Atheist 'church'?

[Violet]

Churches are community events, first and foremost. It's a regular event that many community members can get together for, and where they might expect to find other members of their community. It also serves as a semi-united social force, for whatever function such may serve.

As such... I am completely okay with churches of all types, so long as my boundaries provided by my understanding of 'basic human dignity' are not crossed.

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Yup, fucking dumb. Church is for worship,atheist don't worship.
My internet sucks so I only watch the first minute, but that was enough to annoy me. What the fuck is with the stupid singing. They look like a bunch of crazy Christians, just singing different words.

Singing with one's fellows is pretty good on the soul... you should try it sometime. Say, with your family, or other loved ones, and see how you feel

And don't do any of that stupid self-confidence-depreciation shit, yo: this activity has the capacity to do *wonders* for it.

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This just gives ammunition to Christians who state that atheism is a religion.

My non beleif in a divinity does not give me anything else in common with other atheists

Are you human? Are you a mammal? Are you primarily made of water molecules?

Plenty of things in common with these "other atheists", of whom you speak. Community... is in finding that commonality, and in respecting that diversity.

Do you think that all Christians in a given church believe exactly the same things? Or for the same reasons?

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I'm cool with it so long as they meet in the afternoon, have couches instead of pews, and do human sacrifice.

The former we can talk on later, but that last is nonnegotiable.

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Well, I hardly feel like I'm "surrendering some of (my) autonomy and freedom to avoid false persecution," by not wishing to confuse religious folks further by naming a gathering by atheists a "church." I have zero problem standing up to them and do so comfortably and regularly. It isn't for my personal sake that I have a preference to avoid using the word, "church," in reference to atheist gatherings. It's because use of that term has specific meaning to many people -- particularly among the religious. So it gives rise to even more confusion among the religious than already exists. I see no reason to do that.

If it pleases you to think I'm just making things more comfortable for myself, then that's ok. You are certainly entitled to think it. But I don't feel the concept I'm conveying here is so difficult to grasp.

Or... you could explain to them what church is, and use their misunderstanding of a word to further their understanding of a world. It's a fantastic learning opportunity for them, should one seize upon it.

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Suppressing or disguising your identity is a form of proximal stressor in minority stress. We have a number of transgendered individuals on this forum. How much do you want to bet that they disguise or otherwise hide their transgendered status from people who would "be confused" by the concept of their transgender and want to treat them as less than full men or full women on account of knowing, in a confused way, that they are transgendered.

Or that they hide from themselves, their loved ones, because they're too confusing, distressing, or difficult for them to deal with... which is further enforced by a society that holds norms for pre-established definitions, and does not well-understand anomalies.

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Interesting. I am an(atheist) Buddhist and I think their use of Sangha is incorrect and is just affectation. If you are not monks then it is not a sangha. It is a meditation group.

Oddly... what it is called is probably the least important thing that could have been noted within the paragraph, especially having been explained within such as having been an aside, thereafter incorporating said aside into the cohesive whole, being "the point" XD

It's an exercise that a number of individuals, each with their own reason(s) for being there, might engage in. What it is called is fundamentally irrelevant: it could be a "Cheeseburger" and have precisely the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physiological effects it has when called a "Sangha".

All that differs is the expectation of the event. A 'meditation group' does not suggest or otherwise imply that the sit has ANY spiritual background whatsoever.

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Someone in your country needs to tell these atheists about something we call - A BAR.

Not everyone enjoys the bar scene, Cin

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Well I do. Raeven hit the nail on the head with why. I understand your own point about this Sangha, but I do think it's an entirely different circumstance. I'm not doubting the idea behind this 'atheist church' is probably a good idea, but my contention is entirely with them calling it a church. I don't see that word as being 'rebootable'. The word literally means "house of god". IMO calling an atheist gathering a church just creates completely unneeded confusion. It's almost as though these people have tried to be clever. "Ohh hehehe we've called it a church aren't we smart". No, you're just feeding the negative stereotypes people already have with atheists in the way you're going about it. Many religious people will find this whole thing not only laughable, but see it as though atheists are taking the piss out of their religion, something I'm not exactly keen on encouraging, at least not in such a dumbass way.

Words are rebooted endlessly, as are people, as are communities and nations of people.

How about turning 'church' into a positive connotation? More than today: tomorrow.

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I have heard of them and while I can understand their intentions in wanting to bring atheist together for discussions I don't agree with it since Christians will more than likely use it to define atheism as a religion which it is not.

To their understanding of 'religion', it might well be.

[Napoléon]

Words are rebooted endlessly, as are people, as are communities and nations of people.

How about turning 'church' into a positive connotation? More than today: tomorrow.

I'd be for that, if this 'atheist church' wasn't sending out a negative connotation. As I mentioned before, the whole idea of it seems like a piss take to me. I just don't think it's very wise to recycle a word used by religious people to describe your congregation when the whole point of your congregation is the complete opposite of the word you're using to describe it.

Just doesn't make any sense.

