Ex-Seventh-Day Adventist Pastor Takes a Yearlong Timeout From God

[cbayer]

http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-me-c1-year-without-god-20141222-story.html#page=1

By KURT STREETER

December 22, 2014, 3:00 AM

"Uh, I'm not exactly sure about all this," Ryan Bell said as he scanned the scene inside a darkened Las Vegas convention hall.

A stripper whirled her hips. A rock band pumped out a song about cannibalism. A man's shouting hung briefly over the packed crowd: "God is dead!"

For nearly two decades, Bell had pastored congregations of Seventh-day Adventists, among the most conservative denominations in Christianity. How had he ended up at a gathering of atheists and skeptics in Sin City?

It had been a long time coming. For years now, it felt as if his prayers weren't being answered. He secretly wondered whether a higher power existed at all.

So, last Dec. 31, he published a blog post that went viral.

more at link

[immoderate]

1. Oh! He's taking a terrible chance! Always remember...

--imm

[cbayer]

2. I think he's got nothing to worry about.

Cute song - makes reference to sheep fucking.

[immoderate]

3. You reference a serious occupational hazard for shepherds.

And there was a time when those shepherds presented a large constituency. Just pointing that out.

--imm

[cbayer]

4. I think it may be more of an occupational hazard for the sheep, but

I really wouldn't know.