Famous Atheist Now Believes in God

NY Newsday ^ | 12/9/04 | RICHARD N. OSTLING

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

NEW YORK -- A British philosophy professor who has been a leading champion of atheism for more than a half-century has changed his mind. He now believes in God -- more or less -- based on scientific evidence, and says so on a video released Thursday.

At age 81, after decades of insisting belief is a mistake, Antony Flew has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe. A super-intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature, Flew said in a telephone interview from England.

[pnome]

I'm not arguing in favor of the NAACP or any other group. I am mearly saying that their are very vocal Christian groups who wish to impose on me their morality. Force me to act a certain way.

If the NAACP wants to do something similar I'd be arguing against them too. The original question was, why is Jesus (and Christians) often attacked. My answer is because there is an impression out there that Christians are trying to dictate their moral views on others by FORCE.

[Protagoras]

So you are against minimum wage laws, discrimation laws and drunk driving laws, correct?

The last one is a non fit.

[Protagoras]

Force me to act a certain way.

Absent laws, which are force, what is the "certain" way you speak of?

[pnome]

"So you are against minimum wage laws, discrimation laws and drunk driving laws, correct? "

I AM against minimum wage laws. Even some discrimination laws.

However, drunk driving laws are different. they are based on my inalianable right to life. When you drive drunk, you put others right to life at great risk. Not so when I smoke pot in my home.

[Caesar Soze]

Peter Singer would only admit a belief in a god if he thought he could prove you could abort it or have sex with it.

[pnome]

"Absent laws, which are force, what is the "certain" way you speak of?"

The way of a good Christian I suppose.

[PigRigger]

I believe the God of the Christian faith is a loving God who wishes for all his children to be part of his Kingdom.

I for one don't have the wisdom to understand how God will judge those who don't accept Christ as there justification for forgiveness. A loving God will give the sinner every chance to repent and be forgiven; whether that must occur before our death is not clear to me. God may very well give you up until the moment of judgment to ask for forgiveness and embrace Christ's Salvation. I just don't know.

My guess is that when we come to be with God, we may very well surprised by who see. Every sin is forgivable in God's eyes; that is the gift we receive through Christ.

[Taliesan]

My answer is because there is an impression out there that Christians are trying to dictate their moral views on others by FORCE.

I agree. And that is often bad.

But realize that in order to have a government at all there must be moral views imposed on people by force. "Government" and "force" are synonyms.

This is why the Christian, taught by Jesus that the most real change is from the heart outwards, has the BEST reason to argue for a minimalist government.

[Killing Time]

One biographer of Darwin makes a strong case that Darwin did indeed lose his faith but not because of his work but because of the childhood death of his favorite daughter.

Personally I sruggle with the idea of having a favorite child.

[Caesar Soze]

Just another guess, but I'll say no they arn't. Each [of 42] in charge of a different aspect of the universe. Again, just a wild guess.

I think the number you're looking for is 7. Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium.

[pnome]

"I disagree."

Disagree if you like, but you put your credibility at risk.

I can simply claim that I have died once and am not the resurrected version of my former self. Deny it! Prove that I am wrong! Do you see the problem here?

[Taliesan]

BTW, if I were emperor I would let you smoke pot in your own home. I would tell you it is a stupid thing to do, but I think many such laws are a waste of money.

[pnome]

Well thanks. I apreciate that.

Ok I have to get back to work now. Was a pleasure debating with you chaps.

[Protagoras]

The way of a good Christian I suppose.

Huh?

[Protagoras]

Disagree if you like, but you put your credibility at risk.

If disagreeing with you puts my credibility at risk, I feel pretty safe. LOL

BTW, you have continued to ignore the question. That doesn't bode well for YOUR credibility. :^}

[lbmorris11]

1000 posts will soon follow

[Killing Time]

I did mean "nothing". I have learned that it is not always possible to generalise from one's own experience.

[LtKerst]

Satan believes in God.

Hes still going to Hell.

Salvation is in Jesus Christ.

[Matchett-PI]

"If at some point you need 'faith' to glue your conclusions to your axioms, isn't it fair for a use-reason-only skeptic to call 'foul'?"

Is it a "leap of faith" to believe that others beside yourself have a mind, and aren't just preprogrammed robots?

What would you call a "skeptic" who questions your sanity for "believing" such a thing?

Sane? Logical? Rational?

[pnome]

"BTW, you have continued to ignore the question. That doesn't bode well for YOUR credibility. :^}"

I must have missed your questions then. What was it again?