I have spent the better part of the last year or so discovering, or at least deeply suspecting, how wrong I’ve been. It’s a terrible feeling. We all want to be right. Whether we’re having an argument with our spouse or significant other, or standing in our bosses office, or writing a witty comeback on a blog (not this blog, of course), we want to be right because, as Kathryn Shuulz says in this incredible TED talk, “getting something wrong means... Read more
This is the second in an 11-part series, commenting section-by-section through Critique of Religion and Philosophy, by Walter Kaufmann. Previous posts can be found under the “Book Club” category. Stay tuned each Friday for the next installment. This second chapter is a helpful and concise summary of Western philosophy seen through the lens of the rationalism/empiricism divide, or the Continential/Analytic divide in philosophy. Kaufmann is attempting to introduce the reader to these concepts in a way that reveals the importance and... Read more
I struggle these days when people ask for my bio. I’m a former pastor, former professor. It’s all about what I used to do. When I say I’m a blogger, this sounds, well…like something someone who lives in LA would say. (“Dude, I’m a writer.”) But for now, this is what I do and I love it, but still, the most poignant and perhaps relevant part of my bio is that I am a former pastor. This past Sunday marked... Read more
This is the first in an 11-part series, commenting section-by-section through Critique of Religion and Philosophy, by Walter Kaufmann. Stay tuned each Friday for the next installment. I hope most of you have received your books and that you’ve had a chance to start reading. Let me begin with a little bit of advice about reading this book and then I’ll comment on the content of this first, very short, section. How to Read Philosophy 1. I’m not an expert... Read more
My last post took me two days to write so I had to follow the World Vision debacle from a distance. I think everything that can be said has been said, but I do want to point out the most important comments from my fellow bloggers about this issue because there have been some really great insights from BOTH Christians and non-Christians. It is also an issue for which I have paid a personal price, so this sort of cowardice... Read more
I didn’t anticipate how lonely this journey would be. I don’t mean that I’ve been completely abandoned by the people I care about, though I have lost some friends. I mean loneliness at the deepest level. A kind of subterranean emptiness that runs like background music in my mind and only rises to the level of my consciousness when I’m especially tired or disappointed about my life. Think: free-fall. Nor is loneliness the same as being alone. I enjoy being... Read more
By now you’ve heard more than enough about the low-budget, poorly written, poorly acted Christian film, God’s Not Dead, which finished its opening weekend in 5th place due to massive pre-sales by Christians. (Just a brief aside to note that this is the very definition of an echo chamber, where, in this case, Christians buy up tickets and then claim it was a box office success. It’s not at all unlike the PR firm that Mars Hill Church hired to... Read more
I had such a lovely talk this week with Mary Hynes, host of the CBC Radio show, Tapestry. The episode aired across Canada this morning and is available now online. Every time I talk to a journalist—especially an interviewer as good as Mary Hynes—I find that I get more clarity about my journey and what I’ve learned so far. I’d love to hear what you think. The episode opens with an interview with singer/songwriter Veda Hille. My bit begins at 29:17…... Read more
Early in January, several filmmakers contacted me about filming a documentary about my Year Without God. I was skeptical for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, I was worried that the presence of filmmakers in the midst of my journey would change it in negative ways. This is always a possibility with any documentation of anything. It’s still a real concern, but the filmmakers I’m currently working with at Earth Tones Media bring a deep sensitivity to both this subject... Read more
I’ve been doing a lot of reading these past two and a half months. I’ve always been a voracious reader and I honestly haven’t read nearly as much as I wish I had over the past few weeks, but I’m finding more time for reading and reflection as other areas of my life settle down. I’m getting ready to start a book I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time—Critique of Religion & Philosophy, by Walter Kaufmann. Does anyone... Read more
Year Without God
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