Switch sides?

[ScioVeritas]

Hello! I'm new here so I haven't been around much, but I've been going through the forums for a couple of weeks now and I was just wondering if in there has ever been a member who switched sides? I.E. Has any theist ever become an atheist or vice-versa, based on the arguments they read here? If so, can someone please point me to the thread in which it took place?

[Zzyzx]

.
[Replying to post 1 by ScioVeritas]

Over the years I recall mention in personal communication of switching sides based at least in part on what is presented here. However, I do not remember it ever being publicly announced in threads.

Perhaps others have better information.

[help3434]

[Replying to post 1 by ScioVeritas]

I have seen at least at least a few believers here become non-believers during their time on this forum, though not necessarily because of any arguments made here. They are Darias, Kuan (formerly Mormon boy) and The Ex-Mormon (formerly The Mormon). I have never seen seen a non believer become a believer during their time on this forum.

[Divine Insight]

Hello! I'm new here so I haven't been around much, but I've been going through the forums for a couple of weeks now and I was just wondering if in there has ever been a member who switched sides? I.E. Has any theist ever become an atheist or vice-versa, based on the arguments they read here? If so, can someone please point me to the thread in which it took place?

I personally feel that this is a difficult question to answer without assuming that everyone is a very simple-minded ON/OFF switch in their thinking. That's most likely not the case.

Also, many people may not even have the mentality of being on a "side".

My ultimate rejection of Christianity took place long before the Internet even existed. Moreover, my "conversion" to a "non-believer" was inspired entirely by studying the Bible itself. I didn't require the thoughts, opinions, or evaluations of other people. I made up my own mind using the Bible itself as my source of Biblical information.

Now, having said that, after realizing the that Bible is untrue that did not lead me to become an "atheist" in general. I continued to believe in spirituality, mysticism, and a possible "God". I simply moved forward to examine other religions. Not for the purpose of "finding God", but simply to see if there were other religions out there that viewed God and spirituality in the same intuitive way that I did. And I did find religions that fit that bill.

Of course, I also realized that this doesn't mean that these other religions are true either. But at least I can see that there are many other humans who have the same innate feelings about "God" and spirituality as I do. So I can see that I'm not alone in my innate feelings and intuitions.

Now, getting more close to your question:

Having been on this forum I have come to consider "pure atheism" (or pure secular materialism) as having potentially more merit than I had originally considered. I certainly can't point to any specific threads. I also can't even say that this forum alone was the soul factor in this consideration as I also watch many Youtube videos and documentaries. So what it's difficult to point to any single source as being the influencing factor.

Having said this, I still lean toward the spiritual essence of reality, no doubt because it is so ingrained in my intuitive feelings. But I confess that the pure materialistic hypothesis has quite a bit of merit as well.

I think, if I made a "Switch", it's probably been from being a very strong "Spiritualist", toward having become a very strong "Agnostic".

I can't imagine ever becoming certain of pure secular materialism. I just don't see where there's currently sufficient scientific evidence to draw that conclusion in any confident way.

So spiritualism will most likely be my intuitive norm until the day I die.

Specific religious dogma (like the Bible for example) are clearly false as far as I'm concerned, and there's simply no way to "resurrect" it. And to be perfectly frank about it, I sincerely can't even imagine why anyone should even want to try. If the Bible is indeed true, then life is a pretty sad state of affairs to be sure.

That should be obvious to even those who believe in the Bible I would think.

[help3434]

I believe that Haven was a Christian when he first started debating here, but that was under an old account with the same name that has since been deleted.

[sf]

Hello! I'm new here so I haven't been around much, but I've been going through the forums for a couple of weeks now and I was just wondering if in there has ever been a member who switched sides? I.E. Has any theist ever become an atheist or vice-versa, based on the arguments they read here? If so, can someone please point me to the thread in which it took place?

It is often mentioned that people read these forums without ever posting or even joining, so the influence likely goes past the member base.

[OnceConvinced]

Hello and welcome to the site.

I can speak as a former Christian who switched sides on another website. I was on that website debating atheists and taking the Christian viewpoint. Many of the logical atheist arguments stuck with me and I was forced to think about some of my Christian beliefs. Later after a lot of thought, a lot of pain and a lot of heartache I lost my faith completely and realised I was no longer a believer, but pride prevented me from returning to that website and admitting that I was now no longer a believer. As it happened, a few years later I did finally return as an ex-Christian but the members who knew me were no longer around and the religious part of the forum was almost dead. Shortly after that the forums were closed down completely.

During my transition from believer to nonbeliever I also visited another site regularly and during that time I went from a believer who was starting to see things differently to a straight out non believer. I remained for a while, but got irritated by one particular arrogant uncivil Christian so came to this website. One that was more welcoming of differing beliefs. One that had stronger rules about treating other members with respect.

I think it is very possible that many Christians would leave here, reevaluate their beliefs and then "switch sides" as it were. It may also be possible that nonbelievers have switched sides too, but I think pride would prevent a lot of them from returning and admitting that they had switched sides.

[Haven]

I believe that Haven was a Christian when he first started debating here, but that was under an old account with the same name that has since been deleted.

Kind of. When I first joined I had recently (within a few months) left evangelical Christianity and briefly considered returning to my former faith. Since then, I've moved on and I'm quite happy as a non-theist with an appreciation for liberal forms of religion.

[Bust Nak]

[Replying to post 8 by Haven]
Did this forum have major influence in you moving on or was it something that was going to happen anyway with or without this?

[Zzyzx]

.

I have never seen seen a non believer become a believer during their time on this forum.

It seems as though any rational person would require powerful, compelling, consistent arguments before making a change in either direction. Can anyone recall that being true for arguments in favor of Theism or becoming a Theist / believer? Perhaps such things happen in sub-forums that I do not frequent.

Even those who specify that their intent is to "spread the good word" or proselytize do not seem to present compelling arguments -- but often have difficulty even defending / supporting their claims, statements and stories.