#005 Ryan Bell: A Year Without God - What Does He Believe Now?

A Year Without God? Yup, at the end of 2013, former pastor Ryan Bell announced he was gonna "try on" atheism for a year. And boy, it didn't take too long for the media to take notice. So what made a life-long Christian, who pastored for nearly 20 years, do such a thing? Well, it's been over a year since his experiment began, and I had the opportunity to chat with him at his home in Pasadena, California. So get ready ... this episode is sure to get you thinking. IN THIS EPISODE, RYAN ANSWERED THE FOLLOWING: • What events led to your  "Year Without God"? • What difference does God make? • How do you respond to skeptics? • Did you ever "pray" during your atheist experiment? • Why not "A Year Without Christianity?" instead of God? • Why atheism? Why not deism? Pantheism? • How would you define the God you reject? • How did your "year without God" affect your family? • How did the atheist community influence your journey? • Do you ever miss the old notion of God you used to have? (e.g., a loving father, provider) • Do you ever feel like your religious years were all a waste? • What would it take for you to believe in God again? LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE • Ryan's Bell Blog "A Year Without God" • Ryan's Facebook • (FREE Audiobook Download) God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything  • Help support this podcast to keep it going (any amount helps!)