Book Reviews
Losing My Religion
The struggles of a religion reporter whose work begins to erode his faith.
By Jane Lampman | February 24, 2009 edition
Jane Lampman talks with William Lobdell.
While writing a column on religion for an Orange County, Calif., paper, William Lobdell loved to inspire readers with stories about people of faith, such as the elderly church organist who was brutally beaten by a man high on drugs, yet focused on seeing that her assailant got a Bible and necessary support after getting out of jail.
A freshly born-again Christian, Lobdell was a husband, father, and journalist who saw evidence of answered prayer in his own life as well, a life that he felt had been transformed by faith. Covering the religion beat was the perfect job for Lobdell – until the day that his work began to destroy his faith.
Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America – and Found Unexpected Peace is a compelling personal story of faith found, cherished, and then lost. Lobdell’s courageous memoir doesn’t set out to score points in the debate between atheism and religion, but simply to recount a spiritual journey, one he desperately hoped would end differently from the way it did.
Lobdell is a gifted writer. Avoiding the disparaging polemics that often characterize the debate between nonbelievers and people of faith, he turns his own story into a fast-paced, engrossing tale, one that is sure to be popular with nonbelievers, but deserves to be read by Christians as well.
The story begins with Lobdell’s initial journey toward religion. Feeling he had messed up his life by his late 20s, Lobdell came to faith after a good friend told him, “You need God.” He began a gradual but sincere spiritual search at an evangelical megachurch, moved eventually to a more intellectual Presbyterian community, and finally took catechism classes to join the Catholic church (in which his wife had grown up). He read voraciously on matters religious.
Lobdell was happy when he was able to begin writing the column on religion for the Orange County paper. And when his dream job finally came his way – work as a religion reporter at the Los Angeles Times – it seemed an answer to prayer. The L.A. Times job led to award-winning investigative work – but also to disillusionment.
Six months before the clergy sexual abuse crisis broke wide open in Boston in 2002, the Catholic dioceses in Orange County and Los Angeles agreed to pay a $5.2 million settlement to a single individual, Ryan DiMaria. The young man had charged a highly popular priest and high school principal with abuse. Msgr. Michael Harris, whose nickname was “Father Hollywood,” turned out to have other victims as well.
Lobdell dug into the first of several cases that would lead to years of investigation, hundreds of hours of conversation with abuse victims, and repeated discoveries of church hypocrisy and hard-ball tactics in the treatment of victims and their families.
At the time the DiMaria case was settled, Lobdell and his wife were attending Catholic conversion classes twice a week. As he tells it, “the Father Hollywood story was a spiritual body blow, but I didn’t sense it at the time.”
Instead, the eager reporter felt God had given him a special responsibility: to uncover corruption in religion in order to spur reform and healing. With equal fervor, he undertook in-depth reports on televangelists who were milking people of millions and using funds for themselves; one involved an exposé of the homosexual tryst and lavish living of the head of Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Yet the results were disheartening: Catholic parishioners repeatedly took the side of abusive priests and railed against the victims; and the televangelists raked in millions more the year after the stories appeared. “In fact, my stories were used as fund-raising tools – evidence that TBN was doing God’s work and the devil (that is, yours truly) was trying to stop it,” Lobdell writes.
It wasn’t reaction to his stories, per se, that most distressed him, he says, but the fact that Christians who were in a position to stand for principle and clean things up, regularly chose to turn a blind eye to dishonesty, corruption, and hypocrisy.
At first Lobdell felt that corruption in religious institutions had nothing to do with God. But then he began looking for evidence of how Christians lived, and whether it differed at all from nonbelievers.
“If the Gospels were true, shouldn’t I be able to find plenty of data that showed Christians acted differently – superior in morals and ethics – from the rest of society? I wanted to see that people were changed in fundamental ways by their belief in Christ.” The data from many studies, whether on divorce, racism, charity, materialism, etc., showed otherwise.
