Thank you to Erwin Morales for leaving this quote in the comments today. I have never read it before but was surprised how closely Nietzsche’s recommendation resembles my own experiment this year.
These serious, excellent, upright, deeply sensitive people who are still Christian from the very heart: they owe it to themselves to try for once the experiment of living for some length of time without Christianity; they owe it to their faith in this way for once to sojourn ‘in the wilderness’ — if only to win for themselves the right to a voice on the question whether Christianity is necessary.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche, Daybreak: Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality (Cambridge University Press, 1997), 61.
Year Without God 
Is Christianity necessary? Yes. For anyone who has not internalized the Golden Rule, it most certainly is! Internalization of a rule of conduct is an essential part of social development. Children need these rules enforced by benevolent parents who understand that young ones experience overwhelming urges to take what does not belong to them, lash out at others in fits of anger, lie whenever they feel threatened, or disrespect authority. When the rules are not sufficiently internalized, Christianity (or any religion) can be particularly helpful in guiding people. But these rules of behavior did not originate with the Christian Bible. To date, the earliest written document describing the Golden Rule is known as the Code of Hammurabi of ancient Iraq (1772 BCE). The Code consists of over 280 laws including punishments such as “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Clearly, wherever a large group of people resides in a relatively small area of land, laws are needed to govern society. Many of us are not ready to take the training wheels off and ride without the aid of support. Some of us are ready.
Ryan, bravo on mustering the courage to take this leap, and to expose your vulnerability so publically. The point has been made by so many: people who experience spirituality differently, who answer existential questions outside of mainstream religion, face a lot of stigmatization in our society. Like your friend who was concerned that you would not be able to guide doctoral seminary students spiritually during your year of sabbatical from faith — those who stray from the well-worn paths are regarded with apprehension and even suspicion. I am sad that this has been your experience so far, and I am hopeful that your experiment will allow the faithful to see how misguided their distrust is.
One question, which sounds like a point of semantics but really isn’t: are you taking a year off from God, or simply a year off from religion? Atheism, after all, is born of a life of experiencing a world that is complete in itself without room for God in it. Theism, one would hope, is born of at least one experience of the divine nature of some part of this world. Religion, I believe, exists as a placeholder for people who haven’t experienced either. If you are taking the year off from religion, take the opportunity to seize experiences, spiritual and mundane (sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which). This world is an enormous, wondrous place. You don’t have to pretend to be an atheist simply to wander off the itinerary your religion set out for you. Catch a different train. Skip the tourist traps. See what unfolds and who you are when you come out on the other side. And best of luck.
Friedrich Nietzsche died an apostate death
After he published GOD is dead he lost his mind and health.
The LORD will deliver his promise in the Torah Deuteronomy 13:6-11.
a Hard heart bring mental breakdown and soul death follows.
NO GOD; NO PEACE
KNOW GOD; KNOW PEACE
Repent and believe the Gospel!
Amen!
So what are you saying, Joshua? Nietzsche’s health was never very good all his life. Sounds like you’re saying that his illness was caused by God’s displeasure. Are there no Christians suffering with illness and disease throughout history? Have the children dying of leukemia displeased your Lord? What about the men suffering with prostate cancer? Is AIDS a plague sent by Yahweh? Are you saying that the children at Sandy Hook Elementary deserved to die?
Nietzsche was an evil man, who wrote that the weak and defective should be eliminated. (The Anti Christ. sec. 2)
In his case, he not only deserved to die, but its too bad he didn’t die sooner.
This guy is confusing religion with God. Christianity is vs. Christ: http://generation-magazine.com/v3iss1.htm
Atheists are aware of this distinction, we just don’t care that much. If God doesn’t exist, it take religion down with it as an ontological matter. Showing religion is wrong doesn’t prove God exists. You still have the heavy lifting to do.
Oddly, sir, I don’t think the “reign” of Christianity brought us much more than both the Dark and Middle Ages which didn’t see any great deal peace–indeed, the exact opposite.
Good luck to you sir. I’ll be following your blog. Also, not sure if you’ve read much Albert Camus? Maybe check him out if you have the time. Much in common with Nietzsche, but a few critical differences. Camus claimed that to accept faith was philiosophical suicide. I think perhaps your choice to entertain other beliefs, even if only temporary, might have produced very interesting thoughts from Camus.
