Pastor stunts make a point and garner headlines

A California pastor made headlines in January when he announced that he will live like an atheist for a year to see what it’s like on the other side of belief. Ryan Bell was actually just the latest “stunt pastor” to use unorthodox means to draw attention to his message.

In recent years, other church leaders have challenged congregants to have sex (with their spouse) for 30 days straight or have dressed like homeless people or lived in a tiny box or on a roof in order to gin up attention, attendance or funds.

This kind of reality-show piety has a history of sorts, especially in Christianity: fifth-century ascetic Simeon Stylites achieved great fame by subsisting atop a pillar for some 37 years.