He began experiencing “a dark night of the soul.” Two other assignments became crowning blows: a reporting trip to St. Michael’s Island in Alaska, where “a single Catholic missionary raped an entire generation of Alaska Native boys”; and a court case in Portland, Ore., in which a priest and his order were refusing to give sufficient support to the son the priest had fathered and his destitute mother.
Lobdell and his wife never joined the Catholic church. The author struggled mightily to hold onto his faith, but, he says, it just left him – it wasn’t a choice. Today he’s not a different person – he still lives according to the standards outlined in the Bible. But he says his faith is gone for good. One wonders about those prayerful years and why their impact in his own life failed to sustain him. Lobdell finds ways to explain them away.
In this soul-searching autobiography, Lobdell raises deeply significant issues about what constitutes a genuine Christian life. While others might find different answers to some of the challenges Lobdell recounts, it would be difficult to bring more integrity, modesty, and honesty to the struggle.
Jane Lampman is the Monitor’s religion reporter.
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Comments
2. Dr. Gary | 02.24.09
In Revelation, John penned seven letters to seven churches that also parallel seven church ages. The church has had issues for the past 2000 years with doctrine, heresy, and hypocrisy. Paul’s Epistles detailed the issues with the church he had to deal with. In spite of its faults, God is still using the church in the redemption of man. When seeing hypocrisy, I find it is much easier to take the speck out of another’s eye than look in a mirror and take the log out of mine.
drgary
3. Don in Arizona | 02.24.09
I have not read the book, but based on the descriptions this is a very sad story. But it’s not surprising — in my daily activities I see many people who carry the banner of “Christianity” that display language and behavior no better — and often worse — than non-believers.
And that is why contemporary evangelicalism is, largely, a failure. The actions don’t match the words. They are people involved in a movement, but not involved in the process of working with Christ to transform their hearts into the kind of people God would have us be. They see Christ as an insurance policy, a ticket to heaven, and little more. Sad. Very sad.
A true abiding relationship with Christ will produce a light that can’t be hidden. I have met very few people who are clearly changed and Christ-like people. The few that I have met have left profound impressions upon my soul. That is the picture Jesus paints — of a city on a hill, a light that can’t be hid, salt that doesn’t lose its flavor. I see that as the goal, though I am not anywhere near that point.
Dallas Willard (”Renovation of the Heart,” “The Divine Conspiracy”) has a saying: “If someone has the kind of faith that *can* be hidden, then it’s probably best that it *be* hidden.” There is deep wisdom in that … wisdom not understood by the majority of what passes for “Christianity” today.
4. Stu McFarland | 02.24.09
It is very sad to read about a one time believer in Jesus Christ who was disillusioned by the sinful lives of various religious men who wore the mantle of being Christians. The author apparently believed that studying Catholicism would give him the faith that he was earnestly seeking, but due to the disparity between what was taught and what was lived he has lost his faith. Hopefully, through daily study of the Bible, not a particular ecclestiastical body, as well as prayer, he will come in to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the only perfect man, and be able to direct his work toward glorifying Him.
5. Courtenay | 02.24.09
Thanks, Don in Arizona - very good points!
I agree, the sad thing is that probably many good and thoughtful people, like Lobdell, are turned off Christianity (and possibly other faiths) by so much of what passes for it - people blindly following corrupt (yet ostensibly God-ordained) hierarchies and irrational, superstitious beliefs that don’t result in any tangible transformation in their own lives, let alone in the wider society.