Very interested in seeing how this goes for you. One of my biggest complaints about Christianity is that its followers are often so closed minded about any other belief or school of thought, as though asking questions and sorting out answers would somehow cause injury. As humans we are meant to question everything, and why would any creator have it otherwise….blind followers are not people, they are sheep.
I walked away from Christianity many years ago, and have lived a happy, and emotionally healthy life, free from the fears that a man-made doctrine force fed the flock.
Namaste
Alex
You are confusing religion with God. Christianity is vs. Christ: http://generation-magazine.com/v3iss1.htm
i pick up your story on cnn, and i wasn’t so surprised until i noticed that you were Seventh-day Adventist, man you realy are messed up, you had the truth in your hand and you decided to do a publicity stunt to the devil? but thats alright, i get you, your mind is not working straight. Only think that worries me is your 2 daughter, please tell me that you will not speak to them during your ridiculous adventure, please let them be with their mother, because you are not the role model that they need. But in this moment i would like for you be my brother though, because i could beat you up to put some senses into your head!
One does not have to have god or Christianity to raise healthy moral children. I am agnostic and my 17 year old son also alligns himself as agnostic. My children volunteer for a just cause, are good students and involved in sports. Their circle of friends are diversified and from faiths of many backgrounds. They are never in trouble at school and get compliments on their manners and politness. My daughter is Christian and we support her in her following of Christ. These are personal choices and nobody should be chastised for thier religious beliefs. Isn’t the Bible that teaches one not to judge? What will your judgement day look like? Shame on you for implying this journey has anything to do with his ability to parent his children. This is what is wrong with religion.
Sadly, you Ethan, are whats wrong with religion.
From the man who gave us “Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)”, René Descartes:
“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
This started my own long and arduous journey from Christianity. It’s been worth the journey.
Ryan; A possible subject for future exploration, relating to whether Christianity is necessary: A friend of mine is in Christian missions, traveling to many countries outside the USA for the purposes of sharing Jesus’ love and healing through prayer. She testifies that she’s seen the sick be healed and the blind gain sight.
I was discussing her mission with some other friends, two of whom were adamant that what she was doing was wrong, seeing it as a disparagement of the other cultures, influencing the natives to change their “wrong” behaviors and ideas (perhaps a milder form of what many Europeans did to various aboriginal cultures).
Considering the extreme wrongs that have been done to other cultures as a result of missionaries, I wondered if you (or other people commenting) could explore the “Great Commission,” particularly looking at intercultural communication and where you draw the line between giving aid and influencing cultural practices and beliefs (I’m thinking also of certain medical/health-conscious activities that may interfere with others’ cultural/religious practices–is it right to interfere then?).
“She testifies that she’s seen the sick be healed and the blind gain sight.” Any hard proof available? Can she testify the regrowth of limbs too?
I don’t care if people believe in stuff like that, but when it comes down to spending money, I’d rather spend it on regular medicine then on some religious hocus pocus.
Ryan,
As a Christian I personally have no issue with your attempt to walk away from your faith, and live life as if God does not exist–I know many who profess the name of Christ who do this already, they just don’t acknowledge that is how they are living their lives–so really the only difference here is that you have verbally expressed that is what you are doing.
Years ago, I walked away from God and my faith, and lived out in the world, I was living in the wickedness of the world for a number of years–not going to Church, not praying, not being fed from the Words of God, even the Israelite’s have done the same. As you know the Scriptures are filled with men who walked away from God, denying His existence and embracing the things of this world, so really your walk in this area is no different.
It was while I was walking in the depths of a sin filled life that God stepped in and brought me home, even as He did the Prodigal Son, who took his fathers inheritance and squandered it until he ended up eating slop from the pig pen, and He was brought to his senses. My faith teaches that even if you are run from God,
He will never leave you, nor forsake you, and if you are truly His Child He will bring you home, it may not be at the end of this year long ‘experiment’ it may be five or even ten years down the road..then you will live with that knowledge of squandered years–But even that God will forgive,
I do pray for your sake that He does not turn you over to dishonorable passions and to a debased mind, as is taught to us in the letter to the church at Rome, but then I guess if your desire is to live as if God does not exist, then God may bring that about–so that you may fully live as if He does not exist, where you may also suffer those worldly consequences of living fully with a debased mind–all the while knowing in the depths of your being God really is real, and trying to push all your years of education and teaching aside. That will be a challenge.
