Atheist Blogger Converts to Christianity

[ironchapman]

I don't know if any of you have a problem reading The Blaze (Glenn Beck's news site), but that's where I was shown this story. Leah Libresco, a now former atheist blogger for Patheos.com, has converted to Christianity, Catholicism, in particular.

Atheist blogger Leah Libresco shocked the secular community this week when she announced on her Patheos blog that she has converted to Christianity. Her article, entitled, “This is my last post for the Patheos Atheist Portal,” explained her conversion to Catholicism, which has sent shock-waves through the atheist blogosphere.

In her post, Libresco details her personal struggles with understanding the root of moral law. Obviously, non-believers don’t see morality as coming from a central source. Instead, they see humanity as living on its own, disconnected from any fertile source of knowledge and goodness. For Libresco, this ideal has come full-circle, as she inevitably arrived at an understanding that aligns with a Christ-centered world-view.

It's great to hear these sorts of things. Even if she's not becoming Orthodox, she is surely taking a big step forward.

 

[WeldeMikael]

I agree.

God bless

 

[alanscott]

I don't know if any of you have a problem reading The Blaze (Glenn Beck's news site), but that's where I was shown this story. Leah Libresco, a now former atheist blogger for Patheos.com, has converted to Christianity, Catholicism, in particular.

Atheist blogger Leah Libresco shocked the secular community this week when she announced on her Patheos blog that she has converted to Christianity. Her article, entitled, “This is my last post for the Patheos Atheist Portal,” explained her conversion to Catholicism, which has sent shock-waves through the atheist blogosphere.

In her post, Libresco details her personal struggles with understanding the root of moral law. Obviously, non-believers don’t see morality as coming from a central source. Instead, they see humanity as living on its own, disconnected from any fertile source of knowledge and goodness. For Libresco, this ideal has come full-circle, as she inevitably arrived at an understanding that aligns with a Christ-centered world-view.

It's great to hear these sorts of things. Even if she's not becoming Orthodox, she is surely taking a big step forward.

Glory be to God! 

I understand C.S. Lewis also turned from atheist to theist (then eventually Christianity) because of such recognition in a moral law. He uses such as a foundation to build upon in the book 'Mere Christianity'. Any chance Leah Libresco mentioned that?

 

[biro]

Yipee! We got another one! I just have to wait for my bumpersticker and $25 in the mail. 

 

[Apples]

I think internet atheism is starting to wane. I've seen plenty of anti-atheist Good Guy Greg memes, for example. A year ago that would've been unthinkable.

Cheers!

 

[Valekhai]

It's an interesting turn of events, but not a surprising one. She wasn't the usual sort of atheist that one finds on the internet, and I don't think she's going to be a usual sort of Catholic. I'm looking forward to her coming posts.

 

[Asteriktos]

Good luck to her. I hope she doesn't get too much crap from people.

 

[Jibrail Almuhajir]

Good luck to her. I hope she doesn't get too much crap from people.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." ~St. John 15:18

 

[Asteriktos]

Good luck to her. I hope she doesn't get too much crap from people.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." ~St. John 15:18

I meant both believers and nonbelievers actually.

 

[minasoliman]

My father worried about me asking too many questions at one point in life once told me something he heard from His Holiness Pope Shenouda, and I don't know if these were the exact words but it went like this:

"One time an atheist and a believer had a debate.  At the end of the debate, the atheist became the believer and the believer became the atheist."  I seem to see a lot of that going around these days.

 

[Gorazd]

Seems to be more of a philosophical faith that she adopted, rather than a mystical experience of God.

 

[orthonorm]

Seems to be more of a philosophical faith that she adopted, rather than a mystical experience of God.

Both are really overrated.

The one can bought in kindle format for less than $10.

The other in a variety of formats from $1-$180 (for the pedestrian without discrimination).

 

[KBN1]

nevermind

 

[Achronos]

Well young atheists use their atheism as a justification for their morality, it then becomes arbitrary. I think morality need to be grounded in truth, and considering truth is a person, well you can conclude from there.

I don't believe morality was a convincing argument for me into Christianity because I don't see Christianity that way. When using Christianity as a moral good really devalues actually being transformed as a Christian.

And who cares what's morally good for the world? We are taught to reject the world and deny ourselves more importantly.

 

[orthonorm]

We are taught to reject the world and deny ourselves more importantly.

Guess you won't be watching that game 5.

 

[Achronos]

We are taught to reject the world and deny ourselves more importantly.

Guess you won't be watching that game 5.

No I'm too busy weeping with LBJ on Game 5.

 

[minasoliman]

Seems to be more of a philosophical faith that she adopted, rather than a mystical experience of God.

I think a lot of people don't realize that they converted because of prayer, not because they decided to validate an idea.  The idea was just a kicker for the real stuff, the experience of God.

There are many avenues to this experience, but many people mistake the avenue is the cause of their true inner conversion.  I think she converted truly, just mistakenly chooses what exactly converted her.  But I don't make such a big deal out of it.  I think sooner or later, she and many others will get it, and continue to experience that mystical unity with God.

 

[Maria]

My father worried about me asking too many questions at one point in life once told me something he heard from His Holiness Pope Shenouda, and I don't know if these were the exact words but it went like this:

"One time an atheist and a believer had a debate.  At the end of the debate, the atheist became the believer and the believer became the atheist."  I seem to see a lot of that going around these days.

