What theist's deconversion to atheism would shock you the most?

[Brian63]

What theist, even fundamentalist religious nut, would you enjoy seeing the most if they suddenly and publicly and shockingly announced their deconversion to atheism? It may somewhat in your own personal life such as your spouse or a coworker, or someone who is more of a public figure. Donald Trump as president of the U.S. would certainly be one name that comes to mind. Regardless of a personal dislike of the guy and not wanting to be associated with him, I would still be stunned by how much it would upend conservatives and religious fundies and their superficial/nationalistic worldviews. Really though, I think I would favor some Christian who is very vocal against secularist views, a devoted and prominent figure in the Religious Right, a public figure specifically opposed to atheism for a long time. So if someone like street evangelist Ray Comfort or philosopher-type apologist William Lane Craig made a public announcement that they were wrong for believing in God, and that their religious views were a huge crock of bullshit that they just recently realized---but also, that they actually found life much more uplifting and meaningful as an atheist than they ever did as a fundamentalist. They just had to "come out of the atheist closet" both more internally and outwardly, to relieve their psychological stress. They would then even encourage others to give an atheism a shot before dismissing it out of hand, and would be very vocal in advocating atheism and criticizing religion. So I am undecided between Ray Comfort and William Lane Craig, but would probably favor WLC if I had to pick. The man is so worshiped and glorified by fundamentalist religious conservatives, and it would just hugely upend everything that they thought they knew. Though I do follow Ray Comfort more closely, and have suspicions that he privately doubts his religious beliefs more than he would ever publicly admit.

On the other hand, there is Lee Strobel with his biblical apologetic book "The Case for Christ" and how popular that is among Religious Right evangelists. Or maybe Rush Limbaugh, a supremely influential talk radio host that has demonized liberalism, secularism, etc. for all his life.

So yeah, I take back my earlier vote for WLC...I would be the most floored by Rush Limbaugh announcing a deconversion, and then attacking the Religious Right for the rest of his public time.

Whose grand announcement of a deconversion to atheism would you be the most shocked by, the most interested in, the most scared by, or even the most excited about?

Brian

 

[Keith&Co.]

Whose grand announcement of a deconversion to atheism would you be the most shocked by, the most interested in, the most scared by, or even the most excited about?

Well, certainly not Trump. I doubt the sincerity of his faithfulness, I'd doubt the story of his faithlessness. I'd assume it was just a tax dodge... Or a way to get churches to stop asking him for money.

I'd be concerned about most creationist apologists announcing atheism, though.
they're SO CONVINCED that their faith is the only thing keeping them from going bug knuckle insane and shooting their way through schoolyards, I'd fear that they chose atheism IN ORDER to do something nefarious. Like shoot a blackmailer or bury a wife who won't give them divorce...

 

[Kharakov]

Rick Warren. I'd like him to publicly acknowledge the use of information technology to manipulate the disenfranchised and attempt to subjugate them (I've heard teenage outsiders at the church have insiders tell them that the insiders are psychic, and the outsiders were somewhat convinced because of the level of information that the church insiders presented to them). Of course, they'll grow up and figure it out, unless they are exposed to ritual Christian abuse... under the guise of "creating faith in God".

I'd like to see him admit his whole church is a sham, and that everything is created by hard working people, and that the whole "psychic God thing" is corruption by those who are willing to continually lie in order to subjugate others.

Of course, these motherfuckers all need to be killed- they won't admit they are lying in public, so I say send them to their false God. That should be a law: if someone repeatedly publicly states "God will reward us in the afterlife" they should be sent to the afterlife. There is no room for hustling liars in a good world. Fuck those people.

Basically kill all prosperity gospel Christians. They subjugate others by taking advantage of a corrupt system and credit their false God for the things that human labor produces. They shut down their conscience and credit GOD, instead of workers and luck (chaos luck, not magic luck). They deserve death.

 

[Angry Floof]

Donald Trump? He already is an atheist. You mean if he publicly denounced belief? That would shock me, but that's not a conversion of belief of any kind, just a decision to cut the cord with the religious influence around him. Would be quite surprising, but nothing to do with belief in God.

 

[bigfield]

The Pope is my choice for "most entertaining deconversion shitstorm", but I would be greatly surprised by the public deconversion of anyone whose high position of power rests on their status as a devout Christian. Many are undoubtedly lying about their faith, already.

 

[sharon45]

I would be the most floored by Rush Limbaugh announcing a deconversion, and then attacking the Religious Right for the rest of his public time.

Ha, Rush already admits he does not believe, in how he says, "Talent, on loan, from, God-d," along with his incessant need to corrupt the religious right and everyone else.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Kirk Cameron.

I'd like to see some poorly researched and badly argued videos talking about the truths of atheism.

 

[Kharakov]

Spuds McKenzie.

 

[Tigers!]

Mine, since it would affect me most directly and personally.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Mine, since it would affect me most directly and personally.

I really don't think it'd be all that shocking for you. You'd have been there with you the whole time, going through your struggles and questions, understanding your shifting position and doubt. It'd just be the culmination of a long process, to you, and the eventual realization would be more anticlimactic than anything.

the shock, surprise, amazement, and so on comes when your idea of a person's faith profile is suddenly slapped in the face with half-inflated sheep. Like, if you're present with your dad when he gets his diagnosis of diabetes, you're not surprised when he only orders one Cola at dinner, instead of his usual three. If you weren't aware that he'd even seen the doctor, the sudden change is more striking.

 

[funinspace]

Mine, since it would affect me most directly and personally.

I really don't think it'd be all that shocking for you. You'd have been there with you the whole time, going through your struggles and questions, understanding your shifting position and doubt.

But he could in an epiphany see the light...and be shocked at the revelation...so to speak that is

 

[ideologyhunter]

The Lord Jesus Christ. He could fess up that it was all a bet to see how long he could string the thing out, planned while his gang was doing Jello shots at a wedding in Cana.