I’m Giving Up God For Lent…And You Can Too!

The season of Lent is upon us which is a period where many Christians take stock of their lives by often giving up something that is important in their daily schedule for a period of 40 days leading up until Easter.  It is intended to be a time of purging, reflecting, and contemplation.

Some of the common items and habits that people “give up” during the period of Lent include:

• alcohol
• chocolate
• favorite foods
• Facebook and social media
• smoking

This year though I’ve decided to go big…VERY BIG:

I’m giving up God!

Yes, I’ve decided to see what 40 days without the Alpha and Omega looks like…

Ok, perhaps that is exaggerating just a tad…

What I mean to say is I’m joining with hundreds around the world to do a Lenten course called Atheism for Lent.  Each day we receive either excerpts of writings or audio clips featuring some of the best of those who stood outside of Christianity and critiqued it from their vantage point.  There is a Facebook site open to those who join the course which allows those of us from across the globe to process the course with others who are often on a similar path of their faith journey.

Why would someone want to do this?  Well, as philosopher and theologian Peter Rollins, who created and facilitates the Atheism for Lent course, suggests:

Perhaps you’ve always been interested in engaging with some of the best critiques of religion. Maybe you’re a believer who suspects that the material might not be as anti-faith as some say. Or it could be that you just want some good old-fashioned intellectual stimulation.

On top of the more garden variety atheism, we will also be exploring why many mystics, theologians and philosophers have claimed that atheism is closer to the truth of faith than theism – an idea that has annoyed and confused people on both sides of the theist/atheist divide.

And, if that’s not enough, what better way to approach Christ’s cry of dereliction on the Cross than engage with those who have felt that deep shudder in their own being? Just as Christ is presented as experiencing the loss of God, so Atheism for Lent gives you the chance to explore that experience for yourself, discovering what worlds it might open up.

 

Pete Rollins is a guy whose work has influenced me greatly over the last four years or so and I’m looking forward to seeing what this next 40 days “journey into unbelief” will foster.  I’ve learned that I can only see what is real in my life after it has been “put through the fire” so to speak.

So, it’s not too late to sign up.  Get more information here and join me and others as we do Atheism for Lent!

Peace,

Steve