“Depths of sin filled life” and “dishonorable passions”, show’s me you did not learn what it takes to live without god. If your perception of Atheism is that we all live “sin filled lives” with “debased minds” and no guiding principles then you don’t understand Atheism now and never did. Many of us live philosophically rich lives, celebrate aspects of the religious that does good in the world, and live in mental balance within our selves and with our environment. You should give it another try… just without the “depths of sin” and “dishonorable passions” component. To the question: Can I be an honorable person and at the same time not believe in god or the bible? I answer Yes. You answered no and now assume the same of others. Myopic to say the least.
St. Augustine said there is a God-shaped vacuum in each heart that can only be filled by God. Atheists fill it with ‘philosophically rich lives, [that] celebrate aspects of the religious that does good in the world, and live in mental balance within our selves and with our environment’.Other people might fill it with video games, wealth and good time, or sex, green this and that, or even religiosity. In the end it’s all bogus; all of them leave you thirsty—only God satisfies. He created us to have fellowship with him.
Good, Doug! Thanks.
You’re wrong. Atheists simply say that that your hole of yours doesn’t exist.
*Doug, I’m responding in depth because I think you can handle it*
Sure. That’s the psychology for people with regard to god. It’s convenient. “He can fill any ‘hole’ there is” (I’ll save the Freudian analysis, but no wonder Christians don’t like Freud). But this is how it basically works: I’m feeling lonely? He never leaves me. Not feeling loved? He loves me. Feeling hopeless? God is hope. It’s good for my psychology. God becomes the “is” that’s missing. From a scientific standpoint: Where did the world came from? God created it. Why are we here? For god. So that’s the functionality: Anything perceived to be ‘lacking’, god can help fill the void. I’m sure you’re agreeing with me… up until now. He becomes an imaginary friend and a figment of imagination. He becomes the answer to every mystery. And that’s EXACTLY what you’re saying. When Christians hold on to the “god story” in the face of scientific evidence, such as evolution, gravity or the location of the earth in the solar system, Christians say, “it was god” until the evidence builds and builds and builds and then Christians finally latch on to it and then say “look at this amazing evidence for god!” Among every other scientific achievement in the modern era, Christianity and “god filling” has become the greatest source of ignorance, attachment, and aversion in it’s own sake. Belief in god becomes religiosity and dogma, eventually justifying intolerance, hatred, and bitterness–whether cloaked in religiosity or not; I have no patience for it.
HOWEVER!
Many Christians are widely read; many have built a large base of philosophy; many tolerate and respect other religions AND Atheists; many actively do good in the world — as if the “fruits” of THEIR belief in god are “love, patience, kindness, compassion, etc”. I’m not one to gripe with these people. I know many of these people and I love them. We have kindred spirits. These are the people who can look at science and not be threatened. These are the people who I go to and they provide wisdom from biblical passages that I long forgot, and come away feeling enlightened. Because these are the people who do not read the bible as literal and they acknowledge the inconsistencies, they are less likely to be trapped in religiosity and dogma.
To me, Jesus was a teacher, just as Buddha was: They both taught love and compassion. If that is the result of a belief, I don’t care what psychological “tricks” they’re playing on themselves, I’m happy with it. If god fills your hole, then “great”, as long as you find yourself with the “fruits”. I happen to not need “god” to fill any holes for me in order to express the “fruits”. I am spiritual but I don’t attribute anything to the Christian “god” as an anthropomorphized being staring down at us–like Zeus. And you’ll say, well, because you express love, that’s god. Fine. That’s just your hole-filling again. Ultimately, I’m the same as you with moments of feeling lonely: So I call home and talk to my parents. I have moments of self-doubt: I meditate on the source, look for the base but then realise there is no base because it’s coming from a chemical/electrical impulse shooting between two neurons, and then it becomes baseless. The power of the mind is incredible, and mysteriously so, and god is a convenient explanation for how it all came to be: That’s fine. Just don’t let it make you averse to science that explains mysteries you once thought were explained only by god, nor let ‘god-filling’ keep you from insights into yourself.
I’m not going to respond to future posts because I have a lot to be doing right now. All the best to you – Sincerely.
You might want to add Hume to your readings. I found his Dialogues to be quite enlightening
It looks like a-theists, Aaron, fill the vacuum with words. You certainly made a lot of assumptions about me, and my brothers and sisters in Christ. It boils down to belief. You don’t.
Beyond your papal litany, it seems atheism has gone from ‘no god’ to ‘anti-God’. Atheists spend an awful lot of time on the attack, considering there is no God. That’s commitment.
