Jerry DeWitt, Pentecostal Preacher Turned Outspoken Atheist - Friendly Atheist Podcast

Jerry DeWitt was a Pentecostal preacher from Louisiana whose faith began cracking a few years ago. At first, he battled with his doubts internally, but he soon realized he no longer believed what he had been saying from the pulpit for nearly 25 years.

When he finally declared — publicly — that he was an atheist, his life began to fall apart. He wrote about his deconversion in his book Hope After Faith. You may have also seen him in the recent CNN special “Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers.”

Hemant spoke with Jerry recently about what led him to initially doubt his religious beliefs, his journey through the Clergy Project, and how he can still get himself into “preacher mode” when speaking.



Jerry DeWitt, Pentecostal Preacher Turned Outspoken Atheist - Friendly Atheist Podcast EP 48
2015

Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers

Is there a God? CNN Special Report: Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers. Tuesday, March 24, 2015.



Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers (2015)

Including interview with: Richard Dawkins, David Silverman, Jerry DeWitt


Why Humanists Are Still Misunderstood: CNN’s Documentary on Atheists in America by by Jessica Xiao, The Humanist


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Organisations:

Secular Students
American Atheits
The Clergy Project - for atheist priests

Former Minister Jerry DeWitt visits the Atheist Community of San Jose

Jerry DeWitt was a successful Pentecostal minister in the Deep South...until 2011, when, after long and intense soul-searching, he came to the conclusion that there simply is no God.

When he was outed as an atheist, he lost his secular job, his friends and family relationships. Jerry DeWitt was ostracized by the Christian community of his small town, but then established an "atheist church" which is growing. With his background, Jerry is well qualified to share insights about creating strong communities without religion. We might see some of his traditional fire-and-brimstone speaking style while he gives us some good, rational suggestions on community-building.



The Atheist Community of San Jose is proud to present Jerry DeWitt.
2015

Life After Faith :: Jerry DeWitt

Jerry Dewitt's ministry began at age seventeen. He evangelized the United States and assisted in three Pentecostal churches. Later he held the pastorate of two fundamentalist congregations. After more than twenty-five years of ministry he realized he had become an Atheist.



In 2011 he became the first graduate of The Clergy Project and later that year he was appointed to the Directorship of Recovering from Religion until 2012. Currently Jerry is working on his memoir 'Hope After Faith', scheduled for release in June 2013 by Da Capo Press.

Jerry DeWitt was married for twenty-two years, has one son and still lives in rural Louisianan.

Like what you see? Consider becoming a supporter of the Secular Student Alliance! The SSA is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that relies on the generous support of individuals. With your help we can ensure that more videos like these are available for everyone! Go to www.secularstudents.org/support for more information on how you can help secular students.

Hope After Faith

Born and bred in the church, Jerry Dewitt was a Pentecostal preacher in the town of DeRidder, Louisiana before he came to doubt his faith and, ultimately, reject it outright.



The first graduate of The Clergy Project, Jerry DeWitt now travels the country promoting secularism (and a love for people both religious and non-religious).

Jerry Dewitt is author of the book, "Hope After Faith: An Ex-Pastor's Journey From Belief To Atheism."

TTA Podcast 120:
The Thinking Atheist, 2013

Jerry DeWitt's Easter Sunday Morning Sermon 2013

Jerry DeWitt's Easter Sunday Morning Sermon at the 2013 American Atheist Convention



Jerry is a member and the first 'graduate' of The Clergy Project.

Jerry DeWitt - Hope After Faith talk 2012

A former Pentecostal minister of over 25 years, Jerry DeWitt left faith behind in 2011 with the realization that his personal doctrine was much kinder than that of the god he'd worshipped and served.

Jerry DeWitt became the first graduate of The Clergy Project, created by Richard Dawkins and Dan Barker as a safe, private community for former and current clergy members who no longer held supernatural beliefs.

Jerry DeWitt was soon after brought on board as Executive Director of Recovering From Religion, where he can also help laypersons ease into the transition away from faith.



Recorded at Reason at the Rock November 2012.

Mike Aus: A Pastor's Journey to Atheism

Recovering from Religion: Jerry DeWitt on The Atheist Experience

The Atheist Experience #764 of June 3, 2012, with Matt Dillahunty and Jerry DeWitt of Recovering from Religion.

Index:
0:48 Jerry DeWitt former minister talks about leaving religion
9:24 Ida (FL)
24:24 Robert (DC)
33:33 Simon (Norway)
36:20 Ron (ON, Canada)
42:50 Jerry's anecdote
46:32 Grant (UK)
52:48 Jonathan (IL)
56:47 John (phone problem).

Recovering from Religion - The Atheist Experience #764 (full episode)


The Atheist Experience is a weekly cable access television show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.

Teresa MacBain on Her Transition from Minister to Atheist
Mike Aus: A Pastor's Journey to Atheism

Jerry DeWitt Interview

Dennis interviews Jerry DeWitt at the 2012 American Atheists Convention in association with New York Atheists Inc.

The Clergy Project



Atheist Viewpoint

The Marketing of Religion

Churches, religious institutions and organizations have implemented sophisticated, often costly advertising campaigns and tactics to bring non-believers into the fold. This is especially true regarding the targeting of young people, as churches host concerts, pizza parties, movie nights, door prizes and a host of other gimmicks.



How is religion attempting to win converts by sheer marketing, and why should the public be skeptical? Jerry DeWitt, former pastor and Executive Director of www.recoveringfromreligion.org joins us.

Plus your calls and emails.

The Thinking Atheist Radio Podcast #57 Show date: May 8, 2012

Pastors Who Don't Believe (The Clergy Project)

We talk with Dan Barker, President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who is part of an exciting website called The Clergy Project



The Clergy Project is a confidential safe haven for active and former clergy who do not hold the supernatural beliefs of their religious traditions. It's amazing how many pastors and ministers have left their faith or seek to do so.

We also speak with an atheist still in the pastorate (speaking anonymously), and with Jerry DeWitt of www.recoveringfromreligion.org

The Thinking Atheist Radio Podcast #40
Show date: 10th December 2012