Popular atheist blogger Leah Libresco rocked the atheist community last week when she announced she’d taken the plunge and converted to Christianity. She made the announcement Tuesday on her blog, six weeks after her decision. Libresco felt she needed some time to settle into her faith before she shared with the public. To avoid conflict between her new-found faith and her blogging commitments, she simply chose not to blog about anything she disagreed with.
She credits her conversion to an ongoing struggle with the roots of moral law. “I believed that the Moral Law wasn’t just a Platonic truth, abstract and distant. It turns out I actually believed it was some kind of Person, as well as Truth. And there was one religion that seemed like the most promising way to reach back to that living Truth.”
As a Christian, I’m thrilled at this announcement. I’m thrilled any time someone new learns the good news that changed my own life so many years ago. There is a God. He is good. And He loves us.
But along with being thrilled, I’m also really, really impressed with this young woman. Not because she agrees with me, though that’s always a plus. Especially since I’m almost always right.
Ahem.
Anyway, I’m impressed because instead of stubbornly clinging to her own ideas, Miss Libresco actively sought the truth. God told us that if we seek Him with our whole hearts, we will find Him. Miss Libresco was more interested in finding the truth than in being right. It took a lot of character and courage for a prominent atheist blogger to turn against her own public persona and say, “I was wrong.”
Man, that’s hard. I don’t care who we are or what we believe, it’s hard to admit we were wrong. It’s hard enough for me to admit I’m the one who left the TV remote on the bathroom counter.
One of the biggest indicators of wisdom is the ability to own up to our mistakes, our misconceptions, our misdeeds. I’m ashamed to say, I’ve been known to stubbornly defend my actions even when it’s obvious I’m not right, simply because I don’t want to say I was wrong.
So, kudos to Miss Libresco. You’ve exhibited both humility and bravery. I, for one, could stand to learn from your example.
Oh, and by the way . . . welcome to the family.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” Jeremiah 29:13.
Atheists often use logic to promote their views that God does not exist. Ironically, it was logic that let Libresco to belief. More on my blog at http://www.jasongriffin.net/blog/2012/6/24/an-atheist-converts-to-christianity-logic-flows-both-ways.html
Thanks for commenting, Jason. I’ll be sure and check out your blog post. God bless!
Kudos to Leah! I agree – it’s hard to say we’re wrong. Makes me think about a sermon I heard from one of my favorite pastors. The title was “Being Right Wasn’t Enough”…. Walking in Love was always the right thing to do. Hmmm… gotta relearn that lesson. Kudoe to you, Renae for helping me see my wrongs – so people can see Jesus.
Great point, Barbara! Showing love is always more important than being right.