tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882699495059104312.post8137531418209914881..comments2024-01-24T04:02:06.466-05:00Comments on Why I De-Converted from Evangelical Christianity: Richard Dawkins on Viruses of the MindKen Pulliamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12161943466797514854noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882699495059104312.post-55469105458298887062010-10-04T09:42:56.746-04:002010-10-04T09:42:56.746-04:00"Surveyed the world's faiths and chose th..."Surveyed the world's faiths and chose the most convincing one. But it is statistically more probable that he has been exposed to a particularly potent infective agent --- a John Wesley, a Jim Jones or a St. Paul."<br /><br />I wonder if I got bit by the most potent one then.Samuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06102533726798834757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882699495059104312.post-63074072244985764992010-10-04T06:29:10.533-04:002010-10-04T06:29:10.533-04:00The above comment from Samuel D is actually from L...The above comment from Samuel D is actually from Lynn. Too many people on this computer!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882699495059104312.post-30040537563688671972010-10-04T06:25:41.313-04:002010-10-04T06:25:41.313-04:00Maybe #2 makes us feel wiser and more positive tha...Maybe #2 makes us feel wiser and more positive than other people. Like if you just know that a criminal is gonna turn out well at some point, or your child is gonna suddenly become a huge success after not showing any signs of that.<br /><br />You can then say, "Yep. I knew they'd make it. I believed in them when no one else did." And the other people have to say, "Wow. I'm really surprised. They sure didn't show any signs of this surprising outcome."<br /><br />#3-People do like mysteries. It makes life interesting. I've heard lots of Christians talk about the excitement of wondering what God's gonna do next in their lives, etc. That was a positive mystery for them.<br /><br />Whereas I would be analyzing things, and they didn't make sense. It would annoy me when people spoke of God opening doors, shutting windows, God's will for my life, and all those other phrases. So much of it seemed so ridiculous and discounted the obvious practical factors or personal characteristics that affect things.<br /><br />They saw excitement. I saw confusion and nonsense.<br /><br />I think having faith is kind of a way to romanticize life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com