As Dr Gary commented too, this is hardly a new thing; the Bible (in both testaments) has quite a lot to say about people whose lives and actions don’t correspond with what they profess. Jesus himself is recorded as making some pretty strong criticisms of the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and institutions of his time - and he and his immediate followers never instituted any hierarchies or doctrinal beliefs. Funny how so much of what we think of as “Christianity” has little or nothing to do with anything we know about the man who started it…
It’s interesting that Mary Baker Eddy, who founded the Monitor, wrote of there being “sects many but not enough Christianity”, and of the importance of getting to know the Bible for oneself, with a “willingness to give up human beliefs (established by hierarchies, and instituted sometimes by the worst passions of men)”, in order for Christianity to become a truly healing and transforming influence in one’s life and the world. Unfortunately, throughout most of history (and I suspect similarly with many other faiths too), this generally hasn’t happened. But please, don’t ever confuse institutionalised dogma, empty “magical” beliefs, and pious hypocrisy with Christianity.
6. jjmucr | 02.24.09
I haven’t read the book and won’t - I’m too far behind on too many others. I recommend Mr. L read The Language of God. And, why focus just on the negatives, without regard to those who do behave better than others? In any human sampling, you’ll get a wide range of behaviors. Being a self-professed believer doesn’t guarantee anything, just as being an atheist or agnostic doesn’t guarantee anything, behavior-wise. I, too, know of alleged believers who acted worse than almost anyone I’d met. Is that God’s fault? The fault of the denominations? Or, is it the offending individual’s? People have always abused religion and always will. Re: the priest scandal - I know one priest who was falsely accused and the liar recanted after the DA investigated. The priest was devastated, the diocese/its insurer paid lawyers, etc., before the fraud unravelled. What should be done with the lying accuser? Do you tar all abuse victims with such brushes? No. You look at the facts. I could go on and on, but won’t, as most have their minds made up, either way. Just like voters. Go watch the O man dazzle you w/ his fluff. He’s on the tube now.
7. Alexander | 02.25.09
It is incorrect to report that William Lobdell was at one time “a freshly born-again Christian.” Even reporting that he was once a Christian may be incorrect if you define being a Christian as one who has a personal relationship with Jesus. Only secular media interprets “Christian” as being simply someone who says they are.
Born-again is not simply a qualifier either. To be born again is something real.
Although I can not say with certainty, and I am sure I am not the only Christian believing this, it is reasonable to question whether Lobdell ever had this relationship Christians come to have upon accepting Christ into their lives….it has nothing to do with “religion.”
8. James | 02.25.09
These types of things were going on even while Christ was performing His redemptive work on the earth. i.e. Judas and Peter (Matt 16:23). Man has fallen and will never acheive perfection.
These types of things are also the sign of the end (2 Th 2:3 & 2 Ti 3:13). Just as Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus so is Mr. Lobdell. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
The Catholic church is not the place to be in these end times (2 Tim 3:5-10).
10. D. Williams | 02.25.09
Satan is soooo pleased - he accomplished exactly what he set out to do - destroy a good man’s faith. Don’t allow that. Ask and it shall be given.
11. Rational World | 02.25.09
I love the way Christian apologists quote all the warm and fuzzy bible verses. How about:
“Think not that I come to send peace on earth. I come not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matt.10:34)
Jesus told people to cut off hands, feet, eyes and sexual organs. (Matt. 5:29, 19:12.
Christianity is morally repugnant, The concepts of original sin, intolerance, eternal punishment, and humble worship are all beneath the dignity of intelligent human beings and conflict with the values of kindness and reason. They are barbaric ideas for primitive cultures cowering in fear and ignorance.
12. John E. Shuey | 02.25.09
Throughout history the dominant religion(s) of an era or location have always been abusive, often cruelly so. (Read Leviticus, for a start.) The reason is simple: Men invent gods who command the things they wish to see happen and hate the same things and people they themselves hate. The Yahweh of bronze-age Israel is no different, indeed the three major religions thereby spawned all have accounted for untold horrors and all in the name of the same god.
We are born with frontal lobes too underdeveloped and adrenal glands too active. Coupled with the evolutionary imperative to attribute purpose to any and every thing along with the drive to outcompete and survive, that religion should inevitably be the source of evil rather than its enemy should be a surprise to no one.
