Ex-seminarian (& student of Dembski) Leaves the Fold
Is it just me or does it seem that many are leaving the fold? His name is Gabe. This is what he wrote:I broke free from Christian fundamentalism in April 2006. I was a third year student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. This seminary is considered by many to be the intellectual hub of evangelical seminaries. The president of the seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler, has been called "the leading intellectual voice for evangelicals in America." He has been a frequent guest on Larry King Live, debating controversial topics such as gay marriage, abortion, religious tolerance, etc. Dr. William Dembski also teaches at the seminary, who is widely considered the world's leading proponent of Intelligent Design. Dr. Dembski was my professor in the fall semester of 2005.
But with one year left to complete a Masters of Divinity in Theology, I could no longer ignore the questions that were piling up in my mind. My questions and doubts troubled me to the point that I simply could no longer preach and teach something that I wasn't sure if believed any longer. I had become a member of a Southern Baptist church almost a year earlier. I absolutely loved this church, and all three pastors were also students at the seminary. The pastor was a Ph.D student, so I really enjoyed his sermons because they were really "deep" theologically. So when I informed them of my decision to leave the faith, you can imagine their reaction! Shortly after hearing of my decision, they held a Wednesday night service to excommunicate me from the church and "deliver my soul over to satan for the destruction of my flesh and the eternal flames of hell." Here is the email correspondence that took place after I informed them of my decision to leave the faith. Hope you enjoy:
11 comments:
If those emails are real? Oh my goodness?
After reading the emails sent to Gabe I had two reactions. The first was how these people either reminded me of some hex casting voodoo cult or a group of fantasy game players carrying things to delusion. The really amazing thing to me about it is that these aren’t some fringe wing; these are the intellectual heart of the group. And then I thought about the political situation here in the U.S. and started to become a little frightened.
But, after further reflection I realized something even more frightening, the people casting this spell REALLY BELIEVE IT. They would really submit a fellow human to a lifetime of mental torture for not buying into their snake oil. What a sick and twisted group of people.
If they are willing to that, just what would they do if they had complete political power?
Horrifying, Absolutely horrifying.
disgusting!
While reading that i mused over my own dilema, being that i am still a member of chruch. Today the pastor told of of a gospel minister who sent some kind of chain letter informing different other ministers with whom he as ministered about his "denunciation of the diety of Christ" And how that "as the day approaches Satan will working all the harder to get people to turn away."
While it might be dishonest of me, i find i want to stay in my church, and be "holy and blessed", to live out a walking contradiction to their stupid beliefs about those who fall away.
They would be none the wiser .
but i have to learn to stop rolling my eyes during the service.
jessy
John W. Loftus: "Is it just me or does it seem that many are leaving the fold?"
It's probably both, John. First off, of course, many people leave the fold. This is nothing new; it's been happening from the Church's get-go. Secondly, look at the site you run and the kind of sites you apparently visit -- they're very obviously congregating points for people who have left the fold. With that in mind, you asking that question is a bit like a dairy farmer asking, "Is it just me or does it seem like there are lots of cows around here?"
"Is it just me or does it seem like there are lots of cows around here?"
;-)
Andrew you're banned and that's all there is to it. It doesn't matter what you write, even if it's important and true, for you have violated our comment policy repeatedly.
I have answered you many times before but what I write falls on deaf ears because you'd rather say what you want to say about me and about us.
Isn't it amusing that an atheist who tells us there is no God to tell us what to do, wants to tell us what to do?
But you can't delete the truth, John.
Sayonara.
I'll simply write about you on anther blog.
Isn't it amusing that an atheist who tells us there is no God to tell us what to do, wants to tell us what to do?
It's HIS site, not yours. What right do you have to lecture him about the rules he puts in place, or of the rights he grants you, here?
You, Andrew, speak with empty and hollow authority! It's like there's Nothing There Beside You To Get Your Back, after all! Very, very few people seem willing, bound, or likely to recognize the authority you presume to speak with.
Your lack of authority, your inability to protect, prove, or compel others to your "truth" speaks to the inadequacy of your Gospel, not your failings as a servant, regardless of what anyone else tells you. That's all that John and the rest of the band of contributers here affirm!!
The exchanges with Brandon are hilarious! (of course, it's gotta be the meth, eh?) Good luck Gabe.
"Gabe think about these issues seriously...demonic torment....eternal fire"
LOL!
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