The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser

Question and Answer Time with Bruce, the Atheist

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Bruce Gerencser

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It’s been awhile since I’ve solicited questions from readers. Here’s your opportunity to ask me anything, and I mean anything. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim, young earth creationist, atheist, agnostic, anti-theist, humanist, Evangelical, Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB), Catholic, Orthodox, Charismatic, Mormon, mainline Christian, pagan, complementarian, trad wife, chronic pain sufferer, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Progressive, socialist, communist, MAGA, Christian Nationalist, White Nationalist, or a Bud Light drinker, this is your opportunity to ask me a question. Whatever labels you wear, ask away.

No question is out of bounds. I am even waiving the comment rules for this exercise. I plan to also clear the moderation/banned list so these miscreants, I mean fellow biped, have an opportunity to ask questions too. This is a limited time offer.

If you have sent me a question in the past that I have not answered, please submit it again. I’ll do my best to answer it.

Please leave your questions in the comment section below, email me your question, or leave it in a voice mail or text at 567-210-1145.

I look forward to receiving your thoughtful comments and answering them.

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Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Comments

19 responses to “Question and Answer Time with Bruce, the Atheist”

  1. Melissa Montana

    No questions I can think of. Just wanted to say hi. 😸💜

    Reply
  2. Avatar
    GeoffT

    Hi Bruce. What changes have you seen, if any, to the types of comment you receive to your posts over the many years you’ve been going? There’s been a huge advance in the quality of comment on dedicated atheist websites, where it’s more about taking the arguments and the evidence to apologists, but this is not really one of those sites, being more about the practical implications of being a nonbeliever living in a religious culture. Obviously there are the silly commenters like Revival Fires, but what about more general comments?

    Reply
  3. Avatar
    John S.

    Hi Bruce.

    I’ve always wanted to ask but was hesitant- what is Bruce Almighty’s official position on the existence of Bigfoot, especially here in the Buckeye State?
    This, along with other mysteries of the unknown (UFOs, etc) is a great interest of mine.
    There are reports in the Bigfoot community about a cluster of recent sightings in the Akron area right before the meteor.
    Thanks as always!

    Reply
  4. Merle

    Bruce,

    Are you putting this altogether in a book? Surely some author could pull the best of this material together for you and publish a book, “The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser”.

    What are your hopes for the future of America? Can we reverse the horrible things that have happened in Washington in the last 2 years? How?

    What are your plans for your personal future? We all hope your health will allow you to continue your work for many years.

    Reply
  5. Avatar
    Jeff Bishop

    Hello Bruce,
    I hope today finds you in good spirits.

    A bit of a tough question here:

    Do you believe that Evangelical Christianity in the USA has any chance to “depoliticize”, and return to a more local, personal, community entity concentrating on spiritual growth, or do you perceive Evangelical Christianity being defined more as a “cover” for GOP Christian Nationalism? It certainly seems to me that the various leadership entities, and those in control of the treasuries, of the larger Protestant Churches have been hijacked by Right Wing Conservatives.

    If the above statement is even partially true, I would like to think the Supreme Court would ultimately be challenged to reconsider their tax exempt status or even reclassify these organizations as being political rather than religious entities.

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  6. MJ Lisbeth

    Hello Bruce,

    A few years ago, it seemed that Evangelical Christianity, and organized religion in general, was losing some of its hold on American culture and politics. This seemed especially true in light of the sex abuse allegations directed at various clergy members and other church figures. The pandemic-induced lockdowns seemed to be driving nails in the coffins of some churches, and even denominations, as people weren’t allowed to gather for services. Now, however, it seems that religious fundamentalists (including ultra-conservative Catholics and Orthodox Jews) are taking back some of that power, in part because of Trump and his allies. (Interesting that young conservative men are increasingly drawn towards Catholicism.) Do you see this as a long-term trend or a hiccup in the overall seculrization of American (and other Western ) societies?

    Reply
  7. Avatar
    Barbara Jackson

    This is about human society and economy, please only reply if you have time and want to talk about these subjects.

    I am an agnostic about both religion and political and economic theory. I have been reading center to left economists like Paul Krugman. They say today that the economy is better than people think or feel it is. This is using measurements usually used by economists such as job creation, interest rates etc. My opinion is that the economy only exists in a human society and economists must adjust what they measure to how people in that human society perceive their lives. Retired from the State of Colorado worked in Information systems.

    No one feels safe in their job or that their job will last.
    Many people do not think they are safe in their jobs because of change in technology and changes in how the very rich are accumulating much more wealth than average Americans, and how political changes are taking away guardrails for how people are treated in the political and economical spheres.

    I think economists need to add new measurements for job safety, how people are treated on the job, and whether Gen/Z will find enough starting jobs to begin their careers.

