For decades, the internet has been a safe haven for religious individuals who want to discuss the queries that sometimes accompany their faith. Now, hundreds of ministers, pastors and church leaders are turning to one website that has started to serve as a sanctuary for those whose doubt eventually turns into disbelief. Since 2011, Clergy Project has provided a safe haven for former and active religious heads who no longer have faith in the supernatural. According to the directors of the website, all users are screened to check if they meet the requirements of Clergy Project and granted access to the website’s anonymous forums only after.
“Losing one’s religion can often mean losing one’s family, friends, community and social network,” wrote user Seraphim, allegedly a former monk. “One often can’t open up to those closest to them for fear of misunderstanding, overreaction and outright rejection. ...I have found understanding, practical help, encouragement and moral support in this virtual community.”
The Project, which is funded by online donations, Freedom From Religion Foundation and The Richard Dawkins Foundation, has been endorsed by various secular organizations including Center for Inquiry, American Atheists and Recovering from Religion. While the website claims to have more than 600 active participants, its Facebook page has nearly 4,000 likes.
“I don’t think faith is positive, because faith means belief without evidence and you shouldn’t believe anything without evidence,” said Dawkins in 2013.
A couple of years ago, the taboo practice of clergymen turning atheist made headlines when a few Clergy Project members publicly declared their decision to leave the church. While the website has applied for a charitable status, it is yet to be granted one and currently does not hold that credential.
Studies on religion in America show a majority of the population is still indentifying with some religion or the other. However, the numbers seem to be dropping steadily. According to a 2012 Pew survey, approximately 20 percent of Americans are either agnostic, atheist or have no particular religious preference.
In a related event, the Secular Humanists of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (SHUNL), an associate of the Secular Student Alliance, has been aiming at providing a space to students who do not have any particular religious affiliation. While 92 percent of the university’s student population identifies with some religion or another, the remaining minority of nontheistic students find comfort in the space that SHUNL has to offer.
“It’s a safe space,” said Gabriel Gauthier, a junior physics major from Lincoln. “It’s hard to find groups for less common demographics, especially in Nebraska.”
SHUNL does not have an official take on religion. Instead, it comprises of students who are agnostic, atheist, theist and humanist. What is common among these individuals however is that each of them promotes a secular viewpoint and looks out for the wellbeing of humanity in general.
Photo Credit: The Clergy Project and Secular Student Alliance
