Atheist philosopher acknowledges the existence of God

http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=2095 ^ | 11 December, 2004

[AmericanMade1776]

New York (AsiaNews/CWN) – Anthony Flew, the British scholar who has been one of the world's most proponent of atheism, has conceded that scientific evidence points to the existence of God.

A prolific writer and energetic lecturer who has advanced atheist arguments throughout his long academic career, Flew made his dramatic concession at a conference in New York in which he recanted the ideology of a lifetime conceding that there is scientific evidence for the existence of God.

Flew said that the latest biological research “has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce (life), that intelligence must have been involved.”

Early this year, writing in Philosophy Now magazine, Flew had indicated that his commitment to atheism was wavering. He wrote: “It has become inordinately difficult even to begin to think about constructing a naturalistic theory of the evolution of that first reproducing organism.”

Flew credited a Texas Catholic, Roy Varghese, with helping to persuade him that biological research points to the workings of an intelligent creator. Varghese, the author of The Wonder of the World, organized the May conference at which Flew first questioned his own atheistic position.

Flew—whose 1984 essay, The Presumption of Atheism, fixed his place as the leading proponent of that view—emphasises that he has not accepted Christianity. He said: “I'm thinking of a God very different from the God of the Christian, and far and away from the God of Islam.” He likened his current position to the deism of Thomas Jefferson, explaining that he is now sympathetic to the researchers who theorise about an ‘intelligent design’ in the working of creation.

[AmericanMade1776]

Antony Flew conceded that some of his philosophical followers will be shocked by his announcement. But he said: “My whole life has been guided by the principle of Plato's Socrates: Follow the evidence, wherever it leads.”

[AmericanMade1776]

Antony Flew, 81, is now singing" Nearer My God to thee"

[LibSnubber]

Is this the guy who is in his 80s? This article doesn't say - if so, maybe the fact that death will be knocking on his door sometime in the near future convinced him to change his mind. Better late than never, I suppose.

[AMDG&BVMH]

Bump!

[AmericanMade1776]

Antony Flew, 81, now believes scientific evidence supports the theory that some sort of intelligence created the universe. But he continues to reject traditional religious ideas of God and especially the idea of salvation after death.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1371635,00.html

[AmericanMade1776]

Yes, but you have to feel a bit sad for all of Flew's Followers, who have passed away without Faith in God.

[LauraleeBraswell]

I've read recent articles about Flew.

My oh my, What a Revelation! Let's all listen to him, because he's the expert.
“It has become inordinately difficult even to begin to think about constructing a naturalistic theory of the evolution of that first reproducing organism.”
It took him 70 years to figure this out? Give me a break! As if life itself is not complex enough for him to have already realized what we already knew, what people have known since the existence of man.

That there must be something greater (maybe smarter) than ourselves.

[mylife]

I guess after a lifetime of beating his chest he's finally realized he is but a man

[LibSnubber]

"But he continues to reject traditional religious ideas of God and especially the idea of salvation after death."

Yeah, give him a little more time (if he has that luxury) - and watch him "come around" some more... fully accepting our own mortality can be quite sobering. I watched that very thing happen with several relatives and friends who died from cancer.

[Dysart]

He wrote a very readable intro to logical thinking some years ago that it well worth picking up. I'm a bit stunned by this article and intend to research his current position I just find this hard to swallow.

[LibSnubber]

"Yes, but you have to feel a bit sad for all of Flew's Followers, who have passed away without Faith in God."

Indeed I do! Without going too much into my personal beliefs (too early in the am for me to get flamed), I believe he'll have to "answer" (be held accountable) for all the people he led astray with his nonsense.

[AmericanMade1776]

The Wonder of the World: A Journey from Modern Science to the Mind of God is an inquiry into those every day experiences and "facts of life" that are as mystifying as they are obvious and ordinary. From commonplace phenomena like language and reproduction to such enigmas as energy, life, consciousness, mind and the laws of nature. Science brings us face to face with magic and mystery. The world is nothing less than a wonderland. This book is a dialogue between an atheist scientist and a theist where we see that in contrast to the often assumed conflict between religion and science, "the womb of modern science" converged in a fascinating and historical way through the 4 greatest thinkers of the Hindu, Jewish, Christian and Moslem religions.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

One "Flew" for the cuckoo's nest

[newsgatherer]

Great article, thanks, I have linked to this article in today's Christian-news-in-maine.com, so that our readers can read Freeper comments on this great news. 5^{th down.}

[garyhope]

The "intelligent design" was created by mother nature and evolution.

Who created God? When was she born?

[Preech1]

Let me be the first to say..."Already posted here..."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1298548/posts

[AmericanMade1776]

I can not help but think that the book that converted a harden philospher of Atheisism for so many years, must be worth a read.

[Preech1]

I was surprised to see this on page three of Friday's "Bangor Deadly News".

[Mr Ramsbotham]

My oh my, What a Revelation! Let's all listen to him, because he's the expert.

Truthfully, I think that's it, in a nutshell. Only his massive ego prevented him from acknowledging the Creator long ago, and now that he's finally broken down and done it, the same ego forces him to qualify his belief in scientific jargon.

[mlbford2]

Wow, and he is not even in a foxhole or death row.