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

[Esquilax]

[pineapplebunnybounce]

If you think of religion as an organism, it has to purge all dissenting voices to survive. Which is why blasphemy is the unforgivable sin even though it is a victimless crime. It could've been rape or murder, but no, they picked blasphemy. They have to, for an idea or a belief to survive it has to squash out all opposing voices.

On the bright side, his journey is now more authentic, he wouldn't have been able to keep his job if he were an atheist.

[Crossless2.0]

Whatever the result of his investigation, whether he remains a Christian or not, he will never forget the dose of Christian intolerance he experienced. Perhaps he will realize that he is just as capable to ministering to the elderly, the sick, the widow, and the orphan as ever without the need to publicly espouse ridiculous beliefs with a straight face. And if he remains a Christian, he will have a take on compassion and forgiveness that most of his co-religionists will never understand.

[Jacob(smooth)]

If you think of religion as an organism, it has to purge all dissenting voices to survive. Which is why blasphemy is the unforgivable sin even though it is a victimless crime. It could've been rape or murder, but no, they picked blasphemy. They have to, for an idea or a belief to survive it has to squash out all opposing voices.

On the bright side, his journey is now more authentic, he wouldn't have been able to keep his job if he were an atheist.

I'd like to take a minute to explain why that is not the case.

Like to, but I can't.

[Minimalist]

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.

[Esquilax]

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.

It means he's going to forgo religious practices for a year, and also perform the level of investigation as to whether or not his beliefs are true that he should have done before he adopted them in the first place.

So yes, he's a twit, but at least he's on the path to potentially recognizing that.

[Drich]

Caaan't have anyone questioning them dogmas, folks!

It's just... seriously? Nothing in his ability to do his job had changed, the only difference is that the guy dared to question his beliefs in a public way. There's a lot of subtext here, about how christians handle genuine investigation of the underpinnings of their faith. And the picture it paints, as usual, isn't pretty.

they fired the guy for not doing the job he was hired to do. Being a pastor is not a research or a philosphy based job. it involves dealing with people, and giving them direction based on scriptural direction. If one tries to be an atheist for a year then he is no longer able to do his job as a pastor.

This douche wanted to be paid to do nothing. Glad to see the church woke up and fired this clown.

[Esquilax]

they fired the guy for not doing the job he was hired to do. Being a pastor is not a research or a philosphy based job. it involves dealing with people, and giving them direction based on scriptural direction. If one tries to be an atheist for a year then he is no longer able to do his job as a pastor.

This douche wanted to be paid to do nothing. Glad to see the church woke up and fired this clown.

Aww, someone didn't read the link before he decided to disagree with it! How typical of you!

Here, let me help:

Last week, I posted about Ryan J. Bell, an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University and Fuller Theological Seminary and a former pastor of a Seventh-day Adventist church. Bell decided to run an experiment where he would live like an atheist for a year while documenting his journey:

How embarrassing for you.

[Jacob(smooth)]

[MindForgedManacle]

Drich has never exactly been the sharpest one here.