Atheist to take over pulpit at Parkview Church

Hemant Mehta proved he didn't mind putting himself out there when he auctioned his soul to the highest bidder over the Internet earlier this year. Now the 23-year-old self-avowed atheist is putting himself back in the spotlight. He will take center stage during services at Parkview Christian Church. The Sandburg High School graduate and the Rev. Tim Harlow most likely will tackle controversial topics such as evolution, intelligent design, gay rights, heaven and hell. Mehta said he's "a little nervous" about trying to answer questions on behalf of atheists in front of "thousands of people who disagree with me" at the mega-Evangelical church. "I'm not expecting to change anyone's mind," the DePaul graduate student said. "I'm hoping they will see what it's like to be an atheist, and that (we) just want to be respected like anyone else.