Reason, Doubt, and Conversion

Fr. Dwight Longenecker:

'Apparently you can't reason a schizophrenic out of his belief. What he is seeing and hearing is 'real' to him. This is not to call all atheists schizophrenic, but the analogy is there--because in a similar way you cannot reason him out of his seemingly rock solid perception of reality: that there is no God.

'The only thing that can change a schizophrenic is something that alters the chemicals in his brain back to the proper function again. Similarly, the only thing that can convert an atheist (or an agnostic or an unbeliever of any kind) is the divine light--revelation--grace--a supernatural gift which opens blind eyes.

'Now what really teases me is that the same thing can be said about a theist who has never really examined their belief system. They too have accepted a rock solid basic assumption and have never questioned it. What they need, as we all need is a shock to the system and an infusion of grace which takes their theism out of the comfort zone into the reality zone. This is what we call conversion.'