The Clergy Project, Atheists in the pulpit!

This Is a true story of the present day enigma of atheists in the pulpit, of clerics who don’t believe in God.  However, the story is just the tip of the iceberg, of known clergy that don’t believe in God.  Yes, if you live in a church diocese, then the priest you are familiar with, could be one of the many clergy that have lost their faith.  But are too scared owing to the financial burden, career prospect, and the free living accommodation to leave.  These are not first year novices, these are clergy that have years experience in the pulpit.

The late philosopher, and secularist, Daniel Clement Dennett III (1942-2024) aka Daniel Dennett.  Had heard whispers here and there starting back in the mid-1980s, about what would give rise to The Clergy Project, but it was not until 2010 that Dennett let the world into a secret of the atheist in the pulpit.   It is thanks to him and many others, such as Dan Backer, Bart Ehrman, that have created a community, which now covers many religions to assist the clerics.

The dreams that would one day give rise to The Clergy Project stretch all the way back to the mid-1980s, with a former Christian minister who had lost his faith in God.  His name was Dan Barker, and after coming out publicly as an atheist on a 1984 episode of AM Chicago with Oprah Winfrey; he began receiving contacts from scores of other clergy persons around the United States who were also closeted non-believers.  Barker started meeting with them, compiling their stories, and dreaming dreams of what could be done to help a growing number of desperate peers. Along the way, Barker’s work with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and his 1992 book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist continued bringing him into contact with an increasing number of closeted non-believing religious leaders.  https://clergyproject.org/clergy-project-history/

Well, atheists in the pulpit, goes further back than the 1980s, in fact, the Rev. Robert Taylor, A.B., M.R.C.S (1807), (1784-1844), a Radical freethinker and clergyman who converted to freethinking.  He is notable for his “Infidel home missionary tour”, which had a lasting impact on Charles Darwin’s education. Darwin remembered Taylor as “the Devil’s Chaplain,” warning him of the dangers of radical ideas.
Taylor was imprisoned for a year by the Church of England, who brought the case of blaspheme in 1828.  What do you say?

Gwen Pugh (Mrs), pp. Jero Jones.

R&I –  Obey