It is amazing how the theist's mind works isn't it? I was reading some Origin of Species in a virtually empty airport lounge when some lady comes up to me and starts asking me why I am reading "such a thing". Before I can even get an answer out of my mouth she responds that it must be for school, and how high school teachers don't tell full story about Darwin in the classroom. 

(I was actually in my first year of college. I had been taking a physical anthropology class which discussed Darwin in detail and was reading Origin of Species as a traveling book for enrichment and leisure.)

Of course I have heard this all before, the Lady Hope story about Darwin changing his mind. I did allow her to continue since it is interesting to listen to it as a folktale. This Darwin story changes depending on the church, each has its own variation, each church adds in some extra fundy nonsense to make it sound more convincing or exciting. If you have not heard it before here it is. If you have you can skip it. I bolded some of the key parts.

It was one of those glorious autumn afternoons, that we sometimes enjoy in England, when I was asked to go in and sit with the well known professor, Charles Darwin. He was almost bedridden for some months before he died. I used to feel when I saw him that his fine presence would make a grand picture for our Royal Academy; but never did I think so more strongly than on this particular occasion.

He was sitting up in bed, wearing a soft embroidered dressing gown, of rather a rich purple shade.

Propped up by pillows, he was gazing out on a far-stretching scene of woods and cornfields, which glowed in the light of one of those marvelous sunsets which are the beauty of Kent and Surrey. His noble forehead and fine features seem to be lit up with pleasure as I entered the room.

He waved his hand toward the window as he pointed out the scene beyond, while in the other hand he held an open Bible, which he was always studying.

"What are you reading now?" I asked as I seated myself beside his bedside. "Hebrews!" he answered - "still Hebrews. 'The Royal Book' I call it. Isn't it grand?"

Then, placing his finger on certain passages, he commented on them.

I made some allusions to the strong opinions expressed by many persons on the history of the Creation, its grandeur, and then their treatment of the earlier chapters of the Book of Genesis.

He seemed greatly distressed, his fingers twitched nervously, and a look of agony came over his face as he said: "I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything, and to my astonishment, the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion of them."

Then he paused, and after a few more sentences on "the holiness of God" and the "grandeur of this book," looking at the Bible which he was holding tenderly all the time, he suddenly said: "I have a summer house in the garden which holds about thirty people. It is over there," pointing through the open window. "I want you very much to speak there. I know you read the Bible in the villages. To-morrow afternoon I should like the servants on the place, some tenants and a few of the neighbours; to gather there. Will you speak to them?"

"What shall I speak about?" I asked.

"Christ Jesus!" he replied in a clear, emphatic voice, adding in a lower tone, "and his salvation. Is not that the best theme? And then I want you to sing some hymns with them. You lead on your small instrument, do you not?" The wonderful look of brightness and animation on his face as he said this I shall never forget, for he added: "If you take the meeting at three o'clock this window will be open, and you will know that I am joining in with the singing."

How I wished I could have made a picture of the fine old man and his beautiful surroundings on that memorable day!

Blah Blah Blah.... Anyways I of course asked her where Darwin died and when. She replied "In England but  I don't know when" I told her about the story appearing in 1922 and of originating in America. She was not convinced so I then asked her if it even mattered if he believed it or not? She replied that it DID matter since it would not be taught in my high school (shhh) if it was known that Darwin denied it. But it does not matter since a scientific theory is decided by the facts that support or do not support it and not it's believers. (please take note of the above creationists)  As always she walked away like she didn't understand a word I was saying and I was just another lost soul. Start talking facts and theories to these people and they think it is a credibility scale. (read Stephen Jay Gould's Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes)

Anyways this brings me to the topic: Changed Minds. Every time someone without faith in god who influenced a mass of people dies, these theists immediately start up the BS mill and put out a story of deathbed conversion. Something about not being able to speak for yourself anymore once your dead, opens up the way for fundys to speak for you. Look at Carl Sagan or anyone else local or nationally famous who offended the theists and they spit out a deathbed conversion story.  The story is pretty much the same for everyone too. They realize they are going to die and they finally see the error of their ways, and accept god. You would probably be amazed at how many people have done this! (maybe not since it's coming from the fundy press) Did you know that Gandhi, Hitler, Mussolini, Roman Emperors, Stalin, Murderers, Mother Teresa, and Popes all expressed sorrow for their past evil ways and accepted god right before they died? (I laugh when I hear these fundys telling me about popes doing this) Come on and think of something slightly more original, or at least spew the lies when they are still alive to deny the claims.

After I am dead they will erase this website and replace it with my deathbed conversion story.

PS, I forgot to mention that Jesus changed his mind on the cross too. He did!