can’t prove he DIDN’T tell you that any more than you can prove he does