Author of Christian relationship guide says he has lost his faith

[brooklynite]

The Guardian

The American author of a bestselling Christian guide to relationships for young people has announced that his marriage is over and he has lost his faith.

Joshua Harris, whose biblical guide to relationships I Kissed Dating Goodbye sold nearly 1m copies around the world after it was published in 1997, has also apologised to LGBT+ people for contributing to a “culture of exclusion and bigotry”.

In his book, Harris, a former pastor at a US megachurch, urged young Christians to reject dating for “courtship” under the guidance of parents and observing sexual abstinence. Young couples should not kiss, hold hands or spend time alone together before marriage, he said. Dating was spiritually unhealthy and a “training ground for divorce”, the book argued.

The book, written by Harris when he was 21, was widely circulated within evangelical Christian youth groups, helping to promote a “purity culture” and vows to preserve virginity until marriage.

[The Polack MSgt]

1. I'm told that I should be sympathetic in a situation like this

But i can't work up any enthusiasm for that.

He caused untold misery by attemting to push an infantile fantasy as a workable emotional life strategy.

He dreamed up his nonsense book in his late teens.

Only the obvious desire the Talibaptists had to brain wash kids and subjagate women ever led to its publication in the 1st place.

Welcome to the real world fuckboy.

This is the world that has to deal with the repercussions of all those toxic fever dreams your former cult pumped out for decades.

[True Blue American]

2. $$$$$!

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Harris should join Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Dan Barker, co-president, is a former Christian evangelist. He started in his teens. He's still getting royalty payments for the plethora of Christian songs he's had published (and he re-directs it to FFRF). Harris will find sympathy and empathy within the organization.

[Major Nikon]

4. It appears as if the actual catalyst is getting fired for covering up child rape

The divorce came not long after. Interesting how "faith" loses it's luster for some once the financial benefit they received from it is gone.

I suspect he'll have a "born again" moment at some point if he gets another opportunity to go back to fleecing the flock.

[yellowcanine]

5. So be wrote a "relationship guide" at age 21?

Excuse me while I guffaw.

[Nay]

6. Hilarious, ain't it?? You don't know jack shit when you're 21 -- but if you're Christian and male,

why, you know everything already!

[customerserviceguy]

7. Yes, that is

the point in time when a young man thinks he knows everything. I was there, too, I remember.

Sooner or later, he'd get his reality check.