Atheist 'mega-churches' take root across US, World

[Lycanthrope]

I can kind of understand the need for "community." For many people the only interaction they have with the rest of their society (outside of work and a circle of friends) is their congregation.

Everyone gravitates toward something, I guess...

 

[w1z4rd]

Ja, I think the protestant churches are mostly struggling.
It's the more Charismatic ones though that are usually in the Mega-Church category.

Yeah, I understand, but my point is that several hundred people (and I looked, those gatherings dont look that big) is not a mega-church. So Im curious as to why the author of this article wanted to label them as such. To me it seems like a religious person, wanting the situation to sound bad, used those terms intentionally. But hey, Im probably wrong and it could just be **** journalism

 

[Alan]

I suppose it would be to much to hope that you would elaborate?

Personally I don't get it but, then again, I've never attended an event. The singing and what not obviously serves a purpose for people. Assuming that there is no god, why should that need or purpose be fulfilled without a god as a focus.

I dunno hijacking anothers traditional form of worship and chucking out the most fundamental part just seems sad to me. Like trifle without custard.

Imagine walking in on an "assembly" mimicking a southern baptist African American style church the "congregation" all happy clappy the choir rejoicing in songs of praise of well nothing.... :erm:

 

[LazyLion]

Yeah, I understand, but my point is that several hundred people (and I looked, those gatherings dont look that big) is not a mega-church. So Im curious as to why the author of this article wanted to label them as such. To me it seems like a religious person, wanting the situation to sound bad, used those terms intentionally. But hey, Im probably wrong and it could just be **** journalism

Maybe, wouldn't be the first time.
But maybe for an atheist assembly that is their class of "Mega"? I dunno.

 

[w1z4rd]

I dunno hijacking anothers traditional form of worship and chucking out the most fundamental part just seems sad to me. Like trifle without custard.

Yeah cause all the modern beliefs and religions were unique and didnt adopt or evolve from already existing practices of other beliefs As far as terrible arguments go, this is one of your worst arguments ever.

Imagine walking in on an "assembly" mimicking a southern baptist African American style church the "congregation" all happy clappy the choir rejoicing in songs of praise of well nothing.... :erm:

Yah, pity you didnt actually read up what they do....they dont get happy about "nothing" are you deceptively put it.

Is 100% celebration of life. We are born from nothing and go to nothing. Let’s enjoy it together.
Has no doctrine. We have no set texts so we can make use of wisdom from all sources.
Has no deity. We don’t do supernatural but we also won’t tell you you’re wrong if you do.
Is radically inclusive. Everyone is welcome, regardless of their beliefs – this is a place of love that is open and accepting.
Is free to attend, not-for-profit and volunteer run. We ask for donations to cover our costs and support our community work.
Has a community mission. Through our Action Heroes (you!), we will be a force for good.
Is independent. We do not accept sponsorship or promote outside businesses, organisations or services
Is here to stay. With your involvement, The Sunday Assembly will make the world a better place
We won’t won’t tell you how to live, but will try to help you do it as well as you can
And remember point 1… The Sunday Assembly is a celebration of the one life we know we have
What should you expect from a Sunday Assembly event?

Stop being so bitter some atheists wanna get together in community and do good together.

 

[STS]

I know, but that says absolutely nothing about what actually happens there.

So maybe look further than your nose...

stating that it's a "godless congregation" tells you two things.

1.) godless: no belief in god. this is a community for people with no belief in god. aka atheists.

2.) congregation: a group of people assembled for religious worship.

the word congregation has another meaning for a collection of people but you can guess what context it was meant to be taken in. also they get together to celebrate life - other congregations get together to celebrate god, gods, whatever.

they're in the same league as the church of satan, the difference is that they don't dress up in black garbs and making it more people-friendly

 

[LCBXX]

Religion dubs the coming together of 2 or more people to worship as being a congregation, i.e a church. This gathering is being labelled as a Atheist church by religious folk trying to categorise something they do not understand, no?

 

[w1z4rd]

Religion dubs the coming together of 2 or more people to worship as being a congregation, i.e a church. This gathering is being labelled as a Atheist church by religious folk trying to categorise something they do not understand, no?

