A Church Leader Responds With Kindness After Former Pastor Announces His Atheism

[rug]

October 22, 2016
by Hemant Mehta

Earlier this month, at the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s annual convention, Carter Warden finally came out of the closet as an atheist. Until that point, he had been a Christian pastor who used the pseudonym “Adam Mann” as he explored his godlessness.

Is there really an all-knowing, all-powerful, loving, intervening God as revealed in Scripture?…

My conclusion after 10 months of intense study, and following study, and still to this day, is “No, there is not. You are correct.”

So instead of deepening my faith, my intense study left me no choice but to abandon my once-precious faith. I did not “lose” my faith as though it was something that regrettably slipped away. Rather, I chose to discard it because it no longer made sense to me.

There’s one question I’ve had ever since I heard his announcement: What do the members of his former church think about all this?!

The Johnson City Press (Tennessee) spoke with Crossroads Christian Church lead minister Curtis Booher, who knew Carter well when he was a pastor at the church, and his response will bring a smile to your face:

“One of the great freedoms given to each person by God is the opportunity to choose to believe or to not believe,” Booher said. “I understand that Carter has chosen, in his words, ‘to discard my faith.’ Our choice is to not discard a relationship with Carter. Carter and his family were a part of Crossroads Christian Church for many years and we still consider them family. We love Carter and we want only good things for him.”

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/10/22/a-church-leader-responds-with-kindness-after-former-pastor-announces-his-atheism/

[Ligyron]

1. You always find interesting topics to post, Rug.

His church sounds a lot more tolerant than the ones in Johnson City I once knew

[rug]

2. Thanks. His reaction surprised me, pleasantly.

[BlueStreak]

3. That is an excellent example for everybody on both sides

We do not know these answers, and anybody who thinks they do know the answers is delusional. We atheists must respect faith, but we don't have to respect blind, irrational belief in nonsense.

If a person gives serious thought, weighing the possibilities, and comes through the process with faith or without it, we should all respect that either way, and treasure our relationships because there are many wonderful people with and without supernatural faith.

If a person just wants to use the "holy" books to attack others and reinforce their own hates and fears, to hell with them. I'm sure that doesn't describe anybody here.

[rug]

4. +1

[guillaumeb]

5. Who defines what is "blind, irrational belief in nonsense"? eom

[BlueStreak]

6. I would define it as

quotation of 2000 year old texts that have been translated and reformulated over and over, as if they were to be taken literally, in total disregard of things that have been reliably learned in those 2000 years.

[guillaumeb]

7. Some who identlfy as Christians are Biblical literalists.

Some who identify as Christians believe that the Bible is intended to be a moral blueprint, not a science textbook.

[BlueStreak]

8. The Bible is pretty doggone malleable -- supporting just about any definition of "morality"

anywhere from "love thy neighbor" to owning slaves and beating one's wife.

I don't think I need any help defining morality, so I don't welcome people who want to cite the Bible or any other "holy book" as a guidebook for how I should conduct my life. It it gives you what you need to lead the life you want to live, then have at it.

I think the basic rule is that if you are growing by studying the texts, terrific. If you find yourself using these texts to condemn others, that's not so great.

[guillaumeb]

9. A nice comment:

I think the basic rule is that if you are growing by studying the texts, terrific. If you find yourself using these texts to condemn others, that's not so great.

Nothing I can add except: well said.