Logic and reason =/= Atheism

[Seth]

Former ‘Militant Atheist’ Reveals What Totally Changed His Mind About Death, God and the Afterlife
Sep. 15, 2014 11:00am Billy Hallowell
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British author Scott Coren once described himself as a “militant atheist” who believed in a “world that operated on chance and natural selection” — but then something profoundly changed.
Author Scott Coren and his young daughter

Author Scott Coren and his young daughter (PR By the Book)

Coren, a father of two, said his path diverted after his daughter was born in 2012 with a serious heart condition.

He began caring for her around the clock, spending a plethora of time in medical facilities and a hospice, where he observed some dynamics that changed his heart and mind.

When Coren saw the nurses, whom he described as “human angels,” caring for critically ill children, his views on God and the afterlife began to dramatically transform.

He found himself pondering death, in particular, thinking, ”It can’t be the end of things. It just doesn’t make sense.”

The “reason” and “logic” he had once used to deny God’s existence were suddenly leading him toward a belief in something more profound.

Despite his best efforts to avoid becoming a Christian, Coren said that his reasoning faculties left him with no alternative option.

“The point of atheism as a belief is about logic and sense — and then you hit that juxtaposition,” he said. “If you’re using sense, then you can’t deny when something else makes sense as well.”

Coren said it was “a very gradual and slow process” that evolved over the last couple of years, but that his daughter’s illness sparked an entire reworking of his views.

“My daughter was born with a heart problem. For two and a half years now I’ve been looking after her. She can’t be left alone for her for a second,” he explained. “My life is very much like a hermit. I’m awake all night, every single night. I’m living a very medicalized life.”

His daughter’s very serious condition means that she’s sometimes abruptly hospitalized and can go from being well to falling into a life-threatening condition in just a half hour’s time.

While some tend to blame God when loved ones experience illnesses, Coren has experienced quite the opposite, telling TheBlaze that his struggles have sparked an evangelical faith journey.

“I’m lucky because I have that Christian footprint behind me. I know the stories,” he said. “One of the usual byproducts of being a militant atheist is knowing what you’re militant against.”

While Coren had a good command over the contents of the gospels before, though, he said he’s now reading them through a very different lens: by viewing them as the word of God.
Scott Coren and his daughter

Scott Coren and his daughter (PR By the Book)

“It’s almost rediscovering my own culture. I think God uses everything some way to reach somebody,” he said, noting that he’s spent his life ignoring signs and revelations. “There’s actually a comfort in denying God, ironically, in having things objectively happen as a matter of chance.”

As for his daughter, Coren said that she still needs surgery, but that her prognosis is positive.

And though he’s been confined to his home and consumed with familial needs, the newfound Christian has found the time to pen a new book titled, ”Matthew 13:44” — a literary project that is loosely based on his struggles surrounding his daughter’s heart condition.

“It’s a catharsis. It was a way of analyzing the experience I’ve been through,” he said of the fictional story. “The skeleton is my story, but it’s also a mystery, a bit of a thriller.

Coren said he wanted to focus in the text on how bad things sometimes happen in life — but that people can and often do find the strength to pick up the pieces and move forward.

Find out more about “Matthew 13:44″ here.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Where's the logic and reason in that waffle? It's a third-hand account of a subjective, emotional experience. Meh.

[laklak]

Guy can't take the stress of real life and gets religion. What does that show?

[piscator]

He found himself pondering death, in particular, thinking, ”It can’t be the end of things. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Oh fuck me...

[tattuchu]

Where's the logic and reason in that waffle? It's a third-hand account of a subjective, emotional experience. Meh.

I like my waffles with butter and maple syrup. This doesn't even have that. Not very impressive

[Clinton Huxley]

Game, set and match to religiosity. Wind up the forum.

[Seth]

Guy can't take the stress of real life and gets religion. What does that show?

That religion is (or may be) beneficial and useful to both individuals and society. If his new-found religion gives him peace and helps him deal with the stress of his life without hurting others, why do Atheists feel obliged to discount his experience and denigrate his decisions?

There's absolutely nothing rational or logical about denigrating a belief system or systems that helps 80 percent of the population of the planet cope with the stresses of their lives.

Militant Atheism is nothing more than ill-tempered, rude, inconsiderate, unthinking, hateful and insensitive interference with something that is, even by their own dogmatic beliefs, neither any of their business nor something they should even give consideration or thought to.

But they do, and they seek to destroy the peace and harmony that religion factually brings to many, if not most people who believe in something other than nihilistic finality.

That sort of behavior is disgusting, antisocial and psychopathic.

[klr]

Sooooo ... one guy's experiences make for a universal truth, do they? Shome mishtake, shurely.

[Svartalf]

Well, I got the job treatment so Dog, if it even exists, is a bastard unworthy of worship, period.

[piscator]

Guy can't take the stress of real life and gets religion. What does that show?

That religion is (or may be) beneficial and useful to both individuals and society. If his new-found religion gives him peace and helps him deal with the stress of his life without hurting others, why do Atheists feel obliged to discount his experience and denigrate his decisions?

There's absolutely nothing rational or logical about denigrating a belief system or systems that helps 80 percent of the population of the planet cope with the stresses of their lives.

Militant Atheism is nothing more than ill-tempered, rude, inconsiderate, unthinking, hateful and insensitive interference with something that is, even by their own dogmatic beliefs, neither any of their business nor something they should even give consideration or thought to.

But they do, and they seek to destroy the peace and harmony that religion factually brings to many, if not most people who believe in something other than nihilistic finality.

That sort of behavior is disgusting, antisocial and psychopathic.

What if there's not really anything but disgusting nihilistic finality?

[piscator]

Well, I got the job treatment so Dog, if it even exists, is a bastard unworthy of worship, period.

And He killed Kenny!

[JimC]

Choosing not to actively challenge someone's delusions on compassionate grounds does not make them any less delusional...

[Seth]

Sooooo ... one guy's experiences make for a universal truth, do they? Shome mishtake, shurely.

No, but why is someone else's belief system of interest to you at all? So long as they aren't hurting you, it's none of your business at all, you see. Criticizing other people's beliefs is an act of hubris and arrogance and disdain, not logic and reason. It's not about what others believe, it's about how you follow your own religious dogma.

[JimC]

Sooooo ... one guy's experiences make for a universal truth, do they? Shome mishtake, shurely.

No, but why is someone else's belief system of interest to you at all? So long as they aren't hurting you, it's none of your business at all, you see. Criticizing other people's beliefs is an act of hubris and arrogance and disdain, not logic and reason. It's not about what others believe, it's about how you follow your own religious dogma.

Beliefs haven't got some sort of immunity from rational criticism. A situation where someone is emotionally fragile may require some forbearance from face-to-face criticism, but that's all. You are over-reacting; criticising beliefs is not the same as causing harm to someone because of their beliefs, a practice which does indeed happen in the current world (usually by religiously motivated cretins attacking people for believing in the wrong sky fairy), and certainly was practiced by the christian establishment of the past.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Define "militant atheist".
...Someone who shouts "allah=/=akbar!" in a public place and then explodes?