[Raeven]

Well, I hardly feel like I'm "surrendering some of (my) autonomy and freedom to avoid false persecution," by not wishing to confuse religious folks further by naming a gathering by atheists a "church." I have zero problem standing up to them and do so comfortably and regularly. It isn't for my personal sake that I have a preference to avoid using the word, "church," in reference to atheist gatherings. It's because use of that term has specific meaning to many people -- particularly among the religious. So it gives rise to even more confusion among the religious than already exists. I see no reason to do that.

If it pleases you to think I'm just making things more comfortable for myself, then that's ok. You are certainly entitled to think it. But I don't feel the concept I'm conveying here is so difficult to grasp.

Or... you could explain to them what church is, and use their misunderstanding of a word to further their understanding of a world. It's a fantastic learning opportunity for them, should one seize upon it.

LOL, or.... I could stand under someone pissing on me and call it a shower.

I think the whole notion of atheists attempting to co-opt the word, 'church,' to suit their own meaning is not only indicative of a fundamental misunderstanding of the word, 'church,' but also ridiculous on its face and passive aggressive to boot. I think atheists should congregate in whatever way they wish. The smart ones won't try to refer to it as 'church.'

Here, by the way, is a definition of the word. It does not mean, 'community,' as you have chosen to characterize it. I understand your meaning, but clearly most religious folks won't -- and with good reason:

church
CHərCH/
noun
noun: church; plural noun: churches

1.
a building used for public Christian worship.
"they came to church with me"
synonyms: place of worship, house of God, house of worship; More
cathedral, abbey, chapel, basilica;
megachurch;
synagogue, mosque
"a village church"
a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines.
noun: Church
"the Church of England"
synonyms: denomination, ecclesial community; More
creed, faith
"the Methodist Church"
the hierarchy of clergy of a Christian organization, esp. the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England.
noun: the Church
institutionalized religion as a political or social force.
"the separation of church and state"

verb
archaic
verb: church; 3rd person present: churches; past tense: churched; past participle: churched; gerund or present participle: churching

1.
take (a woman who has recently given birth) to church for a service of thanksgiving.

Origin
Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma ) ‘Lord's (house),’ from kurios ‘master or lord.’ Compare with kirk.

But if you like pummeling your head against a brick wall, by all means -- get together with your atheist buddies, call it 'church' and have a blast, "furthering the understanding" of church-going folk. Me, I'll get together with my friends and call it something -- anything -- else.

[Cinjin]

In the end, if you want to get out of your pajamas on Sundays to go hang out with other people instead of enjoying the TV with a hot cup of coffee (tea for you brits), than by all means - enjoy.

I personally would never do it, but if for some reason, Hell froze over and I found myself wanting to sing ridiculous songs with a bunch of strangers;
I think I would still have to call it anything other than ... church.





/thread

[Tonus]

Maybe they are doing it ironically. Many theists treat church as little more than a social club. Why not call your social club a church?

That said, I would only belong to an "atheist church" that recognized me as god.

[Napoléon]

Maybe they are doing it ironically.

I would of thought that would be strikingly obvious.

[NoraBrimstone]

Who wants to go with me? I don't wanna go alone. I'm scared.

[rexbeccarox]

As an "ideas" person, and as someone who grew up in church, I actually have about 150 note cards outlining a sort of skeptics' congregation. Instead of sermons on Sundays, we would have lectures and discussions of a skeptical nature. Instead of Sunday School, we would have music lessons, tutoring, etc. We would do charity, and have free babysitting after school every day, conducted by volunteers from the congregation. We would have potlucks and parties, wine and beer tastings. None of it would have to be on any specific day of the week, as my idea is for a continuously evolving community, so I would hope for activities happening every day. We would have committees and game nights, writers' groups and book clubs. We would invite guest speakers and comedians to entertain. We would put on plays and musicals. My idea is to have a second home for a community of thinkers and their families.

My ideas will probably stay relegated to the note cards, though. I love them, but I'm not sure I have the moxie to pull them off. One thing is for certain, though: I would never in a million years call it a "church".

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Who wants to go with me? I don't wanna go alone. I'm scared.

I would go with you if I lived any closer to you, darlin'

[Violet]

I'd be for that, if this 'atheist church' wasn't sending out a negative connotation. As I mentioned before, the whole idea of it seems like a piss take to me. I just don't think it's very wise to recycle a word used by religious people to describe your congregation when the whole point of your congregation is the complete opposite of the word you're using to describe it.

Just doesn't make any sense.

Well... it's not really 'the complete opposite'... fundamentally, all that seems different is that one set of people believes one thing, and another set doesn't believe that thing. They still sing, they still have the whole 'preacher' setup (iian mistaken), they still do potluck and community events... it's a church without a god.

And that's what it means, precisely. 'The Father' has left this house, for his children are now able to take care of his works. That sounded a bit religious of me XD

[BrokenQuill92]

I think there is a very human need to gather and to be together and I think we all have a very human need to sing and dance and eat and commune but I think they're wrong to call it church