Problems with atheism

[Godnose]

Godnose there are atheist communities out-there, this happens to be one of them.

This is not a community. This is an internet forum.

I can only speak for myself, however I balk at the idea of an atheist church.

I understand that. It is a common reaction to balk at the denial of any dogma in which one has placed one's faith. I regard myself as being extremely fortunate not to have been indoctrinated into any such faith. There is still hope for you, also. All you have to do is cast off your preconceptions and free yourself from dogma.

Because churches are often places where you are required to believe in what the church believes in or else.

Some are. Some are not. They vary. That particular quality is not one that I would advocate adopting.

This place and other atheist communities (I hope) are the exact opposite of sort of mentality.

If only!

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There wasn't anyone else suitable. Like I said. Before. You know. In my very first post? "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."

I don't know what country you're from or what you wanted advice on

(it was a private and personal moral dilemma concerning a member of my family)

but here's some examples of secular people/organisations you could go to for advice in the UK;

GP

irrelevant and not appropriate use of free public service

NHS direct

irrelevant and not appropriate use of free public service

Citizens Advice Bureau

Not appropriate for moral advice

Friends

not appropriate in view of the need for objectivity

Family

It concerned my family - not appropriate

Internet forums

TOTALLY irrelevant and COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY not appropriate

Anonymous internet chatrooms

Brrrrr!

Internet support chatrooms

Brrrrr!

Wikipedia

Yikes!

Yahoo Answers (just kidding!)

So I would hope!

Plenty more I'm sure. The fact is that you chose to talk to a priest, there's always another option.

Nope. Nothing I could think of. Nothing you have suggested. It was quite a while ago now and I still cannot think of anywhere else I could have turned to for the kind of advice I needed. But virtually ANY priest or clergy would have worked. I know, it's a shame. It ought to have been possible to find an atheist. That's my point!

The idea of having an appointed atheist to dish out advice is not an idea that appeals to me at all.

I recognise that. It's a sticking point in the dogma to which you have allowed yourself to become subject. I advise you to liberate yourself from it.

Who's to say whether their advice would be better than anyone else's?

Yes, I agree, that is a point upon which a degree of trust is necessary. There needs to be confidence in the advice giver. However IMO it's not the quality of the advice that's so important, although it should be of a reasonable standard. Remember, an important part of the whole point of advice is that one is always free to accept it or ignore it. Far more important (IMO) is the sincerity with which it is given and the complete assurance of confidentiality.