Atheists in church

[HappySkeptic]

I think UU counts as a religious community.  It is quite open and accepting but still based on religious tenets, at least ostensibly.  And no, Catholics do not discourage atheists from attending.  When it's time for communion they always state that its for Catholics only, I don't remember the exact words they use.  But if you walk down there, no one is going to tackle you and drag you outside.  Now, Scientologists?  That's another matter entirely.

I'm UU, and it is a religious community, but there are no tenets of belief -- only a set of liberal principles.  Yes, the set of "sources" include the bible (owing to the historical Christianity of the precursor Unitarian and Universalist religions), but it also includes everything else under the Sun.

[possibletarian]

I was reading a testimonial on another forum about a long time Christian who eventually became an atheist and left their church, but missed the community of people.  It got me to thinking, is there some justification for us as atheists to continue to be a part of a church body but as an open atheist?  The community of people can be a nice thing and isolation only creates ignorance for Christians who see atheists as monsters.  If they new they had like twelve of them in their church, perhaps they would be more understanding, especially if they knew us well and understood our way of thinking.  I'm quite certain there are people attending most churches who have significant doubts and possibly many who are closet atheists.

I remember as a child there were stories about a guy who attended the 1st Baptist Church in my town who would sleep through sermons and interrupt and do other mildly obnoxious things.  People said he was an atheist and we would all gasp with horror.  I never learned the truth about those stories and for all I know they could have been urban myths.  But now it makes me wonder.  I could be that