A Visit With Bill Lobdell, Author of Losing My Religion

For years Bill Lobdell covered religion for the Los Angeles Times and, sadly, if his experience is any guide, spending too much time poking around the underbelly of American religion can be lethal to one's faith. According to Bill, he saw too much and could no longer handle belief in a God who would allow so much evil to be perpetrated against other human beings, sometimes by religious leaders invoking the name of God.

Bill recently stopped by the Bully! Pulpit Show and we had an interesting conversation about his book, Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America-and Found Unexpected Peace, in which he chronicles his experiences and his journey from belief to unbelief.

You can see the full interview here

Bill asks compelling questions and all of us, whatever our beliefs, can learn from his experiences. In particular, I think religious leaders should pay careful attention to Bill and his book.

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Comments

[cmahru]

I read Lobdell's book this year. It seemed he did a great job of investigating religion like a true newspaperman despite his preconceived beliefs and found out the truth. Unfortunately, I thought he either needed 3 tons of bricks to fall on his head or the maybe it was the same ton 3 times.

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

The xtian talibanists should worry much more about books such as Bill Lobdell and Bart Ehrman's than Hitchens et al.

@ Whatevah, right you are: xtianity can't withstand scrutiny. Period.

[isadora]

I'm a recovering Southern Baptist who hopes some day to leave the ugly attitudes toward women and the racism that permeated during my membership. As my intellect grew I began to question what was being preached and see more and more what lay beneath the surface. I'm now a Unitarian Universalist, and one can even be an atheist and belong to this progressive community--and benefit tremendously from the intellectual stimulation and exposure to various views. The emphasis is on love and service to the community. I enjoy being involved in immigration, union, and womens' rights issues. Check it out, Bill. I think we'd love you.

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

Faved for your honesty and very noble post. Congratulations to you!

[Whatevah]

This is what happens when an honest, open-minded person examines religion. It just does can't withstand a serious inspection.

[mommadona]

All that ever was or will be is here now.

There ya go.

He's on the right track.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Sounds like Bill wanted to believe more than he actually did believe. That's not going to be enough for somebody who asks questions for a living.