How This Author Converted from Atheism to Catholicism

[@fultoneth9869]

Fascinating intellectual insight. Helped me to do more research on the virtue ethics.

[@david2theKay]

Great interview! I remember stumbling across Leah's videos not long after her conversion.

[@JeffMillerCurtJester]

Leah is great. I remember when she was blogging on Patheos as an atheist. Arriving at Amen is an amazing read and I also enjoyed how she is working through building community at a personal level in her book on the Benedict Option.

[@CatholicReCon]

Yes, Jeff! Thanks for sharing. I hope you're well!

[@BETH..._...]

Absolutely phenomenal guest!

[@aruzsa1554]

"I guess morality just loves me" ❤❤❤

[@aadschram5877]

Very powerful testimony.

[@charles.mccormick]

Great Conversation this week! I had a thought that if they started passing a cup and toasting the Nicene Creed, mass attendance might increase, huh...

[@CatholicReCon]

Thanks, Charles!

[@frederickanderson1860]

I advise listening to the late fr Gregory hesse and his views on Vatican 2. Knowing God is different from believing in God. The devil's believe in God and tremble. What does a atheist think of the scripture Isaiah chapter 55: 8-9.

[@rosiegirl2485]

It seems to me that when you have serious Atheist that convert, they seem to become Catholic. Maybe its because I am Catholic and listen to Catholic content. Though I do listen to conversion stories that could end up in any given religion. It seems to me, if one does their homework, starting with the church fathers, your likely to come out as a Catholic.

[@CatholicReCon]

Well said, Rosie! Many intellectual journeys.

[@RealAtheology]

@Roie Girl I'd be interested to know what other serious Atheists you have in mind that eventually converted to Catholicism. As current Atheists, we're always interested in exploring stories around conversion. Thanks.

[@rosiegirl2485]

@@RealAtheology I was not referring to the fact that I only listen to atheist conversion stories...I was meaning converting from any religion.

[@RealAtheology]

@@rosiegirl2485 I was mainly inquiring about this: "It seems to me that when you have serious Atheist that convert, they seem to become Catholic." I'd like to know why you think this? Thanks

[@eyay2839]

Hey Eddie, idk if you remember me but I did comment before on one of your videos asking about studying church history and reading about the fathers. I’m starting to really read them. Other than that I have a question that’s been troubling me. So I know that in Catholicism, you cannot take the Eucharist if you don’t believe in Catholicism and it’s teaching. In terms of what I believe right now, I would say I still don’t know what to believe, I’m on the fence. I don’t fully accept Catholicism, nor fully reject it. In terms of by beliefs, would I still be allowed to receive communion, or should I refrain? Idk because I was baptized, I don’t fully reject Catholicism. I just don’t know about it still. Also, would you consider me in a state of mortal sin since this is what I believe right now? Thanks

[@CatholicReCon]

Great to hear from you! I'm excited to hear you're studying the early Church. Keep praying, my friend. If you haven't already, reach out to a Catholic priest and have a candid discussion about all your doubts. The feeling of being on the fence is really common. In fact, many describe this phase as being in no man's land. My wife said is was a depressing situation because she couldn't affirm Protestantism or Catholicism for a while. You may at some point feel led to join RCIA (which begins with inquiry). In other words, you're simply there to learn more about the faith. As far as mortal sin, I cannot comment on that, but a priest certainly can. To your other point regarding the Eucharist, you're right. Those who are reconciled to the Church, in a state of grace, say "Amen" when they receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ because they believe this supernatural reality. All that said, definitely get in touch with a priest, my brother. Anyway, just a few thoughts. God bless you! Feel free to email me at [e-mail] if you want to chat.

[@RealAtheology]

Atheist here. Thank you for sharing. We're familiar with Leah's journey and we always appreciate hearing her share her perspectives. She's completely correct that more people need to engage in these issues in our time of deep polarization. Just as an Atheist, she engaged with the best and most sophisticated sources of Christianity, we're hoping that Catholics can also start engaging with the best of Atheism as well.

[@CatholicReCon]

That is a great point and it is appreciated. I briefly spoke about this with Trent Horn, who pleaded with other Catholics to engage in formal and informal debate with atheists. Who do you believe are some of the leading atheists? I explored Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, Dillahunty, and a gent who debated John Lennox (I can't remember his name). Clearly, I'm missing many others. Thanks.

