The secular student organization Freethinkers, Atheists and Agnostics of Mississippi State University (FAAMSU) will host guest speaker Darante’ LaMar on Oct. 16 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in McCool Hall’s Taylor Auditorium. This free event titled “Confessions of an X-Pastor” will feature an evening of conversation and reflection on LaMar’s journey from the pulpit to outspoken secular advocacy and will be open to all students, faculty and community members.
The 90-minute event will include 60 minutes of LaMar sharing his personal journey and current advocacy work, followed by 15 minutes of guided conversation between LaMar and FAAMSU faculty advisor Bob Swanson and 15 minutes for audience members to ask questions.
FAAMSU, the organization hosting the event and a local chapter of the Secular Student Alliance (SSA), serves as a community for nonreligious and questioning students on campus.
Bob Swanson, an instructor and lab coordinator in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Mississippi State who has advised FAAMSU since 2019, spoke about the organization.
“Finding your people is important to everyone — especially students away from the familiarity of home,” Swanson said. “For a student who doesn’t hold a religious belief or perhaps is starting to tap on the glass and is questioning the things they were raised to believe, FAAMSU provides that inclusive, welcoming, [and] supportive community.”
The group also aims to normalize disbelief and encourage open dialogue between religious and secular students, according to Swanson. Meetings and events often include discussions on how faith and politics intersect, along with visits from speakers with different beliefs—from Christian preachers to secular Buddhists.
“FAAMSU is open to all students, regardless of religious belief,” Swanson said. “We seek students who are interested in how religious belief impacts society and how religion affects politics and public policy on campus, local, state, federal and international levels.”
FAAMSU President Jonathan McDill, an electrical engineering major who transferred from East Mississippi Community College, spoke on his experience joining the organization and exploring how religious beliefs impact society like Swanson explained.
Originally raised a Baptist, McDill went to church with his family at times. He attended Christian camp and had strong spiritual experiences while watching a Passion play, a play depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. However, McDill found himself questioning those beliefs as he found belonging in secular settings like concerts, just like he did in churches and ultimately in secular groups like FAAMSU. He now believes in the group’s mission.
“The group first and foremost makes a community for people with secular thoughts or questions to speak freely and find camaraderie. I’m happy to be a part of that mission because we’re deep in the Bible Belt,” McDill said.
He explained that he finds the group important because so many people in this part of the world are more religious and may have negative preconceptions about people who do not believe.
“We want to be out and show a real example of atheism and agnosticism — to dispel the harmful stereotypes, be a light to other atheists and just legitimize our place on campus,” McDill said.
In sum, the three main purposes of the organization for people like Swanson and McDill are to provide community, normalize non-belief and guard against echo chambers.
Raised Roman Catholic, Bob Swanson described himself as a “questioner,” open to exploring what others believe and why. The organization provides an opportunity for people to ask questions and invite speakers like Darante’ LaMar also interested in asking those questions.
LaMar, originally from Dothan, Alabama, spent nearly two decades as a minister before publicly leaving his faith in 2024. Since then, he has dedicated his work to promoting communities built on reason, compassion and freedom from coercive control.
When asked about the event, LaMar talked about how he will discuss his personal experiences.
“I’ll be sharing about my experience leaving the pulpit after nearly two decades and walking away from my former faith,” LaMar said. “I’ll also spend some time highlighting the work I do now in promoting communities free of superstition or coercive control.”
The invitation came about through a chance encounter at NaNoCon, a national convention for nonbelievers, where LaMar first connected with Swanson. The two exchanged information, stayed in touch and later arranged the event over email.
As a graduate of Troy University with a bachelor’s degree in social science and a concentration in leadership, LaMar’s transition from faith-based leadership to secular advocacy has inspired many audiences.
“I made the decision to start being more vocal about my atheism and that sort of opened the floodgates,” LaMar said.
Swanson said the event reflects the organization’s mission to foster thoughtful conversation and connection among people of all beliefs, and he finds LaMar’s journey particularly inspiring.
“What I admire about Darante’ is his openness to hearing new ideas and changing his level of confidence. That, in itself, requires a level of intellectual honesty and social bravery that is unusual in a culture accustomed to binary and tribal thinking,” Swanson said.
Swanson also talked about the need for people to find common ground to work together and how events like “Confessions of an X-Pastor” could lead to those connections.
“I recognize that the secular population in the Deep South is too small to have any political clout. Non-believers need to identify believers who, despite theological differences, share human values with us. Once shared values are identified, we can find common cause and work together to make society better. But that all starts with seeing each other as human beings and having the conversation,” Swanson said.
Through conversations like these, FAAMSU continues to create space for curiosity across belief systems. Those interested in hearing Darante’ LaMar share his story and engage in open dialogue about faith, doubt and community are invited to attend the event on Thursday.
