> > It truly IS the season of miracles ;) > > > > Famous Atheist Now Believes in God > > > > By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer
> Stephen Black: > It may be an indication of the increasing desperation of supporters > of conventional religious belief that this news is seen as cause for > celebration. The article notes: > > " Flew [Antony Flew, the former atheist in question] said he's best > labeled a deist like Thomas Jefferson, whose God was not actively > involved in people's lives. Nowhere did _I_ (can't speak for others) suggest this person shares my beliefs about God. The point is that you cannot even begin to agree on how to define, explain, experience God if one person says God exists and the other person says God does NOT exist. IMO it is a huge step to go from no God to yes God. That is what I see that makes it significant for ANYONE to make such a transition. That you are leaping to the arena of conventional religious belief is something you did. Not me. > Stephen: > "I'm thinking of a God very different from the God of the Christian > and far and away from the God of Islam, because both are depicted as > omnipotent Oriental despots, cosmic Saddam Husseins," he said". > > This doesn't sound much like traditional religious claims for God I hope I wasn't suggesting it WAS. > Stephen: > certainly not for One who increases in vitro fertilization rate in > response to anonymous prayer. How different is a God who doesn't > intervene from no God at all? Good question! > Stephen: > The article also says Flew is 81 years old. By coincidence, I just > finished reading a article on Iris Murdoch, the acclaimed British > novelist. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 76, soon > after writing her last novel, _Jackson's Dilemma_, which was poorly > received. Garrard et al (2004) carried out a computer analysis of > this novel in comparison with two others of hers--her first novel, > _Under the Net_, and her finest, _The Sea, the Sea_. They detected > subtle signs that the insidious destructive influence of Alzheimer's > was already present in her final work. So your point is what -- his transition from atheist to deist is an indication of dementia? Talk about DESPERATE. And prejudicial. Dr. Jim Guinee Firm Believer --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
