AUSTIN, Texas — An atheist website is defending the pastor and mentor to Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico after an undercover video surfaced showing the clergyman welcoming non-believers into his congregation and embracing what critics describe as a doctored version of Scripture.
Rev. Jim Rigby, who leads St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, was captured on video obtained by Breitbart News saying he welcomes atheists into his church and that if a person rejects religion because they love humanity and nature, “we’re on the same team.” The footage was recorded as Rigby prepared to address an event hosted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, an organization that has argued that most social and moral progress in Western civilization came from people “free from religion.”
A Pastor Who Welcomes Non-Theists
In the clip, Rigby describes working extensively with non-theists and recounts having faced internal denominational scrutiny over his stances on LGBT issues, abortion, and non-theism. He notes that an atheist once joined his church, adding that it was not considered a major event there.
The Friendly Atheist, a site run by Hemant Mehta, published a post defending Rigby and expressing dismay that conservatives would object to a pastor claiming common cause with atheists. According to the site, a conservative preacher who welcomed atheists would be celebrated for drawing them into his ministry, but Rigby is attacked for the same posture. The Friendly Atheist also sought to deflect criticism by pointing to megachurch pastors and viral Christian videos that criticize “religion” as a set of rules while urging a personal relationship with Jesus.
That comparison, according to Rigby’s critics, misses the point. The objection is not that he welcomes atheists but that he is accused of reworking core Christian doctrine and distributing an alternative Bible in the name of inclusivity. Rigby has told the New York Times he avoids calling Jesus “Lord” because the term conjures a wealthy, European, male God, and he refrains from using male pronouns for God despite the traditional Christian presentation of God as Father.
The ‘Inclusive Bible’ at the Center of the Dispute
At issue is the so-called Inclusive Bible, which the church reportedly gives to new members. The translation is described as using exclusively inclusive language and avoiding the gendered wording found in the King James Version. Critics say the move strips Scripture of its traditional language for God and reflects a broader theological shift.
The Friendly Atheist also targeted articles criticizing Talarico and Rigby’s church over the distribution of that Bible. The back-and-forth has thrust the pastor into the center of a national conversation at a moment when his most famous congregant is running for the U.S. Senate.
Talarico, a Democrat, has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives over his positions on transgender issues and his characterization of efforts to protect children from leftist social goals as a “Christofascism movement.” His association with Rigby has become a line of attack in the Senate race, with opponents arguing that the pastor’s theology and outreach to atheists reveal a broader rejection of orthodox Christian teaching.
Rigby’s appearance before the Freedom From Religion Foundation — a group that has long argued against the influence of Christian values in American history — has only intensified that criticism. Supporters of the pastor say he is simply extending an open hand to those outside the faith, a practice they say is consistent with Christian outreach. Detractors counter that welcoming atheists while redefining God, Jesus, and Scripture is not evangelism but a departure from the faith altogether.
“If you love humanity and love nature and that’s why you hate religion, then we’re on the same team,” Rigby says in the undercover video, a remark his defenders treat as an olive branch and his opponents treat as evidence of a political alliance rather than a spiritual mission.
The Friendly Atheist post cites the Breitbart headline about the undercover video and argues that Rigby’s language mirrors what is heard in many evangelical churches. It points to pastors such as Mark Driscoll and Creflo Dollar, as well as a viral video titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” which has accumulated tens of millions of views. Mehta’s site contends that Rigby is being singled out unfairly for saying things common in Christian pulpits.
Conservative commentators reject that equivalence. They argue that the pastors cited by the Friendly Atheist still affirm core doctrines — the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the reality of sin and salvation — while Rigby’s approach, including his refusal to use “Lord” for Jesus and his avoidance of masculine language for God, represents a fundamental break. The distribution of the Inclusive Bible, in their view, is the clearest evidence that this is not about style or tone but about substance.
A Senate Race Entangled with Theology
The controversy lands as Talarico seeks a statewide office in a state where religious identity remains a powerful political force. His critics argue that his mentor’s views will not sit well with Texas voters, especially those who see the Inclusive Bible as an attempt to rewrite sacred text. His defenders say the attacks are guilt-by-association and that Talarico’s faith should be judged on its own terms.
The Friendly Atheist’s defense has done little to calm the dispute. If anything, the site’s willingness to celebrate Rigby’s embrace of a “reimagining of the scriptures” has handed critics another data point. The pastor’s position, the site writes, is “not at all” controversial — a claim that itself has become part of the argument.
For now, the episode has left Rigby at the intersection of faith, politics, and a Senate campaign that is still taking shape. Whether the scrutiny over his church, his Bible, and his atheist outreach becomes a defining issue for Talarico or a passing storm remains to be seen. What is clear is that the pastor’s words, captured on video and amplified by both sides, have made him a central figure in a debate over what it means to be a Christian pastor in the public square.
Breitbart News reported the original undercover footage and the Friendly Atheist’s response. Neither Rigby nor Talarico has issued a new statement in response to the latest round of coverage.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/21/knudsen-atheist-site-celebrates-talarico-pastors-embrace-of-reimagined-scriptures/