After Year Of Atheism, Former Pastor: 'I Don't Think God Exists'

[rug]

December 27, 2014
5:23 PM ET
NPR Staff

At the start of 2014, former Seventh-Day Adventist pastor Ryan Bell made an unusual New Year's resolution: to live for one year without God. This, reflecting his own loss of faith. He kept a blog documenting his journey and has a documentary crew following him.

After a year, Bell tells NPR's Arun Rath, "I've looked at the majority of the arguments that I've been able to find for the existence of God and on the question of God's existence or not, I have to say I don't find there to be a convincing case in my view.

"I don't think that God exists. I think that makes the most sense of the evidence that I have and my experience. But I don't think that's necessarily the most interesting thing about me."

Today, Bell has a new job at PATH, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless.

http://www.npr.org/2014/12/27/373298310/after-year-of-atheism-former-pastor-i-dont-think-god-exists

4:26 audio at link.

[Fumesucker]

1. He's looked at the majority of arguments he's been able to find?

Why not look at all of them he can find?

[Promethean]

2. No need to be unreasonable.

The apologists gish gallop so hard sometimes it is perfectly ok to ignore some of their arguments.

[cbayer]

3. I hope he is sincere and not just self-promoting.

I am wary of these proselytizers that go from believer to non-believer to believer.

It all felt like a stunt from the get go.