Announcement

Collapse

Apologetics 301 Guidelines

If you think this is the area where you tell everyone you are sorry for eating their lunch out of the fridge, it probably isn't the place for you


This forum is open discussion between atheists and all theists to defend and debate their views on religion or non-religion. Please respect that this is a Christian-owned forum and refrain from gratuitous blasphemy. VERY wide leeway is given in range of expression and allowable behavior as compared to other areas of the forum, and moderation is not overly involved unless necessary. Please keep this in mind. Atheists who wish to interact with theists in a way that does not seek to undermine theistic faith may participate in the World Religions Department. Non-debate question and answers and mild and less confrontational discussions can take place in General Theistics.


Forum Rules: Here
See more
See less

Celebrated Australian atheist, political leader converts to Christianity at 85

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Celebrated Australian atheist, political leader converts to Christianity at 85

    Special call out to Tassman on this one...



    Celebrated Australian atheist, political leader converts to Christianity at 85


    catholic, christianity, conversion, good news

    BRISBANE, Australia, September 19, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – A famous Australian politician who made no secret of his atheism has converted to Christianity.

    Former Governor General Bill Hayden was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on September 9th at St. Mary’s Church, Ipswich, near Brisbane.

    He told the Catholic Leader that he hoped his faith would inspire those saddened by the current crisis in the Church.

    This took too long, and now I am going to be devoted,” Hayden said. “From this day forward I’m going to vouch for God,”

    Hayden, 85, was the leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1977 to 1983 and served as a cabinet minister in subsequent Labor governments. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1983 to 1988, he left parliament to become the Queen’s representative in Australia, the Governor General. He served in this post for seven years.

    The politician’s atheism was not of a private nature. In 1996 he was declared “the Australian Humanist of the Year” by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies. But twenty years later, Hayden felt a tug on his heart.

    “There’s been a gnawing pain in my heart and soul about what is the meaning of life. What’s my role in it?” he told the Catholic Leader.

    “I can no longer accept that human existence is self-sufficient and isolated.”

    Although inspired by memories of his devout Catholic mother and the Ursuline order of sisters that taught him as a child, Hayden said that the catalyst to his conversion was a Sister of Mercy. Ninety-three-year-old Sister Angela Mary Doyle also attended his baptism.

    “I have always felt embraced and loved by her Christian example,” Hayden said.

    In a letter to friends, Hayden wrote of a visit he and his family had paid to the retired hospital administrator.

    “Dallas [my wife], our daughter Ingrid and I recently visited Sister Angela Mary in the Mater Hospital where she was a patient,” he stated.

    “The next morning I woke with the strong sense that I had been in the presence of a holy woman,” he continued.

    “So after dwelling on these things I found my way back to the core of those beliefs – the Church.”

    It may seem like a very strange time to want to become a Catholic, but Hayden stated that the abuse scandals in the Church are caused by “human agents.”

    “The problems are caused by human agents of the Church, but we shouldn’t let our faith be undermined by the action of agents who aren’t quite as good as they should be,” he said.

    The Australian reported that Hayden said it was “witnessing so many selfless acts of compassion by Christians over his lifetime, and deep contemplation while recovering from a stroke, that prompted his decision.

    He told the Catholic Leader that his new faith is not about rules but love.

    “It is about love for your fellow humans, forgiveness, compassion and helpful support,” Hayden said.

    “These characteristics are founded on the teachings of Christ and driven by faith in an external power – the Christian God whose limitations are beyond what humans could attain,” he added.

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ce...hristianity-at


  • #2
    Saw a couple articles on that this morning



    Given his age they'll probably dismiss it like they did when Antony Flew converted saying he was senile. Well if being 85 automatically makes you senile I guess they oughta support removing Ruth Bader Ginsburg from the SCOTUS.

    I'm always still in trouble again

    "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
    "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
    "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

    Comment


    • #3
      And angels celebrate.
      sigpic

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by rogue06 View Post
        Saw a couple articles on that this morning

        Given his age they'll probably dismiss it like they did when Antony Flew converted saying he was senile.
        Flew made it clear that he had not become a Christian; he had moved from atheism to a form of deism. He did not embrace classical theism in any substantial form.

        Well if being 85 automatically makes you senile I guess they oughta support removing Ruth Bader Ginsburg from the SCOTUS.
        Ruth Bader Ginsburg is safe in her position. Being 85 does not automatically make you senile, although it can significantly increase the possibility.

        Interestingly both Hayden’s immediate predecessor as Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam and his immediate successor, Bob Hawke were both atheists as was Bill Hayden during his tenure. Unlike the USA, atheists are regularly voted into office in Australia.
        “He felt that his whole life was a kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” - Douglas Adams.

        Comment


        • #5
          ... while recovering from a stroke, ...
          “I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.” ― Oscar Wilde
          “And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence” ― Bertrand Russell
          “not all there” - you know who you are

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by firstfloor View Post
            ... while recovering from a stroke, ...
            I predicted Tassman would use that excuse, not you.

            Sometimes God has to knock someone on the head to get their attention.

            It happened to my dad. And because of his conversion at least a dozen other people converted also, including me. I watched God save my dad when the doctors gave up, then I watched God change him and save him. If it took a stroke for that to happen with my dad or Hayden, then thank God for strokes.

