President of UK atheist society finds God

[snopes]

Comment: received following via email:

The president of the atheist society in Great Britian, a professor of many years; a devote atheist; who has lectured and written many books " proving there is no God", was studying the science of DNA. He looked through his microscope one day and suddenly looked up and startled his students with these words,"Oh my God, how could I have been so wrong for 50 years?"

He resigned from the atheist society and is now telling everyone how wrong he has been.

"There is no way that DNA could have just happened. There has to be a designer".

True or false?

This sounds a bit like Antony Flew, who became a deist (ie. God as first cause, but nothing beyond that) very late in life, after being an atheist throughout his professorial career and professional life as a philosopher.

There is also Francis Collins, a geneticist who came to believe in Theistic Evolution (ie. evolution guided by a god of some description).

To the best of my knowledge, neither of these gentlemen were ever "president" of "the atheist society in Great Britain" (assuming such a thing exists, and has or had a president, both of which I doubt). Further, a quick perusal of Wikipedia's category "Former atheists and agnostics" does not turn up any likely suspects.

I expect this is probably a distortion of the Flew story, which the Christian right tried to play up as a much bigger story than it ever was.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by snopes

The president of the atheist society in Great Britian

I've not heard of the "atheist society of Great Britain". There's the National Secular Society, but IIRC you don't have to be an atheist to be a member.

[James G]

Also, may I point out that you won't see much in the way of DNA structure down a standard microscope.

[Dropbear]

Originally Posted by snopes

He looked through his microscope one day and suddenly looked up and startled his students with these words,"Oh my God, how could I have been so wrong for 50 years?"

And God promptly smote him for violating the 3rd commandment.

Dropbear

[Dropbear]

Originally Posted by James G

Also, may I point out that you won't see much in the way of DNA structure down a standard microscope.

But he was a scientist! All scientists look into microscopes, they also wear white coats, have arrays of test-tube racks and a something purple bubbling over a burner. That's how you know they are scientists - duh!

Dropbear

[ganzfeld]

Is it just me or has "British Atheist" become a meme of sorts? It seemed the people criticizing The Golden Compass, for example, went out of their way to mention that the books were not only written by an Atheist but a British Atheist. I have the feeling that this is the new stereotypically evil Atheist, perhaps even becoming more common than the "Atheist Professor".

[Ravenhull]

Originally Posted by ganzfeld

Is it just me or has "British Atheist" become a meme of sorts? It seemed the people criticizing The Golden Compass, for example, went out of their way to mention that the books were not only written by an Atheist but a British Atheist. I have the feeling that this is the new stereotypically evil Atheist, perhaps even becoming more common than the "Atheist Professor".

Oh boy... I can see the new Jack Chick 'villian' now....

[Dropbear]

Originally Posted by ganzfeld

Is it just me or has "British Atheist" become a meme of sorts? It seemed the people criticizing The Golden Compass, for example, went out of their way to mention that the books were not only written by an Atheist but a British Atheist. I have the feeling that this is the new stereotypically evil Atheist, perhaps even becoming more common than the "Atheist Professor".

Well, you can't really have an 'American atheist' because atheists are not real Americans are they? American atheist is a contradiction in terms - like peaceloving muslim or monogamous gay.

Dropbear

[Zachary Fizz]

Personally, ganzfeld, I prefer to think it is a vestigial (and perfectly understandable) deference on the part of the (presumably American) authors of the OP. If someone as clever and dependable as a British atheist professor gets converted, then it's the real deal.

However, I suspect it is more as you say, with "British" representing sinister/degenerate/apostate/unAmerican as appropriate. Possibly there's some sort of "Dawkins embraces creationism" fantasy going on, too. In which case, it's quite clear that our own James G is teh debil (something I for one have long suspected).

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by ganzfeld

Is it just me or has "British Atheist" become a meme of sorts? It seemed the people criticizing The Golden Compass, for example, went out of their way to mention that the books were not only written by an Atheist but a British Atheist. I have the feeling that this is the new stereotypically evil Atheist, perhaps even becoming more common than the "Atheist Professor".

Our atheists are worse than yours.

[James G]

Originally Posted by Zachary Fizz

In which case, it's quite clear that our own James G is teh debil (something I for one have long suspected).

Did the tail and horns give it away?

[Zachary Fizz]

Originally Posted by James G

Did the tail and horns give it away?

Yes. Also, at the snopesters' gatherings, your tendency to shout "Bwahahaha! I will eat your souls!" whenever it was your round. (Or was that Richard W?).

[James G]

Originally Posted by Zachary Fizz

Yes. Also, at the snopesters' gatherings, your tendency to shout "Bwahahaha! I will eat your souls!" whenever it was your round. (Or was that Richard W?).

Well we are the same person.

[Zachary Fizz]

Originally Posted by James G

Well we are the same person.

Weren't you once accused of pretending to be me? That really would be diabolical of you.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by Zachary Fizz

Yes. Also, at the snopesters' gatherings, your tendency to shout "Bwahahaha! I will eat your souls!" whenever it was your round. (Or was that Richard W?).

No, Richard shouted something about flaying someone alive.

[queen of the caramels]

Originally Posted by snopes

He looked through his microscope one day

I just hope it was one of the pink ones.

[Zachary Fizz]

Originally Posted by queen of the caramels

I just hope it was one of the pink ones.

But then he would have got teh ghey! And everyone knows that teh gheys are all atheists.

Honestly, QOTC, I wish you would think these things through before posting

[queen of the caramels]

Originally Posted by Zachary Fizz

But then he would have got teh ghey! And everyone knows that teh gheys are all atheists.

Honestly, QOTC, I wish you would think these things through before posting

*Hangs head in shame*

[Blatherskite]

Hey, it doesn't say his was looking through his microscope at DNA. He could have just been looking at microscopic pond life for hoots and shannanigans when he spontaneously had an epiphany. That's God's way of saying 'Put that thing away and do your actual job, you lazy bastard.'