Yes, I have seen that happen.
There was this muslim inquirer into Orthodoxy who really enjoyed debating with atheists online and in his high school. In the end, he managed to "convert" at least one atheist to Christianity, but in the process, this ex-muslim became very proud and ended up joining the atheists.

Several people send him PMs and emails as we noticed that he was becoming quite arrogant.
He would not listen. Lord have mercy.

 

[alanscott]

I don't believe morality was a convincing argument for me into Christianity because I don't see Christianity that way. When using Christianity as a moral good really devalues actually being transformed as a Christian.

Agreed, though I'm not sure it led her and others directly to a belief in Christ as much as a belief in God that can lead to Christianity. 

In my darkest days I have never been able to understand being a true atheist. With that said I understand this common moral code to not bring them to Christianity (proof of Christ Lord) but has caused some atheists to come to terms with the existence of God. Again, it is a little beyond my understanding but an atheist can exclude a 'creator'. Big bang theory etc.  It seems possible for many to find logical justifications for not believing in God. However, if they come to see a 'moral code' that exists and transends beyond 'cultural moralities' that becomes very difficult to logically explain or justify. So, I don't imagine that leads them to believe in Christ but by God's grace they first accept there must be some type of God responsible for this 'common morality'. If (big if) they accept God's grace and pursue it further it can and has led some to Christianity. Glory be to God. 

 

[Achronos]

Agreed, though I'm not sure it led her and others directly to a belief in Christ as much as a belief in God that can lead to Christianity. 

And I don't have a problem with that of course. However if one has a conception just in a deistic God for absolute moral values/truths well I think one has to face alot of question begging.

In my darkest days I have never been able to understand being a true atheist. With that said I understand this common moral code to not bring them to Christianity (proof of Christ Lord) but has caused some atheists to come to terms with the existence of God. Again, it is a little beyond my understanding but an atheist can exclude a 'creator'. Big bang theory etc.  It seems possible for many to find logical justifications for not believing in God. However, if they come to see a 'moral code' that exists and transends beyond 'cultural moralities' that becomes very difficult to logically explain or justify. So, I don't imagine that leads them to believe in Christ but by God's grace they first accept there must be some type of God responsible for this 'common morality'. If (big if) they accept God's grace and pursue it further it can and has led some to Christianity. Glory be to God. 

See I can never become an atheist for a wide variety of reasons, but when I first found Orthodoxy I had to do alot of shedding of my belief on what God is which caused quite a number of doubts, which Orthodoxy was able to answer for me perfectly. My struggles stem from aligning myself to Christ which is a radical change in "lifestyle" for me and just the way in life. But after time it came to the point where I had to stop being dishonest with myself and just start doing it.

These converts who become Christian just because it exemplifies some good morality is pretty weak and shallow IMO. You can't just contemplate it without actually making an example of that morality. I'm not trying to judge here but you have to be transformed by Christ first and forget encapsulating something into a nice little subject called "morality"

However I am very convinced that atheism does reject all morality.

 

[Asteriktos]

I'm not trying to judge here but you have to be transformed by Christ first and forget encapsulating something into a nice little subject called "morality"


...However I am very convinced that atheism does reject all morality.

One step at a time. Some find the right answers for the right reasons, others find the right answers for the wrong reasons and have to work from there.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to get to the local PEACE chapter meeting tonight. (PEACE stands for Pervertedly Excellent Atheist Cannibal Enthusiasts -- though we often just call ourselves "the excellents")

 

[Achronos]

That just made my night. Now if there is infighting in your group, even better.

 

[jaroslavkourakin]

Does it matter if someone is Orthodox? Still doesn't mean anyone will be living a Christian life.

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.

I don't see why anyone would become a Catholic though. Unless you get a revelation or theophany that brings a testimony about it, but I haven't heard Catholics speak of that.

 

[JamesR]

Pretty cool. Too bad it will probably only last until she runs into a logical contradiction and reverts back to atheism.

 

[alanscott]

Pretty cool. Too bad it will probably only last until she runs into a logical contradiction and reverts back to atheism.

I hear ya JamesR. Valid concern. While I cannot imagine being a true atheist (seems most illogical to me) for so many years I struggled with logical contradiction within Christianity. Only by God's Grace can I see past that.

Let us pray she does not back slide into that snare. 

Peace & Grace!

 

[ZealousZeal]

Update- Leah Libresco was officially received two days ago:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/11/to-bring-him-back-with-a-twitch-upon-the-thread.html

 

[sheenj]

Update- Leah Libresco was officially received two days ago:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/11/to-bring-him-back-with-a-twitch-upon-the-thread.html

Gloria Dei!

 

[minasoliman]

St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Augustine of Hippo, truly great saints.

 

[alanscott]

Update- Leah Libresco was officially received two days ago:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/11/to-bring-him-back-with-a-twitch-upon-the-thread.html

Awesome! Thanks for the update.

Let her influence now shine like a beacon of light.

 

[A Slice Of Life]

It's been my personal experience that '' Internet atheists '' are actually pussy cats in real life and that their '' vids '' or '' input '' is nothing more than venting some long lingering angst from their teenage years.

The odd Atheist I've met who has a bit of dig about them, do tend to just be repeating directly from the latest anti god book they've read, which is again, frustrating as it doesn't lead to any profound insight or debate on their view point and what not.

I do feel that this phenomenon of Semi pro Youtube celebrity atheists is dying a death, as they are now on a continued loop to which they cannot escape.

Not that they are looking to escape you understand as the adsense money from Google makes their plight worth while.