I am an atheist, however that leads to certain problems. So this thread is intended for discussion of the problems that can arise from being an atheist.

One of my big problems about atheism is the lack of community. Something that religions do well is to provide a community structure and support system. There is no equivalent for the atheist. There is no such thing as an "atheist community". There is no equivalent to the parish priest to whom I can take my troubles.

A while ago I had a big moral dilemma for which I needed objective advice and support. It was not something I was able to discuss with my family, in fact it concerned members of my family and my attitude to a decision that one of them had made. The only person I found I was able to get any kind of useful support from was the minister of the local church, with whom I was at the time only very slightly aquainted.

The fact is that, despite knowing that I am an atheist, he was extremely helpful and his advice opened me up to a point of view which I had been unable to achieve on my own, and which helped me deal with the situation. He even asked if I minded if he said a little prayer for me (which I agreed to, feeling it a very small price for the advice I had received).

I would have preferred to have been able to take my problem to someone with a similar role, but without the religion, only there is no-one. There is within atheism no structure for such a person. There is no structure of anything within atheism. On a local level, I mean.

What I think is needed is a kind of atheist church, a place where atheists can meet regularly to celebrate their atheism and in order to develop a sense of community. Only how on earth such a thing could be brought about is completely beyond me. Any ideas?

An Atheist church? Are you freakin nuts?...

hmm... Why not speak to friends? Or a random granny on the bus?

You don't need to have a community built on an idea, but a community built around the people of many.

If a priest can give you advice without it being nasty, preachy, bullshit then that should be cool. But as soon as you suspect a bit of god talk coming through, slap him.

The only problem I can see with atheism is that there are no freaking holidays.

I am sure we could make some

well sir you have just joined an atheist forum full of atheists. that might work!

I say we declare all of the pagan holidays atheist holidays. Worked for the christians.

(August 17, 2011 at 11:01 am)Godnose Wrote: One of my big problems about atheism is the lack of community.

I live in Norway. Do you mean something like this? http://www.human.no/Servicemeny/English/

Artie

(August 17, 2011 at 11:01 am)Godnose Wrote: One of my big problems about atheism is the lack of community. Something that religions do well is to provide a community structure and support system. There is no equivalent for the atheist. There is no such thing as an "atheist community". There is no equivalent to the parish priest to whom I can take my troubles.

Don't need one! There are many other communities you CAN join because you're free! For instance, I've been slowly putting my feet into the skeptic community and making friends. I'm just going to plug them right now - they are the absolute best people outside of this board to get to know. They are amazing. And most of them are atheists as well. Community doesn't have to be the same as a church.

Also, local atheist "groups" do crop up. I belong (though I'm not as active as I should be) to the Charlotte Atheists & Agnostics, and that serves as a nice physical meet-up. Search around your area.

And just for me personally, none of my "advice" givers are family, and only one of them is on this board, and a couple of them are theists. These are people I've met at various jobs I've had or other ways - no need for them to be any sort of authority figure.

Or you could drink your problems away...

(August 17, 2011 at 11:55 am)frankiej Wrote: Or you could drink your problems away...

For truth.