Having been an investigative journalist for many years I highly recommend returning to the beginning of an issue, crime, or whatever is your assignment before reporting about it. If not, you may miss the very thing that will turn your story in the direction of truth, which should be the objective of every journalist. In that spirit I returned to Charles Darwin’s On The … [Read more...]
Convince Me There’s A God: Questions
Atheists know that “changing sides” is against the code. Not many of us do that – change sides – but I did. Atheists have been asking me for the past 40+ years why I went from atheism to theism. It’s a fair question and why I’m writing this series of articles about what convinced me that God exists. I’m reaching back to those months before May 1971 when I made “the change” to … [Read more...]
Should Apologetics Play A Role In Electing A President?
The first presidential campaign I covered as a journalist was Nixon vs. Humphrey in 1968. I was an atheist, so the candidates' religious viewpoints didn't matter much to me. I didn't care that Richard Nixon was a Quaker or that Hubert Humphrey was a Congregationalist. I didn't believe in God, so what they believed about an imaginary being didn't register as having any … [Read more...]
Convince Me There’s a God
So, you don't believe there's a God. I understand. I didn't believe in God either, until May of 1971. Most atheists I've talked with about the existence of God during the last 40 years have expressed their concern for me in one way or another. Some have asked if I was ill and on heavy medication at the time of my conversion. Others said I must have been a very poor atheist … [Read more...]
What Is This Faith We Defend?
First, let’s look at the answer for the first part of the question – What Is This Faith? … [Read more...]
The Gentle Art of Faith Defense
The Art of Faith Defense is called Apologetics. It may sound like someone is making an “apology,” but that’s not the meaning. It comes from the Greek word apologia and means “a speech made in defense, a verbal defense, to give an answer in defense.” In ancient Greece, the prosecution in a trial would deliver their kategoria (accusation, charge). The defendant would respond with … [Read more...]
You Cannot Prove The Existence Of God!
I was an atheist when I first said that to a Christian more than 40 years ago. I must say it felt pretty good to say those words. It makes one feel superior to tell a person they cannot prove something they believe. Most Christians I said that to personally and on my radio talk show either crumbled or exploded at that point. Either reaction was fine with me. I am no longer … [Read more...]
Atheists Are People, Too!
Richard Dawkins, Richard Carrier, Barry McGowan, Christopher Hitchens, Bertrand Russell, Madalyn Murray O'Hair -- they all had one thing in common -- they are or were people. They also happen to be or were well-known atheists. I was quite taken with Madalyn Murray O'Hair at one time. I never met her, but had the opportunity to talk with her more than 40 years ago when she was … [Read more...]