Goodness, what will they think of next!?
Atheists in the pulpit are old news, here in Unitarian Universalism. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this post by conservative Baptist leader Albert Mohler. I found his indignation sort of funny…but there are also some really interesting theological points about the non-existence of God and what that may or may not imply.
What do you think? Is atheism antithetical to being a good pastor?
(And by the way…the answer to his blog’s question is no…at least not the God he means.)
The distinction Rev. Hendrickse makes, and which Mohler either fails to grasp or intentionally declines to recognize, between “believing in” and “believing that,” though commonplace for years in some philosophical and theological circles, is probably a bit too subtle for most people.
It reminds me of a bit of verse someone posted once on a religious discussion list, let’s see, it went something like
“Unicorns don’t exist, they only think they do;
Unicorns don’t exist, they’ve better things to do.”
Albert Mohler makes some very valid points that obviously are, or at least were. . . very pertinent to Unitarian*Universalism. Indeed some of the basic principles that he outlines have broader application than simply dealing with theological questions. I have removed the word “theological” and related words from this statement and inserted U*U principles and related words to prove my point -
“The self-destruction of a U*U church never starts with a pastor who doesn’t even believe in U*U principles. It begins with denials (or violations) of one principle here, another there. Before long, the unwillingness of the UUA to call its churches and ministers to account leads to further concessions. (Yes I am perfectly aware of how “congregational polity” allows U*U “churches” to flagrantly disregard U*U principles with complete impunity but U*U ministers are ostensibly accountable to the UUA and its very aptly named Ministerial *Fellowship* Committee) The cowardice of church bureaucrats opens the door to any and all aberrations. The next thing you know, there is an abusive minister in the pulpit.”
The answer to your question -
“Is atheism antithetical to being a good pastor?”
is it most certainly can be in some instances and depends very much on how “devout” if not “evangelical” and “militant” the “pastor” in question is. Would you like a few examples?
I think this comes down to honesty. If a pastor chooses to join a denomination that requires a core set of beliefs then they are lying to themselves and to their congregation if they don’t follow the denominations guidelines or hide their own drastically differing beliefs. This isn’t to say that a pastor can’t have their own opinions or that their beliefs and interpretations won’t change. Pastors also should not cause a lot of strife in their church by trying to argue every detail of belief, doctrine, or church governance (I think this is called playing politics?). But it’s important that a pastor be true to themselves and their inner beliefs as well as being true to their congregation.
“A denomination that will not require its pastors to believe that God exists is a denomination that has reached the very bottom of the well in terms of theological insanity.”
Humorous indeed. Apparently I attend a nuthouse.
But then we certainly are not afraid of “a protracted discussion about the meanings of words …”, are we?
So there is hope.