Via AP: Famous Atheist Now Believes in God
A British philosophy professor who has been a leading champion of atheism for more than a half-century has changed his mind. He now believes in God — more or less — based on scientific evidence, and says so on a video released Thursday.At age 81, after decades of insisting belief is a mistake, Antony Flew has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe. A super-intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature, Flew said in a telephone interview from England.
Flew said he’s best labeled a deist like Thomas Jefferson, whose God was not actively involved in people’s lives.
I must confess that I have not, to my recollection, ever heard of Flew. However, I found the piece interesting given recent blogospheric ruminations about Intelligent Design and the origins of the universe, as Flew is basically saying that he sees evidence of such intelligence in nature, and hence his position shift.
I don’t take such a fact to be anything other than interesting, however.
Fellow atheists needn’t worry, however:
Last week, Richard Carrier, a writer and Columbia University graduate student, posted new material based on correspondence with Flew on the atheistic www.infidels.org Web page. Carrier assured atheists that Flew accepts only a “minimal God” and believes in no afterlife.
That’s a relief!
Flew’s “name and stature are big. Whenever you hear people talk about atheists, Flew always comes up,” Carrier said. Still, when it comes to Flew’s reversal, “apart from curiosity, I don’t think it’s like a big deal.”
I guess he is just a semi-theist now.
Famous Atheist Antony Flew Now Believes in God
Famous Atheist Now Believes in God (AP)
A British philosophy professor who has been a leading champion of atheism for more than a half-century has changed his mind. He now believes in God — more or less — based on scientific evidence, and says so on…
Trackback by Outside The Beltway — Friday, December 10, 2024 @ 8:22 am
C.S. Lewis Foe Turns to God
The 20th Century’s two giant defenders of Christian faith–C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton–both turned to Christianity from atheism. Chesterton fought G. B. Shaw over God’s existence. C.S. Lewis fought, among others, Antony Flew.
Trackback by Hennessy's View — Friday, December 10, 2024 @ 8:56 am
Famed atheist concedes: evidence points to God
Antony Flew now believes scientific evidence points to the existence of God. This change in his thinking is prompted by his musings on Intelligent Design arguments. Some may have never heard of Antony Flew even if they are familiar with Intelligent D…
Trackback by Pajama Hadin — Friday, December 10, 2024 @ 8:47 pm
Key fact: 81 years old.
Just in case, you know.
Might as well take Pascal up on his wager.
Comment by John Lemon — Friday, December 10, 2024 @ 11:06 pm
I imagine the raving atheist can’t be happy about this.
Comment by bryan — Friday, December 10, 2024 @ 11:52 pm
Leading Atheist, Antony Flew, Now Believes In God
Well this is quite interesting. After half a century the leading atheism proponent in the world now concludes that there is/was a God. Antony Flew, 81, concludes that DNA evidence show that life was somehow engineered by a higher being….
Trackback by Diggers Realm — Saturday, December 11, 2024 @ 1:58 am
I would imagine that the raving atheist couldn’t be happy about anything.
Comment by John Lemon — Saturday, December 11, 2024 @ 4:10 pm
If indeed Flew is saying this “just in case” then he’s still got some distance to cover in his remaining time from his position (impersonal God without expectations, no afterlife, etc.) to an understanding of faith and repentance shared by his old nemisis C.S. Lewis.
Comment by Gregg Easterbrook — Saturday, December 11, 2024 @ 8:43 pm
Pascal’s wager had minimal commitment — basically belief (as it was the lowest cost option to grant unlimited benefits). No need for a belief in Charlton Heston.
Comment by John Lemon — Sunday, December 12, 2024 @ 11:45 am
Actually, John, I’ve converted to evangelical christianity and am VERY happy that all the goddamn dirty Jews and faggots are going to burn in hell.
Comment by The Raving Atheist — Wednesday, December 15, 2024 @ 4:19 pm