Pastor "tries on" atheism for a year, is promptly fired by his Christian employers.

[Cinjin]

Elsewhere the opinions vary as to whether he's an atheist-in-the-closet or evangelical fundie troll about to launch a book about how atheism is wrong.
Given his history I tend to edge on the first case though not enough to gamble actual money.

An interesting hypothesis. I can definitely see the possibility with both options.
If he was indeed a fundie troll looking to write a book, make some money and strike a blow against atheism, that makes his firing so much more enjoyable, and his defense of christianity that much harder to sell.

Totally awesome.

If he truly is on his way to de-converting, than he now has even more reason to leave the stupids behind and join us here in the light of reason and freedom. Christians, they're the iceberg to their own Titanic. Just a bunch of fucking idiots walking around waving a stupid old book.

[The Valkyrie]

Bell decided to run an experiment where he would live like an atheist for a year

I'd love to know what that means. Actually he sounds like a twit.

Agreed.

You can't just pretend to be an atheist while still believing in a deity.

[Esquilax]

..So the pastor was not a pastor when he was fired at all? Then how does the head line read true? I get he was a pastor at one point but was not a pastor in any capasity when fired correct? If so then shouldnt the story read "Former pastor gets fired from a Christian university for trying atheism?"

And now we land squarely in dodgeball territory: rather than simply admitting your error and moving on, you have to harp on something else to distract from it. Can't ever just admit things like this, eh?

Yes, perhaps it should read "former pastor," but in case you didn't notice, there was a whole article below the headline that explained the facts in detail. That's something called "context," which you admit you didn't bother to read beyond the parts that confirmed what you already believe, and yet somehow... your failure to read counts as intentional dishonesty on the part of the writers?

There is all kinds of dishonesty written into this artical to try and frame Christians/7 day avt in a negitive light, and I am the one being scrutnized?

How were they dishonest? What facts were misrepresented? And how would you know?

To be clear, he got fired from two positions that have nothing to do with the religious practices he keeps, based solely on the fact that he's openly decided to investigate his faith. That's what happened, and it's what the article reflects: the author didn't need to lie to paint christians in a bad light.

As usual, you guys did that all on your own. As you're doing right here, right now.

[là bạn điên]

how can anyone challenge Drich?

Anyone who can come up with the argument ' Your name means you are mr poopy head' and is still happy to come and talk shit to us must be so ineffably superior.

[earwaxyness]

Agree with a few others here:

I wish the article had explained better what it means to 'live like an atheist'? It seems to me that we atheists are a pretty diverse group. Even if it's simply not attending religious ceremonies he'd be off since I'm an atheist and regularly am present for prayers or ceremonies (working in a hospital provides ample opportunity for prayers, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies).

In my opinion the best he could do would be to question his belief but he can't be called an atheist for not attending religious services and studying atheism. You can't turn such a core belief completely off overnight - it's part of who we are.

[FlyingNarwhal]

First off I actually truly applaud this guy. But he should have expected that he was going to be let go, and he really should have taken a leave of absence prior to this anyways. I did my little 5 minute research beforehand and the Fuller Theological Seminary is pretty much 75% Christian-related majors. Azusa on the other hand has a lot less of those Christian majors, but Christianity permeates the entire website. From their Physics Major page:

Throughout the degree, students explore the intersection of their Christian faith with the study of physics and the moral and ethical implications of controversial applications of science and technology.

http://www.apu.edu/clas/mathphysics/physics/

These are both evangelical schools and I don't find it surprising or wrong that they fired him. Just because I've got the vegan thread on my mind, this situation would be like having an employee of PETA saying they were going to try eating animal meat for a year and then expecting that PETA would continue to keep them on the payroll. In fact, he should have found another source of income and left both jobs beforehand if he is going to truly immerse himself in life as an atheist. If he continued working for both schools he would have to choose between reverting back to his Christian beliefs to teach his classes or not teach the Christian values his employers expect. With the first he would be breaking his immersion into atheism, and with the latter he would not be fulfilling the duties expected of him. And seriously, what atheist would be teaching at evangelical schools?


If he continues with this journey of his and abstains from religious ceremonies I'll give him mad props. After all isn't this what we have been telling Christians to do for forever? To think outside the context of their Bible. And now we finally got one to do it. I think atheists should be completely welcoming to this guy, I may even give some money to him. This also reminds me of the anti-gay Christian that lived like a gay man for a year.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/cross-close...d=17443219

I really do applaud these people that at least try to put themselves in another person's shoes.

[Lemonvariable72]

Drich, you understand that pastor is often used as a honorific title after said pastor has moved on from that church in good terms right?

[houseofcantor]

I didn't get much out of this article beyond finding this guy to be pretty dumb.

and all 4 of you fall somewhere beneath me...

There is no "beneath you."

[pocaracas]

In the article of the OP, the guy actually links to that former pastor's blog where he details his... experience:
http://yearwithoutgod.com/

And he says:

So, I’m making it official and embarking on a new journey. I will “try on” atheism for a year. For the next 12 months I will live as if there is no God. I will not pray, read the Bible for inspiration, refer to God as the cause of things or hope that God might intervene and change my own or someone else’s circumstances. (I trust that if there really is a God that God will not be too flummoxed by my foolish experiment and allow others to suffer as a result).

I will read atheist “sacred texts” — from Hobbes and Spinoza to Russell and Nietzsche to the trinity of New Atheists, Hitchens, Dawkins and Dennett. I will explore the various ways of being atheist, from naturalism (Voltaire, Dewey, et al) to the new ‘religious atheists’ (Alain de Botton and Ronald Dworkin). I will also attempt to speak to as many actual atheists as possible — scholars, writers and ordinary unbelievers — to learn how they have come to their non-faith and what it means to them. I will visit atheist gatherings and try it on.

In short, I will do whatever I can to enter the world of atheism and live, for a year, as an atheist. It’s important to make the distinction that I am not an atheist. At least not yet. I am not sure what I am. That’s part of what this year is about.

[Jacob(smooth)]

and all 4 of you fall somewhere beneath me