David Bowden

ex-preacher said: "I can find many examples of Christians who wrote for, spoke for, defended Christianity who became atheists (including yours truly)."

Here's my modest contribution to such a list (additions and refinements/corrections welcome):

0. (really not famous enough to qualify) Myself - former Christian writer, pastor, and (drum roll...) Sunday School teacher.

1. Charles Templeton - writer, mass evangelist with the young Billy Graham. (Lost his faith as he learned theology and Biblical criticism; later wrote "Farewell to God: my reasons for leaving the Christian faith." IIRC, Lee Strobel took shameful advantage of an Alzheimer's-ridden Templeton in an interview for "The Case for Faith")

2. Don Cuppitt, England's (in)famous "atheist priest" and former leader of the "God is Dead" theology movement.

3. Tertullian, early Church leader, writer, preacher (became gnostic and was excommunicated; if his latter beliefs were not truly Christian while his former ones were, and if he knew the difference, then the only conclusion I can draw is that he knowingly left the Christian faith)

4. Robert M. Price, whose works appear on II, and who was a Christian pastor and professor prior to losing his faith.

James Turner's book Without God, Without Creed: the origins of unbelief in North America gives numerous examples of Christian ministers and lay thinkers losing their faith up through the nineteenth century, but I don't have a copy handy to make a list from, and I don't want trust my memory on this.

And who's that German theologian who just recently lost his professorship after he lost his faith?

-Wanderer

[ May 18, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]</p>

ex-preacher

I believe that's Gerd Ludemann.

Others:

Dan Barker, former evangelist and gospel songwriter, now author of "Losing Faith in Faith" and president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Farrell Till, former missionary and teacher at Christian university, now editor of Skeptical Review

Me (not famous either), former minister in the Church of Christ (5th generation), Bible professor, editor of nationwide newsletter for churches, and co-author of a book on a cult, now starving student.

David Bowden

Ah, yes, that's him exactly. Thanks!

Amos

My brother would say that you are too nice a person not to be gay. He runs an inner-city bar across from a gay bar and koffie shop (where soft drugs are sold legally) and for a good time he often visits with the girls across the road. He is convinced that gay and lesbians are the nicest people.

You're OK Bree and I am not going to analyze your background for you to feel better or worse.

Bree

Thanks, Amos! You're OK too .