Atheist Church Opens in 35 more Towns!

[realibrad]

What I am not getting?

I never said atheists can't engage in community service, it just seems strange how "not collecting stamps" is a hobby, but atheists Churches are [allegedly] opening up.

You are missing the idea that the "good things" have nothing to do with church other than people mistakenly believe they are linked. The fact that Atheists do good things without religion should be a clue.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Churches in the United States are tax exempt entities where people who share common beliefs can congregate. A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.

Atheism qualifies as a religion.
Atheist reject the validity of other traditional religions. Other religions reject the validity of Atheism.

Whats the big deal with them getting a church?

hahahaa yeah, nice try..just admit it -- Atheism is a now officially a religion by any stretched definition....too funny!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Lol. A non god church started by a comedian that Rob takes as being serious. I don't think Rob gets it at all.

Community service is not only for the religious. Atheists like to do things do. Its a joke to call it a church, when really its just like minded people doing shit together. It might turn into something else sure, but for now, its mainly a Joke.

hahaha.. back pedal all you want...Atheism is now officially a religion!!

 

[SlowSpyder]

hahahaa yeah, nice try..just admit it -- Atheism is a now officially a religion by any stretched definition....too funny!!

Not by any means. I've never been to an atheist 'church' and have no desire to go to one. But my guess is these things are there to give atheists the same feeling of community and a gathering of like minded individuals the same way that members of religions have. They get the same real benefit that church members get without the need to worship an invisible friend who isn't really there.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

You are missing the idea that the "good things" have nothing to do with church other than people mistakenly believe they are linked. The fact that Atheists do good things without religion should be a clue.

I went through the this thread and couldn't find him saying or implying anything even remotely close to what you're saying. Hitting the bottle a little early today?

 

[alzan]

Just to preface this thread, I don't have a problem with "Atheist Churches", especially being a religious guy myself, I can see the benefits, no doubt

But what I have taken issue with is the ignorant hypocrisy as atheists generally seem to hate everything about religion, but they are stealing the "best bits" (oh, the irony) except for God with these new Churches:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-church-sunday-assembly-opens-in-35-more-towns-127190/

On their official site, them seem to be targeting the socially isolated, lonely, and likely ex-religious cast-offs.

http://sundayassembly.com/blog/2014...oubles-in-size-in-one-day-assembleeverywhere/

Now religion is generally castigated for playing on the emotionally weak and exploiting people, and now some atheists seem to smell the money and are doing the same thing.

:sneaky:

Well organized religion does have a plethora of things about which to hate as well as a lot of things to like; it's concentrating on one or the other that causes problems.

From what I saw on their site they are open to any new members; recognizing those who may be socially isolated, lonely, etc. is nothing more than a recognition of specific subsets of society. If those subsets are better served by going to an atheist "church" then so be it. The faithful will still go to theistic "churches" just as they always have done.

Let's wait and see how each atheist congregation supports their community before we go alleging "exploiting people" or "smelling the money".

 

[JEDIYoda]

Not by any means. I've never been to an atheist 'church' and have no desire to go to one. But my guess is these things are there to give atheists the same feeling of community and a gathering of like minded individuals the same way that members of religions have. They get the same real benefit that church members get without the need to worship an invisible friend who isn't really there.
__________________

all I can do is laugh at all the atheists back pedaling...way to funny!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Let's wait and see how each atheist congregation supports their community before we go alleging "exploiting people" or "smelling the money".

yeah let wait and see...now that is too funny....

I can see it all know--what feed the poor? What if that poor person is a Christian...he needs to convert to Atheism......

 

[realibrad]

I went through the this thread and couldn't find him saying or implying anything even remotely close to what you're saying. Hitting the bottle a little early today?

Considering I don't drink, I would say no ()

But what I have taken issue with is the ignorant hypocrisy as atheists generally seem to hate everything about religion, but they are stealing the "best bits" (oh, the irony) except for God with these new Churches

He is saying its hypocritical for atheists to say religion is bad, then take the good parts, aka community service and use them. I feel that is more than remotely close, but perhaps that is not what he meant.

 

[JEDIYoda]

You are missing the idea that the "good things" have nothing to do with church other than people mistakenly believe they are linked. The fact that Atheists do good things without religion should be a clue.

you just double speak all you want...evidently some Atheist felt they needed to form a church and become a religion......you can`t make this stuff up....

