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Daniel C. Dennett, co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University outside Boston, and Linda LaScola, a Washington-based clinical social worker, researcher and psychotherapist, are the authors of a recent study entitled "Preachers Who Are Not Believers" in the journal Evolutionary Psychology.
There used an admittedly tiny sample -- just five pastors, all Protestants -- of clergy who tell their congregations one thing, but secretly believe another.
...
All five clergy "set out to do good" when they entered the ministry, Dennett noted, which is why they struggle so deeply with their current situations. Although Darryl still described himself as a "Jesus follower," he also says he rejects "heaven and hell in the traditional sense," the virgin birth and the divinity of Jesus.
For Clergy, Losing Faith Can Be an Occupational Hazard - BeliefNetNews
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- Public Discussion (11)
It's tough for one to confront the illogicality of one's own belief system. I can sympathize with the conundrum they find themselves in. However, it would be better for all involved if they would simply stand up and proclaim there disbelief!
- 3 votes
#1 - Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:52 PM EDTLike someone admitting there are an alchoholic or gambling addict?
- 2 votes
Issues as basic as the virgin birth of Christ, His diety and others, ought to have been settled before taking up the collar.
#2 - Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:00 PM EDTI suspect it's just the tip of the iceberg. I've enjoyed reading the work of Dennett in the past and found this to be an interesting article.
Issues as basic as the virgin birth of Christ, His diety and others, ought to have been settled before taking up the collar.
People discover new evidence ask questions in different ways and often change their minds. Preachers become atheists and atheists become preachers. You might enjoy, Godless by Dan Barker. It's an excellent book by an ex-Evangelical preacher and what led him to atheism.
- 2 votes
#3 - Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:47 PM EDTYou might enjoy, Godless by Dan Barker.
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check it out. I personally liked "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins.
- 2 votes
I bought the god delusion as a holiday read and couldnt put it down, read it in about 2 days, its excellent.
Listened the the audio book of The Greatest Show on Earth recently too, also a good book.
- 2 votes
You might enjoy, Godless by Dan Barker.
Thanks! Yep, his book is on my reading list. It's always interesting to listen to those that were once really "sold" on the notion of religion then apparently were able to come to their senses. If you get a chance to get the DVD or audio tape of Julia Sweeney's Letting Go of God presentation it is really good as well.
- 2 votes
This article is quite an eye opener although it doesn't surprise me any. I particularly like the following.
One key point on the road to unbelief was scholarly studies of the historical origins of the Bible -- it "does not fit with what is taught in Sunday school," Dennett said.
Now there's an understatement. Once you decide to undertake a true scholarly study of the Bible you find a lot of things that don't fit with what you were taught in Sunday school. When studying and learning to become a minister of one of these churches you are taught very little about the Bible. You are taught in seminaries from books written about the Bible by those who themselves were taught in the same way. You don't learn what the Bible teaches, you learn what the Church teaches. You learn their doctrines and beliefs. What a shock it must be when they actually open up the Bible and see that it says something else.
And this one:
"When a congregation is searching for new pastor, they are much more interested in pastoral skills, a way with people, inspiring sermons.They tend not to give the candidate the third degree about theology,"
In other words as long as the pastor can keep them paying their tithes and putting money in the offering plate they don't care what he preaches.
Sadly this is true of so many churches. In these situations I can't say that I blame them for losing faith in what they have been taught.
#4 - Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:21 AM EDTIn other words as long as the pastor can keep them paying their tithes and putting money in the offering plate they don't care what he preaches.
As far as the congregations go, I think they are much more dependent on the "inspiring sermons."
I'll relate a little story I have along these lines... I have mentioned this a time or two on NV... however, I used to be a theology student. While I was a student, I had the opportunity to visit a small church that was in the middle of getting a new pastor. The pastor that was leaving was a good man; he was really involved in helping others, especially the young folks in his congregation. His name was Pastor Bare and although his sermons were probably adequate, they certainly didn't "rock the house." The new pastor's name was Pastor Fine and his sermons were much more inspiring to the congregation. What I thought was really pathetic was when I heard church members making little jokes along the lines of... "We used to have a Bare church but now we have a Fine church." What a sad and disrespectful way to treat a man that had served you the best he could for many years!
Fortunately for me, after many years of studying and critical-thinking I've come to the conclusion that it is highly likely that all religions are false. It doesn't lessen sad stories like this one however. In some ways it only makes them more sad. To think this guy was chastised because he couldn't deliver the "message" in such a way to make it easy for church members to continue with their "delusional thinking" is pathetic on so many levels!
- 3 votes
Yes. That is sad. Probably Pastor Bare was living his life closer to the way Jesus taught than Pastor Fine was. But I"m sure that under Pastor Fine the money started rolling in.
Reminds me of what a pastor and good friend told me one time. He said that most people don't go to church to learn. They go to be entertained and have a good time.
Yes. That is sad. Probably Pastor Bare was living his life closer to the way Jesus taught than Pastor Fine was. But I"m sure that under Pastor Fine the money started rolling in.
Without a doubt!
- 1 vote
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