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

I wonder how long their services are. I've heard of some churches that go from 9 til 12. :D
 
Flip man... the whole point of Atheism is that you don't have to go to church on Sunday.... these guys know how to wreck a good thing.
 
Ninja'd said:
I wonder how long their services are. I've heard of some churches that go from 9 til 12. :D
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Well I can't see how that can be all too important. If you get bored you just walk out and go to the nearest pub, nobody should raise an eyebrow...

Anything goes
 
abandonallhope said:
Well I can't see how that can be all too important. If you get bored you just walk out and go to the nearest pub, nobody should raise an eyebrow...

Anything goes
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I'm sure you could just pull one from the cooler box at your side and refresh your concentration.
 
Alan said:
yes perhaps one should not use any hyperbole when discussing something so serious as a sad bunch of atheists

Tempers have flared, battle stations are being manned, their brethren are under siege, mortal danger is everywhere, tension so thick you can taste it.....
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Jeez you really are a sad little man.

abandonallhope said:
What do they sing ?

* Oh I guess it's a case of they can only say what they don't sing. "We don't sing any songs with the word God in it"
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Did you even read the article, or did you do what you normally do and complain without actually knowing what you're talking about?
 
I haven't read all the responses here - but read a few - or should that be "phew" - and, even though I probably wouldn't be dragged by a team of wild horses to go to such a gathering (atheistic or religious) - I quite see that it might have a valid place in society. I know a few non-believers, disbelievers, atheists, agnostics, etc. across the board who have said that one of the things they do miss is the gatherings to sing a few songs, chinwag, and socialise with family around a philosophical commonality. The thing is - these sorts of groupings can so easily get divided, derailed by those intent on forcing their own belief-systems on others. I hope they work out positively. Could be fantastic and fill a niche. Me - my preference is to join groups that do things like hiking, biking, and appreciate nature, etc. and no-one stops me singing as much as I want in my car or my office LOL!
 
Soon they'll start calling pubs screening local rugby "Mega-Churches where people congregate in blasphemous drunken sing-alongs"
 
Alan said:
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:
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Well, not nothing. Substitute "praise" for "celebration of life" and really you'd have to be a bit of an ass to scorn happy clapper atheists while approving of happy clapper Christians.

Assuming there is no god, whatever Christians get out of a church service that they enjoy can surely be attained under similar circumstances sans god. I mean, are people not allowed to be happy without god?
 
Indigogirl said:
I haven't read all the responses here - but read a few - or should that be "phew" - and, even though I probably wouldn't be dragged by a team of wild horses to go to such a gathering (atheistic or religious) - I quite see that it might have a valid place in society. I know a few non-believers, disbelievers, atheists, agnostics, etc. across the board who have said that one of the things they do miss is the gatherings to sing a few songs, chinwag, and socialise with family around a philosophical commonality. The thing is - these sorts of groupings can so easily get divided, derailed by those intent on forcing their own belief-systems on others. I hope they work out positively. Could be fantastic and fill a niche. Me - my preference is to join groups that do things like hiking, biking, and appreciate nature, etc. and no-one stops me singing as much as I want in my car or my office LOL!
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Looks like they were thinking of your concerns when they created the org.


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?

A normal religious organization excludes other people based on beliefs. This non-religious organization includes everyone, no matter what their belief.
 
ghoti said:
No. I guess they have a lot of guest speakers.
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abandonallhope said:
I think it would be quite hard for them to justify any sort of hierarchy.
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I was thinking more in terms of some of the functions priests perform, like officiating over marriages and funerals, counselling the lost and hopeless, preparing people for death, inducing altered states of consciousness, caring for the poor, that sort of thing...
 
joelus said:
I was thinking more in terms of some of the functions priests perform, like officiating over marriages and funerals, counselling the lost and hopeless, preparing people for death, inducing altered states of consciousness, caring for the poor, that sort of thing...
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No, doesnt lookl ike they have people for that. They do appear to be gearing up to help people in need.

I guess like any large organization they will have some people who are allowed to officiate weddings.

Im sure there are people amongst them that can help people deal with death. Im not sure on the funerals. You would need to contact them to ask if they assist with those. Though now that you make me think about it. I would prefer an atheist funeral to a religious one. I really do not want a funeral in a church.

You have made me realize just how much priests are institutionalized. But my guess is that things like marriages happened before Christianity and will continue without it
 
joelus said:
I was thinking more in terms of some of the functions priests perform, like officiating over marriages and funerals, counselling the lost and hopeless, preparing people for death, inducing altered states of consciousness, caring for the poor, that sort of thing...
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Well, anyone can help organise 'caring for the poor' initiatives, or 'inducing altered states of consciousness'. Any licensed marriage officer can perform marriages.

Perhaps they'll branch into that kind of thing at some point.

Humanist weddings are actually growing strongly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/22271809
 
ghoti said:
I would prefer an atheist funeral to a religious one. I really do not want a funeral in a church.
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I've never been to an atheist one. There were lots of people who never attended or seemed religious but the service was always held in a church. There was one case where a church refused to have funeral service of one guy and the family had to make arrangements with another church.
 
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