My friend came up to me two days ago (March 25) and said that it was me that converted her to atheism. I showed her a couple of books, websites, and some of my favorites on youtube about a month ago, when she asked me about Atheism. I didn't really intend to convert her purposely, we were just casually yapping in my house about nothing and the subject came up. She thanked me too! This is the first person I ever converted!
Well, I don't have a great story but after 42 years of marriage my husband seems to agree with me (in matters of religion)! When we married I didn't tell him what I really believed as he was from a very religious family and back then I didn't have the courage to be who I really am. Little by little I guess our discussions have gotten to him and he sees the logic of it all now. Now I can finally share my beliefs with someone who understands! And it only took me about 40 years! Now we can discuss how we can't believe how people can believe what they do and pray for this and that and thank god when their neighbor dies in a tornado, flood, etc. because they are spared. I only wish I realized there were so many of us out there much sooner and I wish I could meet other people who share my beliefs. That said, I'm happy enough to have the internet and most importantly, my husband!
Actually, I don't think it is possible to convert anyone to atheism. I think what happens is that when information is made available to people in whom childhood indoctrination was only mild and who have a certain open-mindedness they arrive at atheism themselves. It would be folly to hand a fundamentalist christian (for example) a book by Harris, Dennet or Hitchens and expect a 'conversion'. Even if a heavily indoctrinated person were to read such a book their minds would be closed to the arguments therein regardless of their logical coherence. That's what 'faith' does. Faith means not wanting to know what is true - Neitsche.
I may give someone information that I know, experiences that I value, relate quotes or data from another, but I don't think I have the power to CONVERT someone to atheism. I'm not even sure that I WANT that ability. After all, no one converted me. I came to the conclusion that there are no gods ON MY OWN.
I hope that those who have questions, who doubt, and who are curious about how the world really work are brave enough to dig, to research, and to simply ask.
Yes, indeed. When they can see the facts, think, they convert themselves. Your seeds give them something with which to work.
When my husband and I both came out as Atheists, my brother in law was still Theist and responded defending his faith. When we talked, we talked mostly about science and we showed him some Neil DeGrasse Tyson and other related videos and he loved them. I don't think it was us that deconverted him, but the fact that he takes time to understand and learn and that did it for him.
The road to atheism is a long, lonely & stony one. About all I have been able to accomplish is to remove some of the 'stones' in people's paths.
Tom Sarbeck replied to Joan Denoo's discussion Welfare? Who pays into the pot more than they get out? Who takes out more ? in the group Politics, Economics, and Religion
Maybe I'll see you there--February 14th is the next meeting for these people, WorcesterHumanists.org
I don't get near Facebook because I hear it's been hell to control and besides they're constantly playing games with it. I love email, it's more thoughtful, and so I don't go much for social media. I'm 70, single, a retired dad, one son.
Write anytime? Maybe we can meet for coffee--BurgerKing or anywhere's fine with me! Brian.McLinden@gmail.com
Turning now to your interest in the psychology of enlightenment, let me say I once had a peak experience during my first meditation session with TM years ago.
I was doing what they had told me to do, just tending to business, when all of a sudden it was as if I were catapulted into an Expanse, like an infinite hall but with no walls and with no sense of time passing, a Place with tremendous energy or enlivement, yet a sense of stillness, order, and peace.
I felt wonderment, amazement, okayness. The experience, certainly in those years I thought had to be one of Eternity, couldn't have lasted for more than one microsecond! This was MY "natural wonder" of my lifetime. It was rare, and no one I know has ever experienced anything like it.
That's why for years I said it was an occurrence of God, not knowing what else to say about it or what to ascribe it to. So I guess the God word has been used by the ignorant to name any remaining things that appear to defy ready explanation using terms we already know.
Your interest in counseling and history as a single father interested me. If you're still saying Hello to people, I'd love to hear back from you!
WeatherCatPad (WeatherCat for the iPad) version 2.3 is now available for download from the Apple App Store (20th March 2017).
I'm betting it will be very soon after 14 December 2017, ar lease for those of us in the US of A where 48.9% of us have only one ISP choice.
BTW #1, that date is when Mr. Pai plans to have the FCC vote on undoing the net neutrality rules set up a couple of years ago.
BTW #2, you wasted electrons or postage if you complained or expressed your views to the FCC. They now claim there were so many that they didn't have time to look at them. They basically ignored “thousands of consumer complaints and millions of individual comments that ask the FCC to save net neutrality and uphold the principles that all traffic should be created equal.”
I noticed earlier this month, Centurylink came around was installing new fiber optics in the hood. Not sure what they are doing, no new builiding around here, but they ran underground cable, and on the poles as well. Should be interesting with all this.
The Athenaeum, a gigantic training ground for the Warriors who are to entertain the Gods. It's a place where the Warriors train for five years working toward a tournament of life, and perhaps, death.
~This is wanting something; this is reaching for it. This is wishing that a moment would arrive. This is taking chances, this is almost touching what the beauty is.~
For those who haven't met Damien (Addi's water puppet), this is what he looks like (possibly... not necessarily finalized yet ) http://elnamis.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=scraps#/d3dm0vj