Let's Talk About Atheism with the Graceful Atheist

Welcome to this week’s episode of the StephUp Podcast! Thank you for your support and for coming back each week to listen. This episode features special guest David from the Graceful Atheist Podcast.   Steph and David begin the episode by talking about the primary theme of the Graceful Atheist Podcast, which is deconstruction and deconversion. David has guests who have varieties of life-altering faith. They have lived this faith out over many years and have come to a point where they can no longer believe-which can be a joyful, or even a painful thing. David talks about the concept of secular grace, loving and accepting others unconditionally, which is a more of a human need than a supernatural thing. David also talks to Steph about his first experiences with other atheists, which was very debate-orientated and aggressive, which wasn’t what he was looking for. David wanted more of a meaningful conversation, which is what he now does on his podcast.  David discusses with Steph his past as a believer, which began when he was about 19 years old. He attended church faithfully each week and even helped out in the youth group. Because of that experience, David went on to bible college to become a preacher. During that time, David referred to himself as a “grace junkie” and made that the primary focus of his ministry-to teach others grace. Fast forward about 20 years, David began to read non-Christian authors for the first time, which led to a long and slow process of deconversion. After reading some apologists, David was bothered by their arguments, which just didn’t seem right to him. He accepted the conclusion by faith, but the arguments weren’t sound. His "grace-colored" glasses came off and he had the sudden and shocking realization that he no longer believed. This led to David creating his podcast, because the process of deconversion is a lonely one.

 “As soon as I had the sudden realization that I no longer believed, I began to look at what I did believe in, which was people. I was a humanist.”  

Steph and David go on to talk about what it means to be an Evangelical Christian, which in general means a focus on scripture, the humanity and divinity of Christ, the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and salvation through Jesus alone. Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism are similar, but Fundamentalism has more of a negative connotation, so it tends to be rejected more.   David ends his conversation with Steph by saying that he is not pointing his finger at believers or attacking them, but rather he is just expressing how at one point, he was a strong believer but now he is not. The apologetic arguments that he once found to be convincing no longer make sense to him.   Listen in to hear the rest of their great conversation and please remember to rate, subscribe, and share with your friends!  Links mentioned in the episode:

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Kalam Cosmological Argument

Connect with David ·       Instagram ·       Twitter ·       Facebook ·       YouTube ·       Subscribe to his podcast! Follow StephUp Podcast on Instagram and check out her website!

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