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The Conversion
I will never be the same again. I will never return. I’ve closed the door. I will walk the path. I’ll run the race. And I will never be the same again.
Hillsongs
of
Through researching this work I have learned much. I wrote in the Introduction I also wrote Perjurer or Saint for me; claiming, "The more I try to understand him, the more I alter my views." Ultimately, I altered my views up to the altar. Little did I know my visceral feeling that Pat and I would know each other in an unusual way for many years, would mean the most bizarre way I would have ever imagined—in Christ—and for more years than imaginable.
By the way, remember my deistic Ma? She, too, altered her views up to the altar. Paradoxically, her atheist son’s and daughter-in-law’s merging roads to Christ opened her up to Him as never before.
Although my theistic position has been such that I met the definitions of atheist, agnostic, and humanist, the most accurate label, and the one I used most often to describe myself, has been "freethinker." This term implies atheism, as in my case. Freethought recognizes no established authority (e.g., priests, professors, political leaders, etc.), regardless of how established it or they may be. Generally, freethinkers (those I have known) sport the label without concern they actually mean free-atheistic-thinking. Little did I know at the start of Perjurer or Saint? just how far my freethinking would reach. The term, by definition, especially applies to those doubting or denying religious dogma. That aspect ignited my Christian conversion.
Shortly after I began writing Perjurer or
Saint?, an acquaintance provided my copy
of, Battle for the Mind. After reading it, I felt intellectually raped
by Secularism. I became convinced that I believed what I believed merely
because of indoctrination into the religion of Humanism. However, I am a
freethinker. I am, "one that forms opinions on the basis of reason
independently of authority; esp.: one who doubts or denies religious
dogma," regardless of whether the dogma is of the religion into which I
had been indoctrinated. I became, and remain, convinced that Secular Humanism
is the established, governmentally endorsed religion in
Pat Swindall’s life, political activism, and Christian role modeling of living the faith made my conversion possible. I am Christian today because of his example.
Does that mean I left my freethought at the door? Hardly, for I still trust science and reason for many grand things. I underwent serious intellectual challenges as I pondered Jesus’ reality. In the end, I deduced that history and logic reasonably supports His existence. This is not the place to attempt to prove my case, for the case warrants a work of its own (see Jordan Home Page).
My conversion to Christianity came as result of deeply challenging the following.
1. Unconstitutionally, Secular Humanism is
2. Humanists control mainstream media, politicians, and the entertainment industry.
3. Religiosity was a factor in
4. Currently, American governmental entities have grown totalitarian and coercive, whereas Jesus still seeks voluntary hearts.
5. Jesus endured attacks from His corporeal visit through today yet survives. Christianity flourished against all odds.
6. Jesus’ teachings do not support the Christian atrocities I have condemned throughout my atheism. Jesus should not be charged for those atrocities. Further, atheistic regimes have committed equally atrocious acts in the name of "the people." Both atrocious histories merely demonstrate just how much Christ’s teachings are needed.
7. I reject the idea the apostles allowed themselves to be persecuted over something they knew to be false. I also reject that the apostles and the 500 witnesses to His ascension into Heaven experienced joint hallucinations. Science has yet to prove such hallucinations are possible. The apostles had everything to lose by practicing their faith and nothing to gain. Cultists are convinced of a future happening; W.W.II Japanese kamikaze pilots (similar to other religious and political martyrs) were youth indoctrinated from birth regarding the Empire/God unity concept. The disciples were neither cultists nor kamikaze styled religious fanatics, for they were steadfast over something they personally witnessed.
8. If Jesus and His apostles (authors of the New Testament) existed and were truthful, the empty tomb is beyond secular explanation. If Jesus and His disciples did not exist, who wrote the New Testament and why? I reject that some loonies wrote it, then ignoramuses followed their insanity for 2000 years. There had been other virgin births and saviors in actual religions that died. Why would a fantasy version live on? Why would lives be changed by it?
9. Bible prophecies have come to pass against enormous odds.
10. Women are not the subjugated
male-inferiors that non-Christians perceive the Bible teaches. Husbands are to
sacrifice themselves for their wives as Christ did for the church (Ephesians
11. The Communist Manifesto planks and
the Communist Rules for Revolution are firmly in place in
For skeptics, I recommend reading Scaling
the Secular City, by J. P. Moreland (1987), Baker Book House. For a
succinct delivery of its principles, read Know Why You Believe, by Paul
E. Little (1976), Inter-Varsity Press,
Obtain a copy of Dr. Hugh Ross’ audiotape, Beyond the Stars: An Astronomer’s Quest, from:
Life Story Foundation,
No political library is complete without a copy of Tim LaHaye’s Battle for the Mind (1980).
Pat Swindall’s A House Divided (1986) provides an understanding of religiosity in American politics.
No non-believer has made an informed decision without knowing Lee Strobel’s legal-journalist investigation results revealed in The Case for Christ (1998)
Many of the intellectual aspects of my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior are presented in those publications. I encountered those publications after accepting Jesus. I found them astounding, for they presented thoughts I had when I decided that Jesus, if He proved anything at all, is everything in all.
Contrary to the common belief that
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