            You know a stroke doesn't mean you turn insane or gullible, right? But they sure can be a wakeup call.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Tassman View Post
              Flew made it clear that he had not become a Christian; he had moved from atheism to a form of deism. He did not embrace classical theism in any substantial form.
              Never said he did. Just that he abandoned his ardently held atheism.

              I'm always still in trouble again

              "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
              "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
              "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by rogue06 View Post
                Never said he did. Just that he abandoned his ardently held atheism.
                Which is certainly a good first step.
                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                  Special call out to Tassman on this one...
                  Tassman can speak for himself. What I want to know is: Is this supposed to prove something?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Doug Shaver View Post
                    Tassman can speak for himself. What I want to know is: Is this supposed to prove something?
                    That it's never too late?

                    I'm always still in trouble again

                    "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
                    "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
                    "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                      Which is certainly a good first step.
                      He defined his new faith as “It is about love for your fellow humans, forgiveness, compassion and helpful support.” I certainly hope he is on his way toward the second step.
                      When I Survey....

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Doug Shaver View Post
                        Tassman can speak for himself. What I want to know is: Is this supposed to prove something?
                        That God is good and it is never too late. Even for you!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Faber View Post
                          He defined his new faith as “It is about love for your fellow humans, forgiveness, compassion and helpful support.” I certainly hope he is on his way toward the second step.
                          Unfortunately it looks like he didn't take it before passing away back in 2010. But who knows what he believed in his final few days.

                          I'm always still in trouble again

                          "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
                          "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
                          "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                            Special call out to Tassman on this one...



                            Celebrated Australian atheist, political leader converts to Christianity at 85


                            catholic, christianity, conversion, good news

                            BRISBANE, Australia, September 19, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – A famous Australian politician who made no secret of his atheism has converted to Christianity.

                            Former Governor General Bill Hayden was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on September 9th at St. Mary’s Church, Ipswich, near Brisbane.

                            He told the Catholic Leader that he hoped his faith would inspire those saddened by the current crisis in the Church.

                            This took too long, and now I am going to be devoted,” Hayden said. “From this day forward I’m going to vouch for God,”

                            Hayden, 85, was the leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1977 to 1983 and served as a cabinet minister in subsequent Labor governments. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1983 to 1988, he left parliament to become the Queen’s representative in Australia, the Governor General. He served in this post for seven years.

                            The politician’s atheism was not of a private nature. In 1996 he was declared “the Australian Humanist of the Year” by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies. But twenty years later, Hayden felt a tug on his heart.

                            “There’s been a gnawing pain in my heart and soul about what is the meaning of life. What’s my role in it?” he told the Catholic Leader.

                            “I can no longer accept that human existence is self-sufficient and isolated.”

                            Although inspired by memories of his devout Catholic mother and the Ursuline order of sisters that taught him as a child, Hayden said that the catalyst to his conversion was a Sister of Mercy. Ninety-three-year-old Sister Angela Mary Doyle also attended his baptism.

                            “I have always felt embraced and loved by her Christian example,” Hayden said.

                            In a letter to friends, Hayden wrote of a visit he and his family had paid to the retired hospital administrator.

                            “Dallas [my wife], our daughter Ingrid and I recently visited Sister Angela Mary in the Mater Hospital where she was a patient,” he stated.

                            “The next morning I woke with the strong sense that I had been in the presence of a holy woman,” he continued.

                            “So after dwelling on these things I found my way back to the core of those beliefs – the Church.”

                            It may seem like a very strange time to want to become a Catholic, but Hayden stated that the abuse scandals in the Church are caused by “human agents.”

                            “The problems are caused by human agents of the Church, but we shouldn’t let our faith be undermined by the action of agents who aren’t quite as good as they should be,” he said.

                            The Australian reported that Hayden said it was “witnessing so many selfless acts of compassion by Christians over his lifetime, and deep contemplation while recovering from a stroke, that prompted his decision.

                            He told the Catholic Leader that his new faith is not about rules but love.

                            “It is about love for your fellow humans, forgiveness, compassion and helpful support,” Hayden said.

                            “These characteristics are founded on the teachings of Christ and driven by faith in an external power – the Christian God whose limitations are beyond what humans could attain,” he added.

                            https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ce...hristianity-at
                            What, someone converted? Hooray for Christianity!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                              That God is good and it is never too late. Even for you!
                              How does a conversion prove anything about god? If he converted to Islam would that prove Allah is good, and that it's never to late, even for you?

                              Comment

                              Related Threads

                              Collapse

                              Topics Statistics Last Post
                              Started by whag, Yesterday, 03:01 PM
                              38 responses
                              133 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post whag
                              by whag
                               
                              Started by whag, 03-17-2024, 04:55 PM
                              21 responses
                              129 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post Hypatia_Alexandria  
                              Started by whag, 03-14-2024, 06:04 PM
                              80 responses
                              422 views
                              0 likes
                              Last Post tabibito  
                              Started by whag, 03-13-2024, 12:06 PM
                              45 responses
                              303 views
                              1 like
                              Last Post Hypatia_Alexandria  
                              Working...
                              X