http://www.christianhumanist.netThe New Unbelievers: Ministers Without Belief
The Christian Humanist
http://www.christianhumanist.net/ministers-the-new-unbelievers.htmlThe Boston Globe published a terrific feature article on Sunday April 11 entitled “The Unbelievers: What happens when a minister decides there’s no God.” The article is based on a study conducted by Professor Daniel Dennett of Tufts University that summarizes the content of interviews he conducted in depth with a number of ministers who over the years found that they have lost their faith in god and yet who continue to serve as ministers of churches because they are “trapped” in a profession that they do not know how to gracefully remove themselves from, and in many cases are also caught in a situation in which they do not know how to break the news to family, friends and parishioners. Someone described the situation as similar to being a closeted gay, unsure how they will be accepted once they come out of the church closet, unsure how they will support themselves if they have to give up their vocation as a result of their belief.
This study resonates with me because it is my story also, a story that I have been telling in some detail on my own Christian Humanist website. Professor Dennett calls himself an atheist, but I prefer the term non-theist, because it is less confrontational and softer. I do not oppose the concept of god and do not see any particular reason to be combative about my beliefs or to provoke believers, I have just lost interest in god and do not find that term helpful, necessary or meaningful.
On the other hand, I believe that an ethical system is necessary, and I find there is a great deal of value in Christian ethical beliefs and in the teachings of Jesus, and I choose to base my ethical choices and priorities on those teachings. Therefore while I am a Humanist in that I value humanity and the humanities (and like many humanists, I do not believe in gods), I am a Christian in that I choose to be a follower of the teachings of Jesus. ...
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