13. Don in Arizona | 02.25.09
This is why I am reluctant to discuss what constitutes a “Christian” — it almost always breaks down to an unproductive argument over doctrine and terminology.
Scripture repeats the same theme again and again — the degree to which a person has truly placed their trust in the guidance and provision of God will bear witness to that relationship in their thoughts, deeds, words and actions.
William Lobdell was employed by a newspaper to cover faith issues. Like all media, they tend to focus on the negative because that’s what attracts attention and what sells. Lobdell unfortunately, and sadly, was exposed to far more examples of “bad fruit” (as Scripture would describe people who are not truly operating with trust in God in His Kingdom) than good. It would require a person of considerable depth and maturity of faith to withstand the daily exposure to that. I’m pretty certain I would fall prey to doubts myself.
All this is why it is critically important that those who have their faith in God through Christ to reduce the talk and instead focus on *being* the kind of person Jesus commands us to be.
Actions speak louder than words. And actions contrary to the words will refute whatever words are said. That is the sad history of Christianity, certainly in the last 30 or so years.
There is a post above from “Rational World” that is, sadly, very common. And it’s not at all hard to imagine why we see this. Rational World has not, I would imagine, been exposed to many who operate in true Christ-like ways; who can respond to anger with love; who seems free of small worries because they know they are safe with God. Those people — rare as they are — are the most effective witnesses to the power and truth of God’s Kingdom and of the power of Christ.
Imagine a Christian church where the people truly loved as Jesus does. People would take notice, and they would ask questions. And when the witness to Christ is loving words backed by loving action, then effective evangelism takes place. Such a Christian church would turn this world upside down.
Sadly, today’s Christian church seems more about adhering to some specific doctrine, or some specific ritual, or some specific set of semi-legalistic requirements. None of that matters — that, in fact, is the message Jesus delivered in the Sermon on the Mount: that the human-ordered rituals and practices of the day were meaningless in God’s eyes, and that he — Jesus — had come to overturn that human ordering and institute God’s ordering through Discipleship to the Risen Christ.
John 13:35 - “By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another.”
That’s what Jesus commands. Sadly, that’s now what we do. Even more sad, it’s not what most even intend to do.
14. Don in Arizona | 02.25.09
Correction — last sentence — “That’s what Jesus commands. Sadly, that’s NOT what we do. Even more sad, it’s not what most even intend to do.”
15. drew | 02.25.09
The more people talk about losing their religion, the more it enables others to realise that they are either partially, or completely, on their way to the same place.
Today, most people who call themselves “Christian” are not, really. They are usually Therapeutic Deists, who believe in a vague, non-interventionalist god, much like the Force in Star Wars. They call this force “God” because that’s the societally accepted term for it; but really, they are deists, not theists at all. Their “religion” is just a security blanket for coping with the natural fear humans have of death. They have some vague feeling that they will get an afterlife if they are “nice” to others.
This is, of course, in complete contridiction to all religions, which insist upon obedience to the god and his/her priests, and a list of silly and irrational tabboos and rituals which, one by one, thinking humans eventually discard by growing out of. Now that religion has lost the power to coerce people by force in some human societies, it is dying off, because it is no longer needed. Faith was required before people developed reason; religion was required as an explanation before people organised thought as science.
The only way that the rapid, and accelerating decline of religion will be reversed in free societies is if the barbarians within the gates (ie Muslim immigrants) are allowed to subvert the law; if free societies are conquered by theocracies; or if our increasing environmental degradation leads to widespread economic, social, and agricultural collapse or chaos.
16. Don in Arizona | 02.25.09
Drew wrote: “… all religions … insist upon obedience to the god and his/her priests, and a list of silly and irrational taboos and rituals”
It is perfectly understandable why many think this of Christianity.
Many self-professing Christians view it the same way. The result being what we see in the contemporary Christian church — people going about “church activities” with a grudging sense of obligation, Sunday to Sunday, with their lives changed little by the experience.