Actually it doesnt have to be a religious gathering. There are two very clear meanings of the word:


congregation
kɒŋgrɪˈgeɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
1.
a group of people assembled for religious worship.
"the singing of psalms by the whole congregation"
synonyms: parishioners, parish, churchgoers, flock, fold, faithful, following, followers, adherents, believers, loyal members, fellowship, communicants, laity, brethren, brothers and sisters, souls More
a group of people regularly attending a particular place of worship.
"he was a member of the Emmanuel Chapel congregation"
2.
a gathering or collection of people, animals, or things.
"large congregations of birds may cause public harm"
synonyms: gathering, assembly, flock, swarm, bevy, herd, pack, group, body, crowd, mass, multitude, horde, host, mob; More

The two clear meanings are highlighted on Google when you search the word.

 

[STS]

Yeah cause all the modern beliefs and religions were unique and didnt adopt or evolve from already existing practices of other beliefs As far as terrible arguments go, this is one of your worst arguments ever.

Yah, pity you didnt actually read up what they do....they dont get happy about "nothing" are you deceptively put it.

Stop being so bitter some atheists wanna get together in community and do good together.

so by adapting other beliefs onto itself, atheism is becoming a belief?

there are already plenty of mock religions that poke fun at modern religion - but now that atheism has become a "community", it's only a matter of time until the elitism and rules come in.

atheists have continuously denied there ever being a atheist "community" and that we're all rational thinking individuals - until we want to get together and sing about how great life is and give donations to a group that operates in much the same way as a real church.

i'm all for atheism - read rational thinking. superstition must be eradicated and there is enormous amounts of evidence that there is no supernatural elements in the world, but "atheism" breeds a new kind of person that gets a kick out of religion bashing or pointing out the errors in other's beliefs - PD is proof of this. for some it's become a full time hobby

 

[Rocket-Boy]

It was only a matter of time before someone decided to make money off of the atheists.
Looking for donations are they? setting up big networks?
Turns out you can make money off any religion, even ones that aren't a religion per say.

 

[w1z4rd]

It was only a matter of time before someone decided to make money off of the atheists.
Looking for donations are they? setting up big networks?
Turns out you can make money off any religion, even ones that aren't a religion per say.

"Is free to attend, not-for-profit and volunteer run. We ask for donations to cover our costs and support our community work." :erm:

Its run like any NPO/NGO...

I go to Round Table and I pay capitation fee`s and I donate. Its also a non-religious organization. We congregate every 2nd and 4th monday.

Guess we must be a non-religious religion as well

I think your comment is unfair. Its like you so badly want this to be like a religion and its money making practices, that you didnt investigate what they actually do or what they collect money for.

 

[STS]

It was only a matter of time before someone decided to make money off of the atheists.
Looking for donations are they? setting up big networks?
Turns out you can make money off any religion, even ones that aren't a religion per say.

think of the parents that take their children to this "non belief" congregation

 

[OrbitalDawn]

stating that it's a "godless congregation" tells you two things.

1.) godless: no belief in god. this is a community for people with no belief in god. aka atheists.

2.) congregation: a group of people assembled for religious worship.

Yeah, it tells you what they're not, instead of what they are. Is there a reason you refuse to actually look at what they do there and use that as a ways to describe it? The 'godless' refers to it not being a religious gathering, and then their charter and descriptions shows you what it's about.

the word congregation has another meaning for a collection of people but you can guess what context it was meant to be taken in. also they get together to celebrate life - other congregations get together to celebrate god, gods, whatever.

Sure, it's about providing a similar experience that many people find in religious gatherings, but without the religion. It's not about 'atheism as a hobby'.

they're in the same league as the church of satan, the difference is that they don't dress up in black garbs and making it more people-friendly

Except, you know, they're not. Humanist organisations are a much more apt likeness. It's like me saying STS is in the same league as Chairman Mao, the difference is that he's more promiscuous and less of a dictator.

You are being intentionally misleading and misrepresenting what they're doing. It's dishonest.

 

[Alan]

Yeah cause all the modern beliefs and religions were unique and didnt adopt or evolve from already existing practices of other beliefs As far as terrible arguments go, this is one of your worst arguments ever.

Never said it didn't happen. Just sad some atheists feel the need to adopt so comprehensively these Christian/religious practices. Especially considering the intensely hostile attitude so many have towards the religion.

Yah, pity you didnt actually read up what they do....they dont get happy about "nothing" are you deceptively put it.

