Deconversion Diaries: Why Some Atheists Embrace Faith
What leads a lifelong skeptic or vocal atheist to embrace faith? The phenomenon of “deconversion”—once almost taboo among the nonreligious—is now a topic of fascination and even pride for some.
Interviews with recent converts highlight a range of reasons: the search for community, a crisis of meaning, beauty in religious ritual, or a mystical experience. For former “New Atheists,” it can be disillusionment with their old tribe’s infighting or rigidity.
Such stories prompt discomfort. Many secularists fear giving ammunition to evangelists; some faith groups embrace new members but remain suspicious of their “baggage.” Yet, deconversions challenge the idea that belief and identity are ever fixed.
Ultimately, they offer a profound lesson: the human search for belonging and purpose doesn’t obey neat labels, and every journey is unique—even for those once certain that gods do not exist.
