Jonathan Edwards. World /Olympic champion : from born again Christian to Atheist

Rrose Selavy · 24th December 2008, 02:54 PM

I was really surprised to find Jonathan Edwards
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards_(athlete)

Listed as an atheist in a wiki list - always thought he was a happy clappy born again Christian (who wouldn't compete on a Sunday) and owed God for his Triple Jump World and Olympic medals so I followed it up to this Times onlline interview. Very interesting and on this day of all days encouraging to see someone open their mind, really question their "faith" and change their outlook.

Quote:

Once you start asking yourself questions like, ‘How do I really know there is a God?’ you are already on the path to unbelief,” Edwards says. “During my documentary on St Paul, some experts raised the possibility that his spectacular conversion on the road to Damascus might have been caused by an epileptic fit. It made me realise that I had taken things for granted that were taught to me as a child without subjecting them to any kind of analysis. When you think about it rationally, it does seem incredibly improbable that there is a God.”

Quote:

“I was always dismissive of sports psychology when I was competing, but I now realise that my belief in God was sports psychology in all but name.”

Quote:

“I am not unhappy about the fact that there might not be a God,” he says. “I don’t feel that my life has a big, gaping hole in it. In some ways I feel more human than I ever have. There is more reality in my existence than when I was full-on as a believer. It is a completely different world to the one I inhabited for 37 years, so there are feelings of unfamiliarity.

“There have also been issues to address in terms of my relationships with family and friends, many of whom are Christians. But I feel internally happier than at any time of my life, more content within my own skin. Maybe it is because I am not viewing the world through a specific set of spectacles.”

Quote:

Edwards says. “If there is no God, does that mean that life has no purpose? Does it mean that personal existence ends at death? They are thoughts that do my head in. One thing that I can say, however, is that even if I am unable to discover some fundamental purpose to life, this will not give me a reason to return to Christianity. Just because something is unpalatable does not mean that it is not true.”

Full report here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle1991114.ece

Soapy Sam · 24th December 2008, 03:02 PM

A frequent question here is why / how do athiests lose their faith?
A frequent response is "I never had any, so there was no process of "loss".

Since I never lost anything, I can't claim I won anything either, but here is a person who has experienced both in different are(n)as, so it's interesting to read what it feels like.

I wish him well. I think he'll go on finding he won again.

Filippo Lippi · 26th December 2008, 02:48 AM

On another board, a christian poster got himself all het up about the Edwards deconversion, squealling about how the christians had voted en masse for the Edwards in the BBC Sports Personality of the year.

"We made him," is a quote that sticks in my mind.

shadron · 26th December 2008, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by Filippo Lippi

On another board, a christian poster got himself all het up about the Edwards deconversion, squealling about how the christians had voted en masse for the Edwards in the BBC Sports Personality of the year.

"We made him," is a quote that sticks in my mind.

Life sure is hard on those who pay attention to the questions they want to be asked, rather than those they actually were asked, isn't it? The devil must be smirking.

alfaniner · 26th December 2008, 09:10 AM

Great, another guy to get confused with the politician and the Biggest Douche in the Universe...

cj.23 · 26th December 2008, 10:11 AM

What about Jonathan "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" Edwards? I think there are several more of that name too.

cj x

plumjam · 26th December 2008, 10:19 AM

He´s a triple-jumper. Expect further developments.

This Guy · 26th December 2008, 01:26 PM

Not being one to follow sports, I hadn't heard of him before. Sounds like he's a very sensible person. Using his head for more than a place to put his hat

Thanks for the post!

FarSideOfTheMoon · 26th December 2008, 02:55 PM

Briefly mentioned a few weeks ago here (post 14 onwards)

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...nathan+edwards

Rrose Selavy · 26th December 2008, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by FarSideOfTheMoon

Briefly mentioned a few weeks ago here (post 14 onwards)

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...nathan+edwards

Ah ..I did do a search of sorts before I started the thread but that didn't come up -

Roadtoad · 26th December 2008, 05:09 PM

I wish him well. It's a rough road he's going to follow from here on out, and his once fellow believers won't make it any easier.

But he will find his way.

westprog · 27th December 2008, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by Rrose Selavy

on this day of all days encouraging to see someone open their mind, really question their "faith" and change their outlook.

I'd agree with that. I'd agree whatever answer someone came up with, even if it didn't agree with mine.

