Lately Ive been seeing more news about ministers coming out as atheists, and many of these articles mention clergyproject.org.
Personally, I see the clergy project as a continuation of a cultural shift, similar to our transition from alchemy to chemistry. But for those who are religious, what do you make of this now public phenomenon. If your minister/priest/rabbi/etc came out and said they didnt believe how would you react? Would it make you examine your faith more?
Am I alone here? Is that it?
Am I the only one who sees.
Maybe we can learn to be just like him.
Wear a little uniform.
Yes, sir.
No, sir.
Thank you, sir.
That's gotta be a super hard transition to make. These are folks for whom religion practically defines their entire life, so everything changes. Work, family, friends... they can become a complete outcast overnight. It takes serious balls to make that decision so I have a lot of respect for that, it can't be easy.
There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal. - Friedrich Hayek
I heard an interesting author on NPR a few weeks ago. He wrote a book about this very phenomenon (but I can't remember the name.) He was an atheist, but very thoughtful and respectful to those who are religious. Basically his conclusion was there is a difference between faith and religion. Faith is a genuine belief, while religion is the "workings" of faith - the stuff you do. Many people, pastors included, simply like the busy work of religion and never had true faith.
I've known more than one person who was a pastor simply because it's a fairly easy job and gets you respected.
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