Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Belief Net]
How many of the pastors and ministers in our churches no longer believe in God? That’s the question asked in “Preachers Who Are Not Believers,” a fascinating report by Daniel C. Dennett and Linda LaScola of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. Dennett, of course, is a cognitive scientist and prominent atheist. His book, Breaking the Spell, put him at the forefront of “new atheists” movement, along with Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins.

The report offers five case studies of Christian ministers who no longer identify themselves as believers — but their churches don’t know it. They are secret atheists or agnostics who are still serving their congregations, teaching them about God and the Bible, and otherwise functioning as clergy.

Money quotes from three of them:

Darryl is a Presbyterian who claims to follow Jesus, but “…it is arguable whether I am also a ‘Christian.’…I reject the virgin birth. I reject substitutionary atonement. I reject the divinity of Jesus. I reject heaven and hell in the traditional sense, and I am not alone.” But he lives as a Christian anyway. “Whether there was a God or not, I would choose to live as if there was a God. Because I didn’t like the alternative.”

Darryl admits that he’s still in the ministry because it pays the bills. It’s how he makes a living. To admit his lack of beliefs would mean walking away from his only source of income.

Adam is a Church of Christ worship leader who lost his faith after reading books in which he thought atheists made better arguments than Christians. He talks about how he tried, as a reader fascinated with learning, to “be open and listen, and use my mind and reason.” He worries about what others would think if they knew how he’d changed. “Even if Christianity isn’t true, is it best to leave the people alone in their ignorance? …They’re happy, and they have hope in a life to come, and so it helps them through their suffering, which is a strong selling point of Christianity.”

How does he handle his role as a Sunday morning worship leader? “I see it as play acting. I see myself as taking on the role of a believer in a worship service, and performing. I know how to pray publicly…I love singing. [But] I don’t believe what I’m saying anymore in some of these songs.”

Jack, a Southern Baptist worship leader, fell into atheism after deciding to read through the Bible carefully as a way to get closer to his faith. It had the opposite effect. “I think most Christians have to be in a state of denial to read the Bible and believe it. Because there are so many contradicting stories.” He didn’t plan on becoming an atheist. “I didn’t even want to become an atheist. It’s just I had no choice if I’m being honest with myself.”

Jack admits that he’s still in the ministry because it’s his job. It puts food on the table. But he’s planning to leave as soon as he finds another way to support his family.

Read more here and here

You can read the whole report here.

[From me]

I think it is normal to have doubts and struggles. God knows I’ve had my share in the last few years. But for me the tough times we have gone through have driven me towards God not away from him. As I read the quotes from these ministers I’m amazed that they are still serving their churches for a “pay check.” I could make a whole lot more money outside the church and ministry. In fact, it is ministry that has brought financial hardship to our family. So why in the world would someone remain in ministry for money? Even if you don’t believe in God I would hope these clergy members had some integrity and would resign from their positions because they didn’t believe.

[Taunton Gazette]

A Taunton father is outraged after his 8-year-old son was sent home from school and required to undergo a psychological evaluation after drawing a stick-figure picture of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The father said he got a call earlier this month from Maxham Elementary School informing him that his son, a second-grade student, had created a violent drawing. The image in question depicted a crucified Jesus with Xs covering his eyes to signify that he had died on the cross. The boy wrote his name above the cross.

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re violating his religion,” the incredulous father said.
He requested that his name and his son’s name be withheld from publication to protect the boy.

The student drew the picture shortly after taking a family trip to see the Christmas display at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, a Christian retreat site in Attleboro. He made the drawing in class after his teacher asked the children to sketch something that reminded them of Christmas, the father said.

“I think what happened is that because he put Xs in the eyes of Jesus, the teacher was alarmed and they told the parents they thought it was violent,” said Toni Saunders, an educational consultant with the Associated Advocacy Center.

Read more here.

[AJC]

That controversial “cash for grades” fund raiser at a North Carolina middle school didn’t last too long.

After the scheme to award extra points on tests for $20 appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer, Wayne County district officials today killed the Rosewood Middle School fund raiser.

Struggling with ways to raise cash for technology, the school came upon the idea of selling extra points. A $20 donation earned a student 20 test points – 10 extra points on two tests of the student’s choosing. A $30 donation bought the test points and admission to a 5th-period dance; a $60 donation purchased students test points, the dance invitation, and a “special 30-minute lunch period with pizza, drink and the choice to invite one friend to join them.”

Rebecca Garland, the chief academic officer for the state Department of Public Instruction, said she fears the program sends the wrong lesson about buying grades.

Read more here and here.

[From me]

I love the quote: “we fear it sends the wrong message.” Ya think? Come on. Colleges go on NCAA probation for buying grades. Man, for only $20 I would have bought as many as I could!

What do you think?

My family does not subscribe to HBO. I’m sure people could give me excuses as to why they do subscribe but as a Christian I can’t justify any channel that brings cursing and sex into my home. So excuse me if this is a little late. I’ve heard about the show Curb Your Enthusiasm for years. I’ve never seen it and really have no idea what it is about. From what I understand the character Larry David is a jerk on the small screen. But does being a jerk as a character give you the right to offend on purpose?

In a recent episode, Larry David urinates on a painting of Jesus. It is amazing that Curb and HBO have managed to unite Christians, Muslims and Jews. They even managed to offend people in Hollywood. Maybe this is part of HBO’s plan.

Can someone explain to me how urinating on anyone’s Savior, prophet or God is funny? What happened to tolerance that we have been hearing from Hollywood? What happened to uniting our nation? If this is funny then I guess I have no sense of humor.

[Tampa Bay.com]

In the world of literary criticism, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is considered a modern masterpiece, its best-selling Japanese author Haruki Murakami worthy of the Nobel Prize.

That’s why his books have earned a place in the curriculum of the rigorous, college-level International Baccalaureate program that top high school students around the world compete to enter.

But at Gulf High School in Pasco County, those same complex writings that challenge keen minds have created a different type of challenge.

Within his themes of self-identity and post-war Japan, Murakami uses imagery such as phone sex and masturbation so graphic it offended junior Marí Mercado. She refused to read the book, even though it is a key requirement in her IB English course.

The 16-year-old student, who has heard from MIT and Yale said the book conflicts with her morals. Her parents, Rafael and Mindy, support her decision and have asked for an alternative text.

“I’m not saying the book doesn’t have its merits,” said Mindy Mercado. “We did not say the book needs to be burned or banned.”

Read more here.

[From me]

Why can’t the school offer her another book? She isn’t trying to cause trouble for other students, she just doesn’t want to read it herself. There should be no reason she shouldn’t be allowed to have an alternative book. I don’t want my kids reading that trash.

What do you think?