You might have missed it but the whole point of the affair gathering, singing etc is to give praise to a deity as opposed to nothing.

Perhaps next pacifist peaceniks should don jackboots, khaki uniforms and march around giving stiff arm salutes while just chucking out the violent fascism aspect.

Stop being so bitter some atheists wanna get together in community and do good together.

Thought that's what has been going on for ages. Why now the sudden need to imitate how Christianity is practiced.

 

[STS]

Yeah, it tells you what they're not, instead of what they are. Is there a reason you refuse to actually look at what they do there and use that as a ways to describe it? The 'godless' refers to it not being a religious gathering, and then their charter and descriptions shows you what it's about.

this is the funny and ironic part - what they are is what they're not it's like getting together to sing about the joys of not believing in unicorns

Sure, it's about providing a similar experience that many people find in religious gatherings, but without the religion. It's not about 'atheism as a hobby'.

Except, you know, they're not. Humanist organisations are a much more apt likeness. It's like me saying STS is in the same league as Chairman Mao, the difference is that he's more promiscuous and less of a dictator.

You are being intentionally misleading and misrepresenting what they're doing. It's dishonest.

it was a lack of understanding but then i read this article

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/03/atheist-church-sunday-assembly-islington

"I would go to a carol service or a friend's wedding, and there would be so much about it that I really liked – the togetherness, the rituals – but I just couldn't get past the God bit." Atheism has been caricatured as a cold, empty position, he says. "But for me, my not believing in God if anything makes my life more precious, knowing that we are here for such a tiny amount of time."

THAT i can get

 

[w1z4rd]

Never said it didn't happen. Just sad some atheists feel the need to adopt so comprehensively these Christian/religious practices.

A group of people getting together to do good has nothing to with religion. Its a people thing, and not a trademarked Christian practice.

Especially considering the intensely hostile attitude so many have towards the religion.

I think people are hosting to the negative impacts of religion. Like I have no hostility towards Daosim.

You might have missed it but the whole point of the affair gathering, singing etc is to give praise to a deity as opposed to nothing.

They are singing and being happy, something humans all over the world do. Again, not trademarked or owned by religion. These people are signing and getting together to (let me quote and bold as you dont seem to be able to get your mind around this concept) "The Sunday Assembly is a celebration of the one life we know we have". So people are getting together to celebrate life, not "nothing" as you so deceptively put it.

Perhaps next pacifist peaceniks should don jackboots, khaki uniforms and march around giving stiff arm salutes while just chucking out the violent fascism aspect.

I dont know whether to laugh at that argument or be concerned about your health.

Thought that's what has been going on for ages. Why now the sudden need to imitate how Christianity is practiced.

Quiet the Christian ego there (not saying that you are christian, just that the world is a wee bit bigger and older than Christianity). These practices all pre-date Christianity. Sorry man. No Christian only trademarks.

 

[Zewp]

I dunno hijacking anothers traditional form of worship and chucking out the most fundamental part just seems sad to me. Like trifle without custard.

Oh, so now Sunday morning congregations belong to the religious and anyone else doing it is just stealing it from them? Well, so far we've got marriage belonging to the religious and now sunday morning congregations.

Good to know.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

"Is free to attend, not-for-profit and volunteer run. We ask for donations to cover our costs and support our community work." :erm:

Its run like any NPO/NGO...

I go to Round Table and I pay capitation fee`s and I donate. Its also a non-religious organization. We congregate every 2nd and 4th monday.

Guess we must be a non-religious religion as well

I think your comment is unfair. Its like you so badly want this to be like a religion and its money making practices, that you didnt investigate what they actually do or what they collect money for.

They accept donations to cover running costs etc, but Im pretty sure the two founders will be making a ton of money out of it.
Churches dont charge anything either to attend but carry on about tithing etc so how is it any different?

 

[STS]

Next thing they'll want to be praying to Life

 

[w1z4rd]

They accept donations to cover running costs etc, but Im pretty sure the two founders will be making a ton of money out of it.

Cool lets see that evidence there then to this accusation.

Churches dont charge anything either to attend but carry on about tithing etc so how is it any different?

Some churches like Shofar insist on a tithing and/or tie a moral obligation into the tithing. Tithing is in the holy book religious people think is the word of god. Again, if giving donations is a sign that a NPO is a religion trying to make money then Round Table (a secular charity movement), must be a religion.