Posted by Chelonian on August 17, 1999 at 17:00:34:
O.K. My first post by this title somehow got submitted without a text, but here is what I meant to say. . .
In pursuit of objectivity (if such a thing can be really accomplished), I would really like to talk to a once-atheistic philosopher, well versed in the arguments of atheism/agnosticism/skepticism who has been converted to evangelical fundamentalism. Certainly there are hoards of persons who claim to have found God after being atheists, but most of those people, in my opinion had not really studied religion/a-religion side by side from an academic view-point by the time of their conversion, though they may have "studied" it seriously afterwards, for the purpose of grinding their evangelical axes. But even if a person well versed in philosophy and skepticism turned to religion after their studies or because of their studies, the brand of Christianity is probably not what would be called fundamentalism but liberal theology.
However, I would not deny the possibility of an atheistic intellectual turning to fundamentalism. In fact, that is precisely what I'm looking for. In many ways, some brands of fierce athiesm resemble aspects of fierce fundamentalism, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the ultra-serious temperament switch from one side to another. I am generally of the serious temperament who switched from fundamentalism to atheism. Yet, once again, I am not so interested in the "fierce" types as I am in those who were academically versed in such logical and sophisticated arguments that support atheism and who are now in full swing for the side of fundamentalist "apologetics."
For the sake of objectivity, I would travel a great distance to meet such a person and talk at great lengths over coffee (or beer?) about the infinite. Suffice it to say, sometimes I think I'm using philosophy and retorical meathods to grind my own axe against fundies, and I would like to consider myself more objective.
Any suggestions or knowledge of such persons?
Phil S. Chelonian