Posted on 12/23/2014 3:57:10 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Ryan Bell, an ex-pastor who quit his faith in God for a year following his resignation from the Hollywood Adventist Church and a divorce from his wife of 17 years, is set to decide New Year's Day whether he will remain a believer or become an atheist. While he has distanced himself from zealous atheists, Bell expressed a desire to be "good" without submitting to boundaries.
Nearing the end of his yearlong embrace of non-theism, Bell told the LA Times that leaving the faith has allowed him to see "both sides of the coin." The former Fuller Seminary and Azusa Pacific University teacher has consorted with several atheist groups as a public speaker, sharing his experiences of walking away from church life. "Being with atheists, they can have the same sort of obnoxious certainty that some Christians have," he said of his experiences. "I don't want to be part of that. It feels like I'm stuck in the middle. I want to be for something good, but I don't want boundaries, and religion just feels like a very bounded thing."
As he nears a self-imposed January 1 deadline to decide between atheism and faith, Bell told the LA Times, "The question I am asking right now [is] why do I need religion to love?"
Bell announced in a January blog published by The Huffington Post that "for the next 12 months I will live like there is no God. I will not pray, read the Bible for inspiration, refer to God as the cause of things or hope that God might intervene and change my own or someone else's circumstances."
Bell also stated that he has long struggled to relate to church, church people and God. He particularly struggled with the Bible's position on same-sex marriage, resigning his position as an Adventist pastor in 2013 over the issue. His 17-year marriage has also ended in divorce.
Since making that vow, Bell has a new job teaching for a nonprofit that helps the homeless and is dating a devout Christian.
He denies claims from Christians that he is bitter against God or rebelling. In a December 7 blog post he wrote, "As best I can tell, I'm not acting out. I've simply stepped away and explicitly taken the time to ask important questions about my past loyalties. At times I have been angry and I've made unfair generalizations as a result. But against neither anger nor rebellion is the central part of my journey."
Bell said he plans to spend the Christmas before his decision giving gifts and thanking his family and friends. While he doesn't plan to attend church services, he said he is not above going to one, noting that he still enjoys the season's rituals.
I bet his new “lifemate” knows.
There are also a lot of good people who are not religious, instead they are ethical.
It’s the difference between loving for a lifetime and loving FOREVER.
He left behind his wife (and, I imagine, kids) so he could love “without boundaries”? And he’s into same-sex marriage??? Not a real good fit for a Christian pulpit.
God will wait for him to repent.
We all need to remember that while we are alive Christ is perfect mercy.
At the moment of our death, Christ becomes perfect justice.
True for this man too.
Next he’ll tell us he’s discovered he’s a transvestite.
"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go."
“Being good without boundaries. The serpent couldn’t have said it any better.”
Absolutely correct.
This man is full of self-approval. He thinks he knows it all. Pathetic.
SDA Church tends to be conservative about morals.
This fellow sounds like he’ll be much more comfortable in a ‘liberal church’ that does not attempt to uphold so many ‘troublesome’ Biblical teachings.
(and yes, such folks arise in every brand of church or synagogue I’ve encountered... it is just a part of the human condition to doubt ... may he find his way (back) to something more real than what he’s doing now... pray for him, he needs it...)
What's to decide? Sounds like he's already made his decision.
He's “dating” someone.
Since he quit the Church because of same-sex marriage, it should be obvious to him that readers will wonder if he is gay or straight.
His “wrestling with doubts” is about as real as professional wrestling. If you love the Lord, the last thing you’d ever think of is leaving Him, and you say like Peter did, where else can we go?
He wants to be good without submitting to boundaries?
There’s a good chance he wants to write a book and produce a movie.
And what is your guide for ethics? What you consider ethical someone else might not, so without the Bible ethics are completely subjective. No one is good not even a devout Christian, but we will be one day!
Luke 18:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Mark 10:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
I was wondering if he is dating a male or female.
That is great.
Hollywood, no God.
I’ve seen it all.
This guy may never have come to saving faith.
And now, he’s asking the wrong question...
Not much of a pastor is he? Doesn’t know scripture well, and if he does then He’s surely not regenerated by God, therefore it hasn’t really been applied to his life.
I believe you can decide on religion but do not believe you can decide on your belief in Christ you either do or don`t.
He is not smart enough to be able to see the difference between religion and belief.
Who knows, if he decides to become an atheist he might by accident see a belief in Christ.
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