There’s a very subtle distinction with Christianity as it is better understood by a fair reading of Scripture:
(1) God does not insist upon obedience, He *invites* it. What God would have us do is what is best for us, though — here’s the key — we may not desire it. God’s way is the right way if we *choose* to accept it, which we are free to embrace or reject. This is what’s behind John 8:31-32: “If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(2) A fair reading of the New Testament yields very few commandments, rules or rituals. Almost all we are accustomed to today are the result of human institutions imposing them for one reason or another. Jesus himself simply commanded that we be His disciples and learn from Him. With respect to religious services, Jesus instituted communion and simply said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Paul, Peter, James, John and the other writers of the Epistles first and foremost command us to love, and give *illustrations* of lives based on that.
Here is perhaps the most difficult element of Christian scripture for most people — it is *not* a list of things to do; it is really an illustration of the type of person TO BE. For example, the Sermon on the Mount is a picture of a life changed by faith (or “trust”) in God that …
o Is free of anger and contempt (Matthew 5:21-26)
o Is free of domination by sexual lust and the rejection of people who have less-than-attractive features (Matthew 5:27-32)
o Is free from the need to control and intimidate others verbally (Matthew 5:33-37)
o Is free from grudges, fairness issues and needing to “get even” (Matthew 5:38-42)
o Is able to love one’s enemies and bless those who curse us (Matthew 5:43-48)
o Is free from feeling the need to perform for human credit (Matthew 6:1-18)
o Is free from needing to trust in (cling to, hold tight to) physical things (reputation, money, things) and instead places trust in God (Matthew 6:19-34)
o Is free from the need to manage others and outcomes by being critical, judgmental and sarcastic (Matthew 7:1-5)
(The list above comes from Dallas Willard’s “The Divine Conspiracy”)
A Christian church populated with people like that would have left William Lobdell’s faith even stronger, and it would make “Rational World” and “drew” pause, no doubt.
That is the “church” Christ instituted. Humans in pursuit of the things of this world brought it down.
17. paa | 02.25.09
By focusing only on the bad examples in Christianity, a warped and inaccurate perspective is attained. This is the critical mistake that most athiests make when demonizing and condemning Christianity. They fail to see the many many positive examples and choose to focus only on the bad, because that fits their overall world view better and allows them to stereotype all religious believers into a mold suited to their tastes. This is a dangerous road to take, and will lead to prejudice and intolerance. By demonizing religious believers, a path is taken to tyranny and oppression, the very things that these accusatory athiests are condemning. We should all strive to be tolerant of the law-abiding beliefs of others. We don’t have to agree with them, but we should respect their opinions and beliefs and not judge the many by the few bad apples, which will be present in any large group.
18. onlein | 02.25.09
My timing is almost as bad as Lobdell’s. I returned to the Catholic Church for the second time, after two separate decade-long absences, in May 2001 — shortly before the sex abuse scandal broke. My two periods of agnosticism-secular humanism were instructive but ultimately unsatisfying. Now I’m back, older (68), perhaps a little wiser, and more tired. I don’t think I’ll leave again. But, of course, I’m disappointed and disheartened by the abuse and the church’s respose to it. A mostly retired clinical social worker, I’m very familiar with the long lasting aftereffects of childhood sexual abuse. The full scope of the problem, incuding incest, became apparent in the late 1970s and early ’80s. The church seemed blissfully unaware of this nationwide problem and was 20-25 years behind the times when they were forced to admit that the problem was within the church too. But it’s hardly new in the church. In the 11th Century, St Peter Damian noted such abuse and spoke out strongly against it.
19. rk | 02.26.09
As one who was raised protestant and then left after leaving home, I’ve looked at this question from a distant, yet wishful, point of view.
Clearly what’s called cultural Christianity is the norm. Often it fits in with the consumeristic competitive and politicized surroundings.
I don’t know that that is a surprise. I think the Bible is open to many seeds not taking root among the thorns.
A simple thought experiment. How would people behave if they really thought God was real, and coming back…soon, say tomorrow? If you really believed that God was omnipotent, omniscient, that He was here with us, what would you do? Would you love Him? Would you see life as sweeter still?
If you knew in your heart, if even you saw a miracle, if you felt His touch…I think you would change….but we are all just sinners, in the end.
20. Michael Weil | 02.27.09
I find it very sad that so many people look to denominations, church leaders, religious organizations, etc. to find “what they are looking for.” Then when sinful humans and religions fail them they blame God, the Bible, and Jesus for their own faults, frustrations and struggles. Too many then hide behind hypocrites to justify their exit from or rejection of “the faith.” Well, it takes a very small person to hide behind a hypocrite. I, too, am disgusted by all the clergy and televangelist scandals and abuses, but they don’t shake my faith because I am not focused on those sinful actions. My suggestion is that we all focus our attention on Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of the universe. Stop looking at the actions of sinners; look at the sinless Son of God as you learn to walk with Him through prayer and His precious word, the Bible. Let obedience to Jesus be your daily goal. Follow His perfect example. He will NEVER fail you. Keep your eyes on HIM.
21. Al Enderle | 02.27.09
My heart goes out to William Lobdell because it appears that his experiences with so-called Christian religions excluded the necessary personal relationship with God via Jesus Christ. One does not become a Christian by going to a particular church. One becomes a Christian by exchanging his life for Christ’s life. Like Lobdell, I too have experienced Presbyterianism, Catholicism, and others and, also like Lobdell, I gave up on religion. It wasn’t until I was 49 years old that I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. My life changed dramatically over night and has been improving ever since. I know where I will go when I die. I do not worry because I know the one who controls everything. I experience peace and joy beyond description regardless of whether I am sick or well, poor or rich. Two of my favorite Bible verses are: John 14:6 and Ephesians 2:8-9. My prayer for William is that he will seek God via Jesus and not via some megalithic religious organization that covers the simplicity of what Christianity really is with Pharisitical rituals and dogmas.
22. Bob the humanist | 02.27.09
Has the concept of “God” become organized crime’s most lucrative confidence scam? One would think so when reading about the horrific, immoral actions of some of the leaders of the holier than thou authoritative Church. Power and money, as always, seem to corrupt everything.
The idea that we can separate good from bad and call the one God and the other Satan is not healthy, nor even helpful. Each of us has the potential for good or bad to become dominant in our character, and we shouldn’t try to deny our worse tendencies, but rather try to understand and control them. Learning to become an ethical, responsible member of the human community has nothing to do with trying to mimic an imaginary perfect persona, while hating and feeling guilt about our imperfections. It is a daily striving to love, understand and accept ourselves and others as best we can. We don’t need to look millions of years back for a one and only pretend hero to save humanity, because heroes are all around us. We can truly depend on each other when we as a society invest in educating every person about human nature and ethical behavior.
23. Anton | 02.27.09
I think it ironic - though sad - that the very behavior on the part of others that Mr. Lobdell mentions to have driven him away from his faith, are things actually foretold in the book that he has, for now, abandoned. Jude mentions: “certain men … have secretly slipped in among you. … who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality.” And Timothy says of them: “having a form of godliness but denying its power … They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires.” While I understand Mr. Lobdell’s disgust, disillusionment, and final resignation when faced with such an ‘intensity of antithesis’ in regarding what he called his “spiritual search,” I fear that he may have stopped searching a little too soon. But just as William Lobdell let go of his faith, he can likewise take it up again. And it doesn’t matter that in his autobiography he says that “his faith is gone for good.” I’m not so sure that it is- just a bit more bruised than that of others, perhaps. I sincerely hope that he’ll choose to take up the struggle once more- instead of merely writing about how it defeated him.
24. Ed-words | 02.28.09
I don’t get it. It takes this scandal to wake him up?
There isn’t enough evil in the history of Christianity
to turn him away? And even if Christians have
always behaved well, there still remains the question,
“Is it true?”
For a growing number of people, the answer is “NO”!
25. Daniel Bennett | 02.28.09
This scares me. I have been a Christian for 35 years. I have a BTh and an MDiv. I am a Bible student - I have wall to wall commentaries in my apartment. I spend a significant portion of my day studying, praying and serving. I feel called to the field of apologetics so I’m reading to respond to the new atheists. I’m studying the book of Genesis right now and having trouble integrating it with my scientific understanding.
But I’ll keep looking onto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. My faith is not of human origin.
26. Matthew | 03.01.09
If Mr. Lobdell has truly found peace, I am happy for him. That being said, I wonder if one’s faith in God should really be determined by the behavior of other people who claim to believe in God. After all, while one’s relationship with other people of faith is certainly important, isn’t it ultimately about one’s relationship to the divine?
Often, especially when people find God in moments of quiet, personal reflection, it can be difficult to find others who share the same faith and understand and live it the same way. What is more troubling, of course, is discovering the hypocrisy of believers one previously trusted. Still, that some people who claim to believe in God act in reprehensible ways does not mean God doesn’t exist and doesn’t want you to have a personal relationship with Him.
27. Ahmed Mir | 03.01.09
It is really sad to see how religion has caused so much suffering and ill feelings among men. This is true for all religions, revealed or not.
28. Dave, A New Atheist | 03.01.09
You’re having trouble reconciling Genesis and science, Mr. Bennett. because Genesis is utter fantasy.
29. Maza | 03.03.09
It seems Mr Lobdell spent more time looking out at others than he did looking inward. What matters is his personal relationship with Christ not the so called relationship of others.
30. Jeff Mark | 03.11.09
I found myself somewhat accidentally falling into this same community of former believers when I wrote a similar book (called Christian No More), and I can completely relate to William Lobdell. His book is fascinating, and it parallels the journey of MANY people who have had the same thing happen. I’m continually amazed at how many people found themselves simply unable to believe in the old stories we were taught since children. And to answer what some people have expressed — for many of us it wasn’t the negative acts of humans that caused us to lose our faith. It was a combination of events. In my case, it was primarily an inability to accept that a God could possibly be so angry and jealous, combined with my inability to accept any truth in the old stories of Genesis — stories that, for all intents and purposes, have been totally debunked by science.
And so it took me a long time to get from being devout Christian to one who says, “I am not a Christian.” And I’m glad to see that William Lobdell has come to the same conclusions.
Jeff Mark
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1. Thomas Michael Barnes | 02.24.09
Why would anyone be surprised that Christians of any religious denomination would turn a blind eye toward abusing clergy or parish members? It is called circling the wagons. We all do it. It is impossible to look at one’s own denomination and one’s own matrix of magical thinking including a Zeus like God that looks down on us, the ant people, and controls us with ‘love’ and ‘compassion’ etc. This is essentially what we have been taught. We are the modern day we are the modern day Greeks and we have a modern day version of Apollo worship in our churches on Sunday. You know the ancient mystery religions of the Middle East had sacraments and priesthoods and scriptures also. We are not the new kids on the block. Christianity flows directly out of Apollo worship, the worship of Mithras and alternatives to strict Second Temple Judaism worship out in the hinterlands of Juda. We have a religion that is clearly ecelctic and comes from many sources. We are no different than any other group of believers. What we believe now is built solidly upon what others believed then.
Protecting clergy is natural for people with magical thinking processes. They are the high priests of our value system. What are we going to do? Throw them to the dogs?
We need to search our hearts. We are deeply involved in magical thinking and we are destroying our children in the process in order to ‘protect’ our core value system….a value system based on white magic and mystery religions of over 2,000 years ago.