The Vicar Who Doesn't Believe In God!
 

Here is a strange story which made me smile on my way to work this morning when I heard it on the radio!


News from Copenhagen, Denmark 23-Jul-03 . . .

The Lutheran vicar who was suspended after saying he didn’t believe in God has now been reinstated by the Bishop of the Elsinore Diocese. Thorkill Grosbøll of the parish of Taarbæk just north of Copenhagen caused a major controversy after questioning the existence of God. Although suspended, his parishioners called for his reinstatement. The case was legally a difficult one, since Grosbøll’s status as a state employed person makes it impossible to fire him on the grounds of divergent religious beliefs. After several meetings with bishop – LiseLotte Rebel – the decision has been made to reinstate him, although it is not clear whether he has changed his view of the theological base of the Danish Lutheran church.

Apparently he is sticking to his new line of n0n-belief and teaching Darwin to his delighted parishioners!

File this one under "Why State Churches are Bad."

what a goof

asaris is right on this one, what an odd story

asaris hit the nail on the head with this one.

Perhaps Thorkill Grosbøll of the parish of Taarbæk finally broke out of the mold and saw the light?

Ofcourse it is encouraged for non-believers to consider the existance of God, but when a believer has doubts, he has to be removed from the church or otherwise pressured into believing in God by peers. Funny system isn't it?

The funniest part is that he can't be sacked on the grounds of his beliefs!!!! Political correctness gone mad . . I love it.

Geez, danes!

Yes really, what are those danes thinking? Sheesh

It's not a question of a believer having doubts -- it's the case of a vicar saying that God doesn't exist. The difference is that the vicar is a representative of the organization, not merely a member. If you think that the organization you represent is promulgating false beliefs, you should leave. If the organization knows that you are publically disagreeing with what it teaches, especially on such a central matter, it should have the right to kick you out.

I have to agree with Asaris . . . . . . . but I guess when they introduced the 'politically correct' law about not sacking someone on account of their beliefs . . . . they never expected such a situation to arise. Thats what I love about this story . . it beautifully demenstrates the chaos theory . . life constantly poking a stick in the eye of those who believe that there can be 'rules' and 'laws' for all situations.

You cannot put a cork in the bottle of life!

This reminds me of a friend's story. A group of theologians were on a tour to Europe or Rome. One on the tour was an atheist/agnostic. She was not perturbed by this: that a theologian could be atheist/agnostic. I agree.