[@RealAtheology]

​@@CatholicReCon Thank you for the response! Trent Horn is excellent and we really appreciate his growing work in engaging with more sophisticated and analytic forms of Atheism. We actually debated Trent on the question of God's existence at the Capturing Christianity conference last year. Trent himself said it was one of the best debates with an Atheist that he ever had, so you may be interested in checking that out. I think the qualifier of _leading_ can be a bit tricky, since if we're talking about popularity, then all the individuals you mentioned are certainly leading Atheists in terms of being well-known and popular. However, if we're talking in terms of the most formidable/sophisticated/best defenses of Atheism then the individuals you mentioned would definitely not be considered leading at all given that many of them misunderstand basic things about Christianity and make very poor arguments for Atheism. Unfortunately, a lot of the most formidable Atheists mainly write for other philosophers and their works can be highly technical which is why they generally don't get much awareness. In our view, some of the people we'd consider leading defenders of Atheism are: J.L. Mackie, Quentin Smith, Richard Gale, Evan Fales, Paul Draper, J.H. Sobel, William Rowe, Graham Oppy, Erik Wielenberg, Stephen Maitzen, Adolf Grunbaum, J.L. Schellenberg, Felipe Leon, C.M. Lorkowski, etc. Reading a lot of these individuals is ultimately what made us Atheists. A lot of us engaged in the Christian Apologetics that Leah and others have mentioned, folks like Lewis, Chesterton, Peter Kreeft, Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, William Lane Craig, Bishop Barron, etc, but we find that very few Catholics actually engage the best of Atheism, and we found little cogent responses to the leading Atheists we mentioned. Hopefully, more can follow Trent in engaging with the literature in this area. Thanks again for the wonderful interview, and we look forward to more informative episodes, feel free to reach out to us if you'd like to dialogue on these further, or would like more specific tailored/recommendations, you can contact us by finding our email on our channel about page.

[@theoskeptomai2535]

Hello. I am an atheist. I define atheism as suspending any acknowledgement as to the existence of gods until sufficient credible evidence is introduced. My position is that *_I have no good reason to acknowledge the existence of any god._* And here is the evidence I must consider when evaluating the claim by theists, and as to why I currently hold to such a position. 1. I personally have never observed a god. 2. I have never encountered a person whom has claimed to have observed a god. 3. I know of no accounts of persons claiming to have observed a god that were willing or able to demonstrate or verify their observation for authenticity, accuracy, or validity. 4. I have never been presented a valid logical argument which also employed sound premises that lead deductively to a conclusion that a god(s) exists. 5. Of the nearly 50 logical syllogisms I have encountered arguing for the existence of a god(s), I have found all to contain multiple fallacies or unsubstantiated premises. 6. I have never observed a phenomenon in which the existence of a god was a necessary antecedent for the known or probable explanation as to the causation of that phenomenon. 7. Several proposed (and generally accepted) explanations for observable phenomena that were previously based on the agency of a god(s), have subsequently been replaced with rational, natural explanations, each substantiated with evidence that excluded the agency of a god(s). I have never encountered the _vice versa._ 8. I have never experienced the presence of a god through intercession of angels, divine revelation, the miraculous act of divinity, or any occurrence of a supernatural event. 9. Every phenomenon that I have ever observed appears to have *_emerged_* from necessary and sufficient antecedents over time without exception. In other words, I have never observed a phenomenon (entity, process, object, event, process, substance, system, or being) that was created _ex nihilo_ - that is instantaneously came into existence by the solitary volition of a deity. 10. All claims of a supernatural or divine nature that I have encountered have either been refuted to my satisfaction, or do not present as falsifiable. ALL of these facts lead me to the only rational conclusion that concurs with the realities I have been presented - and that is the fact that there is *_no good reason_* for me to acknowledge the existence of a god. I have heard often that atheism is the denial of the Abrahamic god. But denial is the active rejection of a substantiated fact once credible evidence has been presented. Atheism is simply withholding any acknowledgement until sufficient credible evidence is introduced. *_It is natural, rational, and prudent to be skeptical of unsubstatiated claims, especially extraordinary ones._* I welcome any cordial response. Peace.

[@CatholicReCon]

I thank you for your detailed response and I appreciate the request for a cordial response. I will do my best to review each point you made. In the meantime, have you read anything from Thomas Aquinas or C.S. Lewis related to objective truth?

[@theoskeptomai2535]

@@CatholicReCon I have studied _Summa Theologiae_ and read _Mere Christianity, The Four Loves, and The Screwtape Letters._ I have an advanced degree in Theology. I am quite familiar with the tenets of Christianity, if that was your way of inquiry.

[@CatholicReCon]

Right on. I figured you had a lot of knowledge on the subject; I was just curious about those specific authors. Re: the Summa, what was lacking in Aquinas' five proofs?

[@theoskeptomai2535]

@@CatholicReCon None of the _quinque viae_ are _sound_ arguments. Specifically, these five ways lack sound premises by which to formulate proper inference.

[@Swee889]

You may want to consider build a relationship with God first. Might be able to clear your doubts. Have a good day:)