I just got finished listening to a
delightful little book by an ex-Syracuse English professor, who converted to
Christianity somewhere following tenure (“The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely
Convert”). As someone influenced by the anti-Christian spirit that can be found
in some academic institutions (I’ve never encountered this anywhere I have
been, including Harvard which was probably the most spiritual academic place I
have been, and I got my doctorate AT a Christian college). It got me to think,
what are some of the most distinct and dramatic conversions I am aware. Here
are eight that pop into my mind, and, like life, are diverse.
1) CS Lewis. Lewis is probably the most influential
Christian writer of the last 500 years. His conversion from a devout Atheist at
Oxford was centered on one of the most essential reads of all Christian writings,
GK Chesterton’s The Everlasting Man.
2) Anthony Flew. Antony Flew was the 2nd
if not most prominent Atheist philosopher of the 20th century. Several
years before his death, the Brit lost his Atheist faith based on the
realization that life is here by accident is ludicrious. (see “There is a God”
by Anthony Flew).
3) John C. Wright, acclaimed science
fiction writer
“I prayed. ‘Dear God, I know… that you do not exist.
Nonetheless, as a scholar, I am forced to entertain the hypothetical
possibility that I am mistaken’
Soon after, Wright over a series of
days had a number of visions and physical encounters with Biblical figures.
4) Edward Feser One of my favorite contemporary philosophers,
Edward Feser converted to Catholism in his 30’s. Feser is a prolific and highly-skilled
writer. “The Last Superstition” is a contemporary philosophical masterpiece refuting
the new (recycled) atheism from the likes of Harris and Dawkins. It was
classical theistic viewpoints from Augustine and Aquinas that convinced Feser
of the truth of theism.
5) Alister McGrath. Another leading
philosopher, Alister McGrath was a product of the 60’s British attitudes
towards God, particularly in academia. When he had to consider theism as part
of his educational process, he dreadfully at first, realized that it had
explanatory power that atheism was completely void of. He has since become a
leading philosopher in Theism, and is also a prolific writer and critic of
Dawkins and Harris.
6) My favorite conversion is of the
great 20th century evolutionary biologist, George Price. In a
remarkable recount of his life, “The Price of Altruism” explains how Price
realized that good in this world was outside of any explanatory power, and
dedicated the last years of his life fully entrenched in helping the poor. He
died of despair, killing himself because of the pain he felt of the people
suffering in this world. One of the most remarkable people to live, his story
is unforgettable.
7) The best looking person on this
list, by far (sorry Alistair), Olivia Wilde. Olivia Wilde was an ardent
materialist, and preparing for a film a few years ago, she was led to read NY
police records of alleged exorcisms that took place. She came to think the
reports as utterly true, and is now a theist.
8) M, via E. I met M through E at Harvard. E was a very
bright, extremely well-behaved and sincere young Christian who is now in her
medical residency. She was married to M, who was an atheist, until meeting E.
He is now training as a Ph.D. student in philosophy. However, M becaome a
Christian because E is an incredibly generous and caring person, not because an
intellectual awakening. These are the best conversion stories, I think, in the
eyes of the Almighty.
