Giving Up God—Not Just a Spiritual Stunt

[cbayer]

Last edited Sun Jan 26, 2014, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/7517/giving_up_god_not_just_a_spiritual_stunt/

January 26, 2014

An interview with Ryan Bell


"The nature of my journey is peculiar—it's not a journey toward faith but away from faith."

Becky Garrison
Becky Garrison contributes to a range of outlets including The Washington Post's On Faith section, The Guardian, Free Inquiry, The Humanist, Killing the Buddha, Believe Out Loud, and American Atheist. Her seven books include Roger Williams' Little Book of Virtues (2013), and Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church (Jossey-Bass, 2006).

Since announcing he was going for a Year Without God, newly unemployed pastor and professor Ryan Bell found himself an unexpected media darling. Becky Garrison caught up with Bell via phone to talk about his motivations, the reactions of his friends and family, and what he hopes to discover.

BG: What's your reaction to this surge of media coverage?

RB: When I started this, I thought my blog would only be read by a few people. It's been surreal. I have no clue how to make anything go viral, so this is totally unexpected. But eventually, I think this attention is going to stop—you can only hear the same story so many times.

What did you think of the recent RD post that links your quest to Pascal's wager and the context of your quest in today's spiritual marketplace?

Linn Marie Tonstad suggests that I am participating in a postmodern marketplace of religious ideas, choosing my "beliefs" from a smorgasbord of options. But then in the last sentence she seems to suggest that there might be a "marketplace" motive to my actions—that I might stand to benefit in the marketplace from my yearlong experience of atheism.

First of all, I'm not sure what the marketplace of religious beliefs and practices has to do with my possible success. It also seems to assume that I crassly set out to create a media storm for my own advantage. This just isn't true and when people take the time to talk to me, I explain where I'm coming from.

more at link

[longship]

1. Bookmarking for later.

This has got to be an interesting read. Meanwhile, an R&K.

[cbayer]

2. Actually, he's so vague in this interview

that I felt even more confused about what he is doing after I read it.

[longship]

3. ROFL

Let's put it this way, I am more than skeptical about this guy's sincerity.

Regardless, I will read it with an open mind.

[Jim__]

4. More at link -- link?

[cbayer]

5. Done. Sorry about that.

[Jim__]

6. Thanks.

[Jim__]

7. "Part of this for me is the epistemology of this: how can we be certain of what we know?"

Interesting question. I don't think we can be certain. I'd like to hear his answer after a year of searching.

[cbayer]

8. I'm keeping an open mind about what he is doing here

and share your interest as to what he finds out about himself.