Have you ever felt you were missing out on the good things church has to offer?

[orogenicman]

I miss the cake sales. I like cake.

You can buy cake without buying their bullshit, my friend.

However, this does call for.....

A comedian who looks like Liza Liza Minnelli with highlights? Scary. hock:

[Minimalist]

He's a tad on the strange side, yes.

[Mystical]

Have you ever felt you were missing out on the good things church has to offer?

Nah, I was just at church. Ate some bomb sloppy joe, got to see an old friend from high school, donated something for the local charity, and boom I even get to tell other people I went to church for a good cause.

Win win.

Incidentally, I was more comfortable at church as an atheist than I was as a theist

[pineapplebunnybounce]

I looked up unitarian church. It's such an odd thing, so basically people who believe in different things go there to be together. And you don't have to believe in anything, but you can believe in anything you like.

Now I feel like I should check this out, although at the first mention of "supernatural" or "spiritual" I'd probably up and leave. Too bad I work on Sundays.

[Zazzy]

I've been pondering this question more, and I take a great deal of pleasure in many Christian arts without any church necessary. My favorite pieces of music are far and away Mozart's masses (way better than his operas), and I listen to them often and sing with them.

For instance, I challenge you not to feel chills: Mozart's great Mass in C Monor- the Domine Deus (Te Kanawa and Cotrubas singing)Domine Deus ( Cotrubas and Te Kanawa) fromthe Great Mass

Also, and this might seem weird for an atheist, my favorite (above and beyond favorite) poet is Gerard Manley Hopkins, who was a monk who only wrote about his skydaddy. But dammit, he was an unparalleled genius and wordsmith. You have to read it aloud to REALLY get it.
An example: As kingfishers catch fire

I have much appreciation for art born of Christian inspiration- I don't need church for that. I wish I could find more atheists who appreciated Hopkins so I could discuss the beauty of his sprung rhythm so I could just enjoy it without getting all woo-woo about it.

* Edited for idiocy

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I've been pondering this question more, and I take a great deal of pleasure in many Christian arts without any church necessary.

I know exactly what you mean. For me, this is one of the greatest, most evocative sculptures ever rendered:



You don't need an iota of Christian feeling to appreciate the pain of a mum cradling the body of her murdered son.

Boru

[Whateverist]

For instance, I challenge you not to feel chills: Mozart's great Mass in C Monor- the Domine Deus (Te Kanawa and Cotrubas singing)

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Domine Deus ( Cotrubas and Te Kanawa) fromthe Great Mass

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Couldn't do it. I like a lot of 'devotional' music and gospels. Not so weird really. With or without religion, transformation can still mean something. With any luck we should all be reborn as often as possible, but no god required. (Keeps the cobwebs and dust away.)

Also, and this might seem weird for an atheist, my favorite (above and beyond favorite) poet is Gerard Manley Hopkins, who was a monk who only wrote about his skydaddy. But dammit, he was an unparalleled genius and wordsmith. You have to read it aloud to REALLY get it.
An example: As kingfishers catch fire

Maybe he missed his calling and should have written limericks? Not my cup of tea but I do enjoy word play.

Good for you for not letting your head rule your heart - or your ear.

[Captain Colostomy]

I've known several guys who hung on to church services for the 'fellowship' aspect alone. One of them church hopped for prospective fuck buddies. I think the social aspect does attract otherwise noncommital religionists. I suppose it's one of the less obnoxious reasons(the fellowship bit) to go. Still, surely elbow rubbing can be done in a more stimulating atmosphere...like say a bar?

[*Deidre*]

I was raised in Christianity and followed it for a long time as an adult. When you "de-convert," you go through a process of analyzing why you believed in a god and the teachings of the church to begin with. I came to realize that the Bible is a set of fables, and that the early church writers of it, since they didn't know much of anything about science, just made stuff up. Evolution while just a theory, still has much evidence to support it. Adam and Eve and the creation story in Genesis has no real application in life when you compare it to what we know through science.

So, there can be a sense of peace that comes from believing in these fables, but sort of like the jubilee you might have had on Xmas Eve awaiting Santa, when you were a child. No one has seen God, and man's attempts throughout history to label him this or that, doesn't mean he exists. Every religion's origin is based off stories and little more of people who passed their notions of God down throughout the ages.

I don't begrudge anyone religion. It's just not for me anymore. I now know too much truth, to go back and believe lies again so I can have some pseudo-comfort.

My view is...we don't know if God exists or not. I'm open to it if he does, but whatever he may be...if he exists...won't be found in any religion. If a god created the universe, he would be a hell of a lot more impressive than the bible version.

[Angrboda]

I went to a Unitarian church for the good part of a year, and I primarily went for the sense of community and belonging. At the time, I did some intentional 'church shopping', and my impression was that there is a lot of variety within UU churches, ranging from pseudo-Christianity to almost purely secular. It probably helped that the one closest to me that I formed an attachment toward is frequently described as the most atheistic UU church in the city (in a northern, very Democrat and liberal state).

I've been half heartedly poking around, looking into finding a temple, but most of them are far away and I'm not sure I'd fit in.

Oddly enough, the hymnals at UU church kind of creeped me out. It's not particularly musically impressive, and I'm always afraid I'm being subtly brain washed by the process. Give me good old, straight up, Latin mass instead.