Page 5 - Jerry Dewitt News Today

The first people to come out were very angry, and very militant. >> it would be nice to have it set up -- >> but the people who are coming out now tend to be be calmer. they want to genuinely have discussion, and exchange ideas. >> can you give me a short summary of why you dont think that you would -- >> go ahead. ♪ i can see clearly now that the rain is gone sfoet ♪ >> sing it. you know this song. >> like atheist minister jerry dewitt who is already doing that in the south preaching peacef...

I slept at bed just in case. >> dewitt said his 20-year-old son called who converted to atheism just two years before he did saved his life. >> i can say without any doubt whatsoever that had he not been in my life during this time, i dont think i would have made it. i know i wouldnt have made it. it really upsets me. it irritates me. i know how much dad has tried to help people in the community. >> so why stay here in louisiana? why not go somewhere more progressive, open minded? >> if were goi...

>> brothers and sisters, this is how valuable you are. i think the universe will hide you in its pockets so that you would never be scratched and never receive ardents. >> youre born to praech. this is natural for me. youre valuable to the universe. sunday, you truly are the king of the world. >> for 25 years, he was a pent kos tal preacher in the evangelical south. but listen to this sermon a little closer. >> im just like i would have in the old days. just minus a few characters. >> theres no ...

>> the community chapel, where everything that a good church is, minus the jesus. thats it. >> shake the hand of the person next to you. >> is it hard to find a place to hold a service because you are considered running with the devil? >> atheist and satanist is the same thing down here and thats all were asking for. someone to give us a chance. >> we have limited time. have a seat. >> for now, a rented home an hour away in lake charles, louisiana, will have to do. >> the world is actually getti...

Prayer doesnt work. >> for dewitt, as religion became more troubling, atheism looked much closer to the truth. eventually in 2011, dewitt quit preaching altogether. he took a job as a building inspector and hoped to live a quiet life. >> thats when your aunt comes. >> 85-year-old aunt on facebook. >> yes, aunt grace spotted a facebook photo of dewitt at a gathering of skeptics standing right next to the father of atheism, richard dawkins. >> bob posted this picture of me and my son with professo...

Your congregation. your wife left. you lost all your money. >> everything. >> this was the house in the foreclosure. >> at one point, we literally sat down and began to google how to live in your car. >> why did you continue down this path? >> because its right. the only thing thats different is theologically, i no longer believe in god. outside of that, almost everything is identical. >> abandoned by family and friends, ostracized from his hometown, dewitt feared for his life after receiving a ...

Atheism. the first people to come out were very angry, very militant. but i think the people that are coming out now tend to be calmer. they want to genuinely have discussion and exchange ideas. >> you give me a short summary of why you dont -- ♪ ♪ i can see clearly now the rain is gone ♪ >> come on now, sing it. you know this song. >> like atheist minister jerry dewitt, who is already doing that in the deep south. preaching peacefully, hoping for normalcy. ♪ >> the place wasnt firebombe...

Your congregation. your wife left. you lost all your money. >> i didnt think it would be everything. >> this is the house that went into foreclosure. >> at one point, we literally sat down and began to google how to live in your car. >> why did you continue down this path? >> because its right. the only thing thats different is theologically, i no longer believe in god. outside of that, almost everything is identical. >> abandoned by family and friends, ostracized from his hometown, dewitt feare...

Good church is, for jesus. >> shake the hand of the person next to you. >> is it hard to find a place to hold a service because you are considered running with the devil? >> atheist and satanist is the same thing down here and thats all were asking for. someone to give us a chance. >> a limited time. have a seat. >> for now, a rented home an hour away in lake charles, louisiana, will have to do. >> the world is actually getting better. >> dewitt saved his marriage, his house, and his cautiously ...

It was that the reality is prayer doesnt work. >> for dewitt, as religion became more troubling, atheism looked much closer to the truth. eventually in 2011, dewitt quit preaching altogether. he took a job as a building inspector and hoped to live a quiet life. >> thats when your aunt comes. >> 85-year-old aunt grace on facebook. >> yes, aunt grace spotted a facebook photo of dewitt at a gathering of skeptics standing right next to the father of atheism, richard dawkins. >> bob posted this pictu...