As the assistant humanist chaplain at Harvard University, Chris Stedman coordinates its “Values in Action” program. In his recent book, “Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious,” he tells how he went from a closeted gay evangelical Christian to an “out” atheist, and, eventually, a Humanist.
On the blog NonProphet Status, and now in the book, Stedman calls for atheists and the religious to come together around interfaith work. It is a position that has earned him both strident — even violent — condemnation and high praise. Stedman talked with RNS about how and why the religious and atheists should work together.
The issue for “interfaith” work along side an atheist group or individual like Stedman, is that, as Christians, we have an obligation to make Christ and prayer a visible, integrated component alongside our social or humanitarian efforts. Without that, we fail to help society with the long-term, permanent answer to any problem we may be working on. And I’m sorry, but I don’t see Stedman and his ilk ever being accepting of that.