24th December 2008, 02:54 PM	#1
Rrose Selavy Stranded in Sub-Atomica Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,915	Jonathan Edwards. World /Olympic champion : from born again Christian to Atheist I was really surprised to find Jonathan Edwards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards_(athlete) Listed as an atheist in a wiki list - always thought he was a happy clappy born again Christian (who wouldn't compete on a Sunday) and owed God for his Triple Jump World and Olympic medals so I followed it up to this Times onlline interview. Very interesting and on this day of all days encouraging to see someone open their mind, really question their "faith" and change their outlook. Quote: Once you start asking yourself questions like, ‘How do I really know there is a God?’ you are already on the path to unbelief,” Edwards says. “During my documentary on St Paul, some experts raised the possibility that his spectacular conversion on the road to Damascus might have been caused by an epileptic fit. It made me realise that I had taken things for granted that were taught to me as a child without subjecting them to any kind of analysis. When you think about it rationally, it does seem incredibly improbable that there is a God.” Quote: “I was always dismissive of sports psychology when I was competing, but I now realise that my belief in God was sports psychology in all but name.” Quote: “I am not unhappy about the fact that there might not be a God,” he says. “I don’t feel that my life has a big, gaping hole in it. In some ways I feel more human than I ever have. There is more reality in my existence than when I was full-on as a believer. It is a completely different world to the one I inhabited for 37 years, so there are feelings of unfamiliarity. “There have also been issues to address in terms of my relationships with family and friends, many of whom are Christians. But I feel internally happier than at any time of my life, more content within my own skin. Maybe it is because I am not viewing the world through a specific set of spectacles.” Quote: Edwards says. “If there is no God, does that mean that life has no purpose? Does it mean that personal existence ends at death? They are thoughts that do my head in. One thing that I can say, however, is that even if I am unable to discover some fundamental purpose to life, this will not give me a reason to return to Christianity. Just because something is unpalatable does not mean that it is not true.” Full report here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle1991114.ece
	Last edited by Rrose Selavy; 24th December 2008 at 02:58 PM.

24th December 2008, 03:02 PM	#2
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	A frequent question here is why / how do athiests lose their faith? A frequent response is "I never had any, so there was no process of "loss". Since I never lost anything, I can't claim I won anything either, but here is a person who has experienced both in different are(n)as, so it's interesting to read what it feels like. I wish him well. I think he'll go on finding he won again.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

26th December 2008, 02:48 AM	#3
Filippo Lippi Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nottingham Posts: 1,575	On another board, a christian poster got himself all het up about the Edwards deconversion, squealling about how the christians had voted en masse for the Edwards in the BBC Sports Personality of the year. "We made him," is a quote that sticks in my mind.
	__________________ "There is no refutation of Darwinian evolution in existence. If a refutation ever were to come about, it would come from a scientist, and not an idiot." - Richard Dawkins

26th December 2008, 09:10 AM	#5
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorth Dakonsin Posts: 11,379	Great, another guy to get confused with the politician and the Biggest Douche in the Universe...
	__________________ Science doesn't lie.

26th December 2008, 10:11 AM	#6
cj.23 Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kadath in the Cold Waste Posts: 2,822	What about Jonathan "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" Edwards? I think there are several more of that name too. cj x
	__________________ I'm an Anglican Christian, so I declare my prejudice here. Please take it in to account when reading my posts. "Most people would rather die than think: many do." - Betrand Russell My dull life blogged http://jerome23.wordpress.com

26th December 2008, 04:10 AM	#4
shadron Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,717	Originally Posted by Filippo Lippi On another board, a christian poster got himself all het up about the Edwards deconversion, squealling about how the christians had voted en masse for the Edwards in the BBC Sports Personality of the year. "We made him," is a quote that sticks in my mind. Life sure is hard on those who pay attention to the questions they want to be asked, rather than those they actually were asked, isn't it? The devil must be smirking.

26th December 2008, 10:19 AM	#7
plumjam Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Valencia, Spain Posts: 7,837	He´s a triple-jumper. Expect further developments.

26th December 2008, 01:26 PM	#8
This Guy Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 2,000	Not being one to follow sports, I hadn't heard of him before. Sounds like he's a very sensible person. Using his head for more than a place to put his hat Thanks for the post!
	__________________ I'm lost. I've gone to find me. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait!

26th December 2008, 02:55 PM	#9
FarSideOfTheMoon Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Larbert Posts: 291	Briefly mentioned a few weeks ago here (post 14 onwards) http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...nathan+edwards

26th December 2008, 05:05 PM	#10
Rrose Selavy Stranded in Sub-Atomica Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,915	Originally Posted by FarSideOfTheMoon Briefly mentioned a few weeks ago here (post 14 onwards) http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...nathan+edwards Ah ..I did do a search of sorts before I started the thread but that didn't come up -

26th December 2008, 05:09 PM	#11
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,738	I wish him well. It's a rough road he's going to follow from here on out, and his once fellow believers won't make it any easier. But he will find his way.

27th December 2008, 04:49 AM	#12
westprog Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,928	Originally Posted by Rrose Selavy on this day of all days encouraging to see someone open their mind, really question their "faith" and change their outlook. I'd agree with that. I'd agree whatever answer someone came up with, even if it didn't agree with mine.
westprog Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,928	__________________ Dreary whiner, who gradually outwore his welcome, before blowing it entirely.