 

[realibrad]

you just double speak all you want...evidently some Atheist felt they needed to form a church and become a religion......you can`t make this stuff up....

Um...the question is why they felt starting a church would benefit themselves. I don't think putting up a Festivus pole is a religious act, so much as a way to troll the system.

As a side note, if you google Festivus, google puts a Festivus pole on the left hand side of the screen LOL.

 

[alzan]

yeah let wait and see...now that is too funny....

I can see it all know--what feed the poor? What if that poor person is a Christian...he needs to convert to Atheism......

nm

 

[SlowSpyder]

all I can do is laugh at all the atheists back pedaling...way to funny!!

Who's back pedaling? I think about being an atheist very little and don't let it guide my life, it is hardly 'the' meaning in my life. Nothing I do revolves around the fact that I don't believe in a god. I don't have a feast day on the anniversary of Christopher Hithcen's death. I don't sing praises to the FSM. My oven doesn't have (that I know of) or need a special mode so I can cook without pushing buttons on a special atheist holiday. I've tithed 0.0% of my income. I bet the vast majority of atheists are like me.

 

[Moonbeam]

My opinion is of no importance. For that reason I failed to generte one other than to mention that as my condition.

 

[alzan]

Who's back pedaling? I think about being an atheist very little and don't let it guide my life, it is hardly 'the' meaning in my life. Nothing I do revolves around the fact that I don't believe in a god. I don't have a feast day on the anniversary of Christopher Hithcen's death. I don't sing praises to the FSM. My oven doesn't have (that I know of) or need a special mode so I can cook without pushing buttons on a special atheist holiday. I've tithed 0.0% of my income. I bet the vast majority of atheists are like me.

I must confess to loving pasta, though.

 

[Retro Rob]

He is saying its hypocritical for atheists to say religion is bad, then take the good parts, aka community service and use them. I feel that is more than remotely close, but perhaps that is not what he meant.

What I was saying is that it's hypocritical to criticize religion the way atheists generally do, but turn and mimic it closely with the exception of one part.

Not sure why you're singling out community service and "good things", as that isn't a feature that belonged exclusively to religion anyway.

 

[Retro Rob]

You are missing the idea that the "good things" have nothing to do with church other than people mistakenly believe they are linked. The fact that Atheists do good things without religion should be a clue.

What? I'm not following you here.

 

[realibrad]

What I was saying is that it's hypocritical to criticize religion the way atheists generally do, but turn and mimic it closely with the exception of one part.

Not sure why you're singling out community service and "good things", as that isn't a feature that belonged exclusively to religion anyway.

So what do Atheists say is bad about religion, that they are now doing in this new Church?

 

[SlowSpyder]

I must confess to loving pasta, though.

I plan on making some spaghetti with a spicy sauce this weekend. Waiting for someone to come in here and tell me that's like me taking communion (since atheism is totally a religion, you know).

 

[alzan]

I plan on making some spaghetti with a spicy sauce this weekend. Waiting for someone to come in here and tell me that's like me taking communion (since atheism is totally a religion, you know).

Wait, white or red sauce?

 

[Retro Rob]

So what do Atheists say is bad about religion, that they are now doing in this new Church?

They criticize the gathering of singing, dancing, and atheists don't gather in buildings headed by an authority (the founder is the authority in this case) -- I've never heard an atheists criticize the good things done, or the feeling of belonging to a community as regards religion.

They typically downplay those, or completely ignore them.

Strange stuff from these people, though.

 

[realibrad]

They criticize the gathering of singing, dancing, and atheists don't gather in buildings headed by an authority (the founder is the authority in this case) -- I've never heard an atheists criticize the good things done, or the feeling of belonging to a community as regards religion.

They typically downplay those, or completely ignore them.

Strange stuff from these people, though.

So, atheists dont like gathering of singers, gatherers of dancing, gathering under a leader?

Really, thats new to me.

As for belonging to a community, thats not because of religion. Nambla members felt belonging I'm sure, but I wouldnt say its connected to religion.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Wait, white or red sauce?

Well, it is red...

 

[Retro Rob]

So, atheists dont like gathering of singers, gatherers of dancing, gathering under a leader?

There is no "atheism authority" because it not a collection of beliefs, practices, behaviors.

As for belonging to a community, thats not because of religion. Nambla members felt belonging I'm sure, but I wouldnt say its connected to religion.

You are on the bottle today...

 

[theeedude]

I think the best part about being atheist is not having a church to fleece you of money and waste your Sundays.