When thinking changes your mind, that’s philosophy.
When God changes your mind, that’s faith.
When facts change your mind, that’s science.

The Edge Foundation asked the intellectual elite to comment on the things that made them change their mind. I think that this is a tricky question to ask because if you changed your mind you admit that you were wrong about something. Many people aren’t quite comfortable with that idea. But I guess if those 163 people – all of them top-notch scientists – who submitted their story can do it, everyone should.

My personal favorite is Patrick Bateson. He used to be an agnostic, but “converted” to an atheist after talking to a creationist lady. I also thought that being an agnostic is the best choice, since you can’t prove one or the other and better leave the question unanswered. But today I think that religion and the belief in the supernatural is dangerous and threatens our modern life. To be honest: our modern life wouldn’t be possible without all those brave people who stood up against the church and other misbeliefs of their time to pursue progress.

Related content:
Richard Dawkins – Enemies of Reason (Part 1)
Church of the Flying Spaghetti  Monster