Former Pastor Jerry DeWitt Will Host an Atheist Church Service in Louisiana

[rug]

June 12, 2013 By Hemant Mehta

If I lived in Louisiana, I’d be clearing this day on my schedule: Former Pastor Jerry DeWitt will be hosting the state’s first-ever “Secular Service” with a theme of “Joie De Vivre: To Delight In Being Alive”:

Our mission is to gather community while promoting a foundation of hope, trust, and love thus bridging tolerance through common secular values. We will bring the excitement into the hearts of freethinkers without exposing them to any supernatural aspects. We can provide all of the music, merriment, and ministry to our passionate growing secular crowd and still have it devoid of supernatural praise.

Think about those days when you went to church. How the preacher spoke passionately, so passionately that it resonated within your heart. At times it would often seem like he was speaking directly to you. No matter what his train of thought was, when he gave you the message you found a personal meaning. Think of how uplifting it was to not only hear, but feel the words.

We are not asking you to commit yourself to a church, or an idea, or even an ideology. We just wish that you come and join us and help us rejoice in simply being. You may find that this is something that helps you to analyze normal day to day activities that cause stress and deal with them in a secular way. This can be the answer to the lack of community within the secular movement.

The timing may have something to do with the fact that DeWitt is being filmed for a Kickstarter-funded documentary and his book will be released two days after the service — but don’t think that’ll diminish from the service.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/06/12/former-pastor-jerry-dewitt-will-host-an-atheist-church-service-in-louisiana/

[niyad]

1. is anyone other than me shaking your head at "atheist church"?

[Phillip McCleod]

2. i'm an atheist and i wouldn't be there..

..if there was here.

[dimbear]

3. Jerry's friends, family, co-workers cut him dead after he came out.

Something to ponder.

I'm wondering whether the interpersonal things would have worked out better if he'd given everybody involved refunds.

[LostOne4Ever]

4. Think about the times I went to church?

Think about those days when you went to church.

I am! All the more reason I wouldn't be caught dead at a function like that. Not having to endure a bunch of awkward situations socializing with people I don't know is one of the benefits of being secular.

/hermit