    Please answer if you have time and feel well enough.

    Reply
  8. Avatar
    Old Rick

    This is a bit more off topic, but I wanted to ask since I saw you mention Lemmings in a recent post. I was wondering if you had a chance to play many video/computer games? If so, did you have a favorite?

    Reply
  9. Avatar
    JW

    Hi Bruce,
    Are you happier as an atheist than you were prior to the loss of your faith? If so, did it come naturally with your deconstruction, or did you have to work at it (and how did you do that)? If not, what do you count as the reasons and how do you deal with them?

    In the few years since I’ve admitted to myself that I no longer accept the Christian faith, and largely don’t believe in anything supernatural at all, I struggle with this. I am curious about your perspective.

    Reply
  10. Neil

    Hi Bruce. My question is did you ever preach against Islam back in the day and what is your take on it, and Muslim practices, now? That’s two questions.

    Reply
  11. Avatar
    Jim Kelley

    Not really a question but I have a friend who was an atheist who became a Christian and a pastor.

    I would love to hear a conversation between you and him.

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Bruce Gerencser

      Sure. If he has a podcast, I am more than happy to be a guest on anyone’s show. That said, several Evangelicals have interviewed me, and then afterwards, they refused to publish the interview. Evidently, the hosts got more than they bargained for. 🤣

      I can’t travel much these days, but I am willing to participate in panel discussions close to home. I am also willing to speak to churches about atheism/humanism.

      Reply
  12. Ben Berwick

    Here’s a hopefully interesting question! Given typical Biblical narratives about humanity being made in God’s image, how do you think Evangelicals (and for that matter, organised religion in general) would react to the discovery of intelligent alien life?

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Benny S

      Hey Ben, speaking of intelligent alien life, I’d also ask Bruce the following, based on past teachings I’ve experienced from the pulpit: According to many preachers I’ve listened to, due to the disobedience of both Adam and Eve, ALL of God’s living creation has been corrupted. Therefore ALL life consequently dies.

      This further suggests that any and all intelligent alien life out there in our universe and beyond (which are collectively also part of God’s creation) also die as well. However, if such is the case, what happens if intelligent alien life has never been presented with the message of the Gospel? When intelligent aliens die, without having the opportunity to accept Jesus as their lord and savior, do they also go to hell along with us Earthlings?

      Bruce???

      Reply
  13. Avatar
    Joel Labonte

    I got a question. You said not long ago that the Bible does not interpret itself. That we need theologians to explain it to us. If thats the case, then where did the theologians get their revelations from? You know, before there were any Bible schools? ( even though Bible schools existed even in the time of Torah-teaching).
    I’m saying, why did the educated teachers of the law and Pharisees miss so much, and yet uneducated fishermen got it? ( okay, you have to believe Bible is true for that to be a good example) Yes, throughout the centuries, so many people did not have opportunity to learn how to read or even afford books. And even today, there are millions who either just don’t like reading, or who have a harder time with reading comprehension. We all have different gifts. So yes, pastors and teachers are important. But don’t you think that a person who spends time reading and meditating on the Scriptures pretty much all the time for many years can spot things that even an ” educated” person might miss? As a Christian, I believe that when that is the case, the Author of the Book, the Holy Spirit, is there to interpret the Scriptures for them. And the more you meditate on something, the more it comes together, all the pieces. You know?

    I know, this is a very long question. Not super important, but curious just the same.

    Reply
  14. Avatar
    ObstacleChick

    Hi Bruce! In recent years, I have come to the notion that Christian Nationalism is its own religion. It uses a God/Jesus, refers to the Bible (often using some “clobber verses” to support certain arguments) yet is really light on following the rules that Jesus supposedly laid out in the Gospels. It interweaves Nationalist symbols with religious ones and seems more focused on political power than in worshiping the deity it supposedly champions. The funniest example is Christian Nationalist Pete Hegseth quoting “Pulp Fiction” as if it were actual Scripture.

    Reply
  15. Avatar
    Joel Labonte

    Last one. How do you afford to feed all those cats? Does the SPCA help out?

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Bruce Gerencser

      https://brucegerencser.net/2026/04/question-and-answer-time-with-bruce-the-atheist/

      Reply
  16. Avatar
    Jon Speck

    Inspired by a previous question, do you think that Nixon’s Southern strategy, which aligned the Republican party with the SBC is partly the cause of the white Christian nationalist “patriot” movements we see today? My thought is that the anti- communist/labor rhetoric got looped into the “patriot” ideal, and then the Strom Thurmond types felt abandoned by the Dems after the Civil rights acts cemented the dems as the more progressive on race issues. Add in Reagan convincing everyone that lower taxes=more freedom rather than struggling services, and you have desperate people wondering where the safety net went and blaming “the other” and not their own voting.

    Reply

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