During an interview while at QEDcon in April 2014 , Nate Phelps explained how the lingering effects of his indoctrination as a youth were so entrenched . He understood how one could feel persecuted and sincerely surprised when other people react quite strongly against ideas of what " the truth " was as he saw it : In the 20 years following his departure , Phelps tried to find a milder form of Christianity , and raised his own children in an Evangelical church , but his doubts only grew as he continued studying religion . At the Reason Rally in Washington on March 24 , 2012 , he told that the events of 9/11 finally brought him to disbelief : In addition to this , Phelps identifies both his experience reading Michael Shermer 's book '' The Science of Good and Evil '' and the birth of his first child as turning points in his worldview . Phelps now describes himself as an atheist
9/11
September 11 attacks
Nathan Phelps