Read C. S. Lewis’ Surprised by Joy. He didn’t come to Christ until late in life. Want a comic-book-simple illustration of the power of pride in humanist thought and what it’ll get you? Read The Great Divorce. Lewis answers most atheistic arguments in about 150 pages.
I know what I’m bound to do, how I’ll spend my time—man’s purpose is to know God and to make him known. A simple hymn written by the blind composer, Ken Medima about 40 years ago marks the difference between us. It runs like this: “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin, the blood of Jesus whispers peace within.” No God—no peace.
Well said, Doug. God bless you.
There simply is no vacuum, nothing needs to be filled.
I wish you the best. I hope you are sincere in your journey and quest for truth. “Seek and ye shall find.” I hope you find.
I asked a christian once if they could “remove god” for 24 hours what would really change. This open minded person stared at me and said they couldn’t even contemplate that question.
I asked if there was no god would you suddenly NOT STOP at the STOP SIGN? Will you suddenly feel the urge to rape and murder?
We are here for you. You’d be surprised how welcoming atheists are.
I will say that I disagree with your “trying on” atheism. You can’t really “try it on”. I think after a few weeks you might see things a little differently.
Much love to you.
I went to your church in Hollywood two times and liked it very much. I am a bit troubled by your journey though. Although I think it is fine to pursue religious beliefs and find ones own truth, I question making money on this experiement. I understand that someone else started a donation page in your honor, but now I see you have a donation lilnk on this blog. I fully undestand it being tough to lose three jobs with two kids to take care of, but what did you expect. You were a pastor and Christian teacher who wantted to “try out” athieism, do you think they were going to let you keep your job?? Why should we send you money? You should have contemplated the consequences this decision was going to place on you financially, especially having children to raise.
You say you are surprised this went public, but now it seems like you are enjoying the attention and now, the money it is bringing your way.
I have a question for you. Was there ever a time in your life when Jesus made himself real to you? If he never had, then you were never a true believer to begin with and if he had made Himself real, then why don’t you try to go back and remember that time.
I have another question for all athiests, What if you are wrong??
Hello Jab. Your question works both ways. What if you are wrong? Are you a Catholic? If so, you are happy with believing a Bible that was compiled by the Vatican. If not, and if you do not espouse the infallibility of the Pope, then are you aware that your Bible beliefs are based in a “Scripture” issued by the Vatican, with political motives? You can check out Council of Rome and see how the Bible came about.
“…especially having children to raise…” you say. Those children are fortunate to have a father who is true to his heart. May they follow his example, whether it leads to or away from the church.
It makes sense that Ryan set up a way for people to contribute, since obviously there are some who wanted to do so. Why should Ryan (or anyone for that matter) be faulted for doing what the churches do – accept free will offerings? Do you willingly pay your taxes? Ryan is not taxing you against your will.
As for your question “Has Jesus made himself real to you?” That is a question for Jesus, not for Ryan.
I do agree with you though. That is, Christians tend to be intolerant of any journey not to their liking, and judgmental of any who explore outside the circumscribed fold. So it is perfectly logical, and to be expected, that Ryan would be cut off of resources he had earned.
Frankly, I believe that God, and Jesus, are able to handle what Ryan is doing, and who is to say it is not They who are creating the means for his support?
Hi Ray. Nice points.
Firstly, I am not a catholic and actually have had a lot of disagreements with organized religious institutions. However, I am a Christian. Not because of the Bible, or a church, or a specific teacher, I am a Christion because of what believing in Jesus has done in my life. Once I stopped trying to figure it all out and what life all means and just let go, everything changed.
The reason I am even responding to what Ryan is doing, is because I was blessed by his preaching. I could tell he loved Jesus and the things he was doing for the community in Hollywood California to open to the doors of the church to everyone, was great to see. So to see him walk away from Jesus, is difficult to.. Even though he has the free will to do so, it is still hard because Hollywood needs him.
I’d like to see him open up his own church and run it how he wants. It will be something after a year and he comes back to Jesus. Time will tell.
I guess it is o.k. for him to set up a fund to gain support and people can pay if they want. I will give my money to the local soup kitchen.
God and Jesus can handle what any of us jars of clay do.
“God and Jesus can handle what any of us jars of clay do.” I am not, repeat not a jar of clay. What a disgusting way to think about oneself or other fellow-humans. Vade retro satanas!