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A little factoid I just learned. St. Patrick wasn't even Irish and an atheist.

james bond

Well-Known Member
Patrick before he became a saint was a rabble rouser.

Patrick was born in a town on the River Clyde in Roman Britain, now a part of Scotland. When he was sixteen years old, Patrick was captured by a band of pirates who sold him to a chieftain in what is now county Antrim in Northern Ireland. For six years he tended flocks. In his testimony he tells us,

“I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun.”

He was also an atheist in a Christian family.

"AN ATHEIST IN A CHRISTIAN FAMILY—Patrick descended from a Christian family that had been, for at least two generations, in Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was “the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae.” [1] However, as a rebellious youth, Patrick had no interest in Christ, living instead for fun, adventure and pleasure. He wrote, “I did not then believe in the living God, nor had I believed, since my infancy…”

Magairle.

https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/patrick.html
 

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
He was also an atheist in a Christian family.

"AN ATHEIST IN A CHRISTIAN FAMILY—Patrick descended from a Christian family that had been, for at least two generations, in Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was “the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae.” [1]

Good for him! :D

However, as a rebellious youth, Patrick had no interest in Christ, living instead for fun, adventure and pleasure. He wrote, “I did not then believe in the living God, nor had I believed, since my infancy…”

So apparently it's either Christ or "living for fun, adventure, and pleasure." I don't see why the choice would even take all of two seconds. :cool:

Double points if leaving Christianity also brings a stronger sense of purpose, integrity, and meaning to the person, I'd say.

It seems to me that your OP is yet another piece of conservative Christian misconception regarding aheists and the motivations thereof. Some people just find neither your religion nor your god interesting or even ethical. Perhaps you need to get over it instead of trying to guilt them into converting back to your faith.
 
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Samantha Rinne

Resident Genderfluid Writer/Artist
Patrick before he became a saint was a rabble rouser.

Patrick was born in a town on the River Clyde in Roman Britain, now a part of Scotland. When he was sixteen years old, Patrick was captured by a band of pirates who sold him to a chieftain in what is now county Antrim in Northern Ireland. For six years he tended flocks. In his testimony he tells us,

“I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun.”

He was also an atheist in a Christian family.

"AN ATHEIST IN A CHRISTIAN FAMILY—Patrick descended from a Christian family that had been, for at least two generations, in Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was “the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae.” [1] However, as a rebellious youth, Patrick had no interest in Christ, living instead for fun, adventure and pleasure. He wrote, “I did not then believe in the living God, nor had I believed, since my infancy…”

Magairle.

https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/patrick.html

Haven't you learned anything? It's all through the Bible. It's not where you come from, it's not what your flaws are. In fact, God wants your flaws. It's what you do in the days to come. No, he wasn't Irish. He was sent to Ireland (as a missionary). And he probably an atheist. For awhile. But the main article is also true.

Guess what? So was C.S. Lewis, long before Aslan and all the rest of Narnia. He and Tolkien were actually mates at school. This is a sort of summed up reconstruction of their conversation, which actually lasted until 4am.

 

james bond

Well-Known Member
converting back to your faith.

Too much vitriol here, but the Bible says:
"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ..." Matthew 10:14-42
 
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james bond

Well-Known Member
Haven't you learned anything? It's all through the Bible. It's not where you come from, it's not what your flaws are. In fact, God wants your flaws. It's what you do in the days to come. No, he wasn't Irish. He was sent to Ireland (as a missionary). And he probably an atheist. For awhile. But the main article is also true.

Guess what? So was C.S. Lewis, long before Aslan and all the rest of Narnia. He and Tolkien were actually mates at school. This is a sort of summed up reconstruction of their conversation, which actually lasted until 4am.


Haven't I learned anything? I agree that it's not where you come from, it's not what your flaws are since we live in a fallen world and the Tolkien-Lewis video is wonderful. Thanks for posting!
 

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
Too much vitriol here, but the Bible says:
"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ..." Matthew 10:14-42

<yawn> Quoting scripture to threaten non-Christians. So original and convincing. </yawn>
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Patrick before he became a saint was a rabble rouser.

Patrick was born in a town on the River Clyde in Roman Britain, now a part of Scotland. When he was sixteen years old, Patrick was captured by a band of pirates who sold him to a chieftain in what is now county Antrim in Northern Ireland. For six years he tended flocks. In his testimony he tells us,

“I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun.”

He was also an atheist in a Christian family.

"AN ATHEIST IN A CHRISTIAN FAMILY—Patrick descended from a Christian family that had been, for at least two generations, in Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was “the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae.” [1] However, as a rebellious youth, Patrick had no interest in Christ, living instead for fun, adventure and pleasure. He wrote, “I did not then believe in the living God, nor had I believed, since my infancy…”

Magairle.

https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/patrick.html
So, there's no such thing as repentance and conversion?

Here's from a source that doesn't represent any particular faith: Saint Patrick - Wikipedia
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
BTW, Happy Saint Patty's Day to all whom it may apply, and let me just say that the holiday is celebrated quite differently in Ireland than in the States, whereas in the former it very much is a religious holiday and whereas in the States it more drinking green beer and eating corned beef (the Irish traditionally make lamb stew on that day-- corned beef is more eastern European).

Speaking of which, here's an authentic Irish Stew recipe:

2 lbs. lamb cut in cubes
assorted root vegetables sliced
water to cover
1 fifth of Old Bushmills Whiskey

Put the lamb, vegetables, and water in a pot, and boil the hell out of them. At the last minute put in the full fifth of Old Bushmills. Then take the veggies and lamb out and throw them into the garbage and drink the broth.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Patrick before he became a saint was a rabble rouser.

Patrick was born in a town on the River Clyde in Roman Britain, now a part of Scotland. When he was sixteen years old, Patrick was captured by a band of pirates who sold him to a chieftain in what is now county Antrim in Northern Ireland. For six years he tended flocks. In his testimony he tells us,

“I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun.”

He was also an atheist in a Christian family.

"AN ATHEIST IN A CHRISTIAN FAMILY—Patrick descended from a Christian family that had been, for at least two generations, in Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was “the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae.” [1] However, as a rebellious youth, Patrick had no interest in Christ, living instead for fun, adventure and pleasure. He wrote, “I did not then believe in the living God, nor had I believed, since my infancy…”

Magairle.

https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/patrick.html

Perhaps one of the first atheists to make it big.
 
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