Churches usually want quantity, not quality, so anyone (typically) is allowed to sing. I found a few in the band were jealous of my abilities. Or they just had too high an opinion of their own talents. They always wanted to be the lead, and completely missed the point. We were there to lead the worship, not star in it.

Likely half-way here already … it’s a step they need the courage to make alone.. And we don’t need to wade through woo too ~

@Varn Well I'm not saying that we partake in "woo" itself, but there is something to be said for the fluid state of mind which easily attaches itself to that mentality.

We need to be able to find a secular channel for that type of fluid creative thinking without falling into a "woo" hole.

This is partly why I think it may be so difficult for atheist creativity to come to thr forefront. It's not often received well and gets mistaken for "woo."

Are those songs popular enough to get played on the radio? Introduction music to Pat Robertson's 700 Club maybe??

We might scare him back to where he came from!

@Apunzelle That’s always a possibility!

Like Highway to Hell

Exactly! And what’s interesting is that, when he told his close friends, they admitted to having doubts, too! They all were so afraid of losing their friends and community that they all kept this big secret.

@Apunzelle Funny, how that works. I was raised Catholic and there were 7 kids. Now we are all (except one sister) atheists. She has followed several groups (now JW) and seemed to always be searching for something.

It was kind of you to spare your grandma.

At least he’s one of us now.

A man can make big bucks selling god if he puts his mind to it - believer or not or anywhere in between. I am a musician - I just couldn't do that gig - I'd rather not play at all than to listen to lyrics about their god at 20,000 watts while playing on their concerts.

But for those who will do it for the bucks, you just have to be convincing which puts the "con" in con artist/musician. It's coning the cons sort of deal. If you've been around believers for any length of time you will find it easy to copy their "convincing" gesture towards a fantasy god and to twist anything that happens into an act of that god. Most people can fantasize pretty easily, evidently, especially if you've been taught from birth exactly how to do it.

They trained him from childhood on how to put on the "god" act and he made good money keeping the act up. But playing make-believe, all of your adult years with no escape would surely wear a fellow down

@jrhere I'm hip! I had thoughts for years to start my own church preaching whatever it takes to get a tax free status. I'll save anyone if they put into the collection plate! Was going to call it Church of the Long Green... But thought that might be too ostentatious. The thought still crosses my mind from time to time. But, as it turns out, I have this aversion to stupid people that precludes me from starting the church...

I think a year is actually pretty quick, considering. His whole life was the church and god. Everyone he knew believed. His father was a preacher. In the note, he says: The church wasn’t part of his life; it WAS his life. That’s a lot to unravel from.

@Apunzelle Hmmmm, maybe!

@Apunzelle you're right! A year is fast. Took me 10 years.