Writing God’s Obituary: How a Good Methodist Became a Better Atheist – TheHumanist.com

I may have to get this book just for the "hometown" spin. West Seneca, a suburb of Buffalo, is about 20-25 minutes from my home stomping grounds

What makes Pinn’s journey so amazing is that he was a child preacher. He placed pressures upon himself and had pressures placed upon him by others that most children never have to endure. He was constantly aware that he had to be a sterling example for others. Though he was only a child, he had to deliver messages of hope to the adult faithful that would resonate with them. He had to make sure that his recreational activities were not of a “sinful” nature.

The young Pinn handled the challenges admirably. He saw himself as an instrument of God and felt that he was called to lead at an early age. He also had a great role model in the young minister of his church.

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As a preacher, Pinn writes that he became aware at a very early age of male privilege within the church; ministers were supposed to be male and women had no serious leadership roles in the church. Worst of all, their identity often hinged on their willingness to be seen as long-suffering, which often meant enduring the sexism and mistreatment of their husbands.

Pinn eventually left his inner-city public school and attended the predominantly white West Seneca Christian School in Western New York, near his hometown of Buffalo. It was there he noticed differences in black and white religious styles. He recalls being very uncomfortable there and was regarded as an oddity by his classmates.

Writing God’s Obituary: How a Good Methodist Became a Better Atheist – TheHumanist.com