I am an atheist, however, I have not attended formal meetings with other atheists / non-theists to have a discussion about atheism. Would holding formal gatherings to discuss atheist ideas create something "religious" in character (such as weekly church attendance) if these meetings were focused around discussing the disbelief in god(s)? 

I personally have been a little reluctant towards formalized meetings to discuss "atheism", however I would be interested to hear what other peoples thoughts are.

Stay awake and it won't happen. Fall asleep and its still very unlikely to happen. Don't sweat it.

(April 5, 2019 at 3:04 pm)fademm Wrote: I am an atheist, however, I have not attended formal meetings with other atheists / non-theists to have a discussion about atheism. Would holding formal gatherings to discuss atheist ideas create something "religious" in character (such as weekly church attendance) if these meetings were focused around discussing the disbelief in god(s)? 

I personally have been a little reluctant towards formalized meetings to discuss "atheism", however I would be interested to hear what other peoples thoughts are.

There is nothing wrong with the concept of religion.

it's the dogma inherent in the system of religious unquestioning faith that's the problem with religion, IMO. Take that out, and you basically have just social gatherings of people with somewhat aligning socio-political views, if even that. But that begs the question, why even call it a "religion" at that point, it's just "meetings" then.

Around where I live, the closest I have to go to that's not a religious service is cafés, bars and (night-)clubs. So, I go there to meet other people.

(April 5, 2019 at 3:04 pm)fademm Wrote: I am an atheist, however, I have not attended formal meetings with other atheists / non-theists to have a discussion about atheism. Would holding formal gatherings to discuss atheist ideas create something "religious" in character (such as weekly church attendance) if these meetings were focused around discussing the disbelief in god(s)? 

I personally have been a little reluctant towards formalized meetings to discuss "atheism", however I would be interested to hear what other peoples thoughts are.

That doesn't make it a religion and even if it did that wouldn't make atheism a religion it would make certain atheists religious.

(April 5, 2019 at 3:04 pm)fademm Wrote: I am an atheist, however, I have not attended formal meetings with other atheists / non-theists to have a discussion about atheism. Would holding formal gatherings to discuss atheist ideas create something "religious" in character (such as weekly church attendance) if these meetings were focused around discussing the disbelief in god(s)? 

I personally have been a little reluctant towards formalized meetings to discuss "atheism", however I would be interested to hear what other peoples thoughts are.

The Thinking Atheist podcast usually post a restaurant/ bar where they meet afterwards. Makes me want to move to Austin. Not because of atheists but because Austin has the best bars/  clubs in the U.S. There are bars with take out windows

I used to have a flatmate and when I would complain that he hadn't done the dishes or cleaned the house for a week, he would come up with something small that I hadn't done, like put the toilet roll on the toilet roll holder properly, as a weak attempt to try and counterbalance my argument.
That's what the claim that atheism is also a religion is all about.
When people get together and talk there is always going to be some similarities in the structure of how that pans out.
It's really one of the weaker arguments that theists have come up with.

(April 5, 2019 at 5:10 pm)Little lunch Wrote: I used to have a flatmate and when I would complain that he hadn't done the dishes or cleaned the house for a week, he would come up with something small that I hadn't done, like put the toilet roll on the toilet roll holder properly, as a weak attempt to try and counterbalance my argument.
That's what the claim that atheism is also a religion is all about.
When people get together and talk there is always going to be some similarities in the structure of how that pans out.
It's really one of the weaker arguments that theists have come up with.

That's brilliant! You win the internet today!

Theists might accuse you/them of making one............. but they'd be wrong.

Does a group of people coming together with a common interest, as in, intentionally meeting twice a month to play ukuleles become a religion?

(April 5, 2019 at 6:59 pm)outtathereligioncloset Wrote: Does a group of people coming together with a common interest, as in, intentionally meeting twice a month to play ukuleles become a religion?

There is no God but God and Jake Shimabukuro is His prophet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBemZJFEst4

Boru