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From: notes@iuvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Replies to Bickford/Sargent on Chris - (nf)
Message-ID: <305@iuvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Apr-84 01:07:11 EST
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Posted: Mon Apr  9 01:07:11 1984
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#R:azure:-266500:iuvax:1700012:000:1815
iuvax!dsaker    Apr  8 16:29:00 1984


Reply to Jeff Sargent:

You seem to have completely misunderstood Darrell's point.

A Christian tells me that a year ago, while he was still an atheist,
his life was in a mess, things were headed down, his girlfriend was
leaving him.  Then on the basis of a dare he read the new testament, or
went to church, or whatever, and became a Christian.  Amazingly, the pieces
of his life started coming together, even his girlfriend came back to him
- and she too became a Christian.

Now, this Christian sees here evidence for the truth of his beliefs.
The argument seems to be that these things could not have come to pass
if his beliefs were not true.  Darrell's point was that this argument is
garbage because it applies just as well to other religions.  Every
religion (at least every one that I have ever encountered - and that is a
lot) has converts who experienced miraculous changes in their lives after
their conversion.  Talk to the Moonie down the street or the local Baha'i
believer; read about followers of Jim Jones.  The fact that these miraculous 
changes are experienced by converts to all sorts of religions - this fact 
is support for the argument that the miraculous changes are independent of 
the truth of what is believed.

Can you now see why "Christ changed my life" is an unconvincing testimony?
The fact that the convert experienced a large change in his life does not
support the truth of his beliefs.  Perhaps the change is a result of his
having convictions about the ultimate nature of existence, convictions
that tell him life is meaningful and ultimately just and joyous in its
outcome.  The change may have nothing to do with the truth of his convictions.
Remember, the Muslim convert next door is saying "Allah changed my life".  



     Daryel Akerlind
  ...ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!dsaker