At the start of 2014, former Seventh-Day Adventist pastor Ryan Bell made an unusual New Year's resolution: to live for one year without God. This, reflecting his own loss of faith. He kept a blog documenting his journey and has a documentary crew following him.
After a year, Bell tells NPR's Arun Rath, "I've looked at the majority of the arguments that I've been able to find for the existence of God and on the question of God's existence or not, I have to say I don't find there to be a convincing case in my view.
"I don't think that God exists. I think that makes the most sense of the evidence that I have and my experience. But I don't think that's necessarily the most interesting thing about me."
Well that might not be the most interesting thing, but a pastor suddenly realizing there is no god is definitely an interesting thing about them.
And that's another newly freed mind to welcome to the fold.
I think this is what really terrifies religious people about Atheism. Once you try it, well you kind of want to stick with it.
Agree!
ReplyDeleteAccording to this essay he's just smarter than the true believers.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.salon.com/2014/12/21/religions_smart_people_problem_the_shaky_intellectual_foundations_of_absolute_faith/
VERY interesting...
ReplyDeleteNot really. His told story is the same untold story of millions (or more). He'll find god again real quick when he is diagnosed with cancer or needs a quadruple bypass or the like.
Delete@ 11:05
DeleteOh! You mean like what EVERY atheist supposedly does? You do realize that is not necessarily true, right? If not, think again.
11:05 AM
DeleteNot really.
11:05am
DeleteI think you missed the entire meaning of his journey to let go of god. Along the road he has traveled to let go of his faith he would have relinquished his belief that god has a hand in any aspect of our lives or the functioning of our bodies or else he'd still be a believer, seems that is the whole point of his journey. Pretty difficult to backtrack once one finds the truth.
This is not a matter of right or wrong, it is a personal belief. Believe what you want, love and help your fellow man when you can. This is not rocket science.
DeleteFuny, seeing so much suffering in the world, especially of little children, is EXACTLY what helped me to realize there is no god.
DeleteOnly biology and in the cases of some adults with cancer, bad life choices!
Aha! So God sends heart disease and cancer, So glad the pastor came to the right decision, As a big c survivor, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, and I'd gladly bear it again to spare a child from getting it.
DeleteSo Obamacare's a GOOD thing when a "god" like that "exists". At least you can't be refused treatment for a pre existing condition.
WTF gibberish are you talking about 5:36?
DeleteTo 11:05am
DeleteIt's not so much about finding god again during times of discomfort or stress. It's knowing for certain you have an option to call forces of the universe or matters of uncertainty God or Yahweh or whatever as a coping mechanism until peace or answers can be sought and/or found.
Well I do, but I don't shove it down people's throats. It's hard enough living my own life let alone pontificate to others how they should live theirs. Sweep your own doorstep first, I say, and, as we've seen more an more, the extremists are even more vocal when they are the last ones to be speaking, period.
ReplyDeleteO/T but this makes me want to PUKE!
ReplyDeleteDuring a roundtable discussion with several comedians Meet The Press’s Chuck Todd made excuses for why he lets Republicans get away with saying things that aren’t true.
Lewis Black asked Todd how he put up with guests who babble on with their talking points without barking at them, and Todd’s answer revealed why people don’t trust the media. The Meet The Press host said, “We all sit there, because we all know, the first time we bark is the last time that they do the show. You say something, and sometimes it is last time they will ever come on your show. There is that balance.”
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/12/28/chuck-todd-defends-challenging-republican-lies-meet-press.html
They're fucking bullies and Todd is the ringfuckingleader that lets them bully the American public. SICKENING!
You call that balance, Todd?
DeleteWhat an absolute prick.
It's the problem -- usually not revealed so honestly
Delete-- that kept the truth about SP's fake-pregnancy, etc. from coming to light -- with all journalists. That is, keeping access to all politicians so the journalists can keep their jobs.
It also makes the network chiefs the fearful things they are, keeping their jobs via ratings.
Newsroom showed us all this. Even HBO could only make 6 episodes of it.... Too much honest makes people nervous.
Everybody has a pimp that controls them. The chain of command. It's why Obama can really let 'er rip over these next two years -- nobody to kowtow to. Buckle-up!
“We all sit there, because we all know, the first time we bark is the last time that they do the show."
ReplyDeleteAnd this would be bad because ...?
Wouldn't Todd's viewers be better served if he didn't waste their time on guests spewing lies and nonsense?
This is not new. http://www.alternet.org/story/155798/major_threat_to_religion_clergy_people_coming_out_as_atheists
ReplyDeleteActually it has been happening for centuries. It is just a bit easier to admit this publicly than ever before.
RAinNC
I listened to the segment on the radio and what intrigued me the most was his foray back to his parish a year later to say hi to friends. He was very circumspect in his description of the visit; but it was clear he was not welcomed with open arms. I witnessed the loss of faith of a local pastor and was shocked by the horrible things said of him by several people inside and outside his parish (other churches weighed in too). Make no mistake in assuming Christians can behave with Christian understanding when facing a crisis of faith. They eat their own.
ReplyDeleteWell, I would have guessed the answer to your question to be: He found out he's gay. But the actual answer is pretty good too. It is appalling how such Christians turn on those who believe differently than them, even those, maybe especially those, who once called themselves believers.
ReplyDeleteSo true!
ReplyDeleteOnce you wise up, it is freeing. And it seems so clear - like how the hell did I fall for this shit? Oh - right, I DIDN'T - it was forced upon me.
Wow, he seems like a well educated, articulate man. So glad to see him finally come to his senses. Aren't you, Gryph? We just got to sit back and keep smoking them out, once it clears, what are the chances of "going back" again? Had to laugh at our lady on the dead lake when she repeats her "atheists with attorneys" line and often wonder what she means by that, when she's got lawyers out the wazoo.Perhaps someone who twits can chime in with personal witness and explain where, in the bible or constitution, being atheist with a lawyer is unamerican? On second thought, let sleeping dogs lie.
ReplyDelete