MiloCast

People seem to have the impression that atheists are all angry, and have become atheists because they feel wronged by their religion. Perhaps they have been led astray by false information and could benefit from learning more about god. A great book, “Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist” shows that this is not the case. Dan Barker was a missionary, a preacher, and a musician who wrote Christian-themed songs and plays. He learned Spanish and traveled through Mexico preaching the Christian faith. Dan knows the bible very well, and felt that winning souls for Jesus and sharing God’s word were positive, uplifting experiences for him while he was a preacher.

However, being exposed to other ideas, including philosophic and scientific ideas triggered his curiosity. Of course, he wasn’t seeking to leave the faith he loved — he just loved learning as well. Over time, the knowledge he gained made him question his faith and, over a long, painful process, lose it entirely.

The book is captivating. If you want an honest account of a change from theist to atheist, this book is a fantastic read. In some ways, my own story is similar to Dan’s, although I was never a preacher — just a strong believer. But parallels to the path many atheists have traveled will be found in Dan Barker’s story, and we can all only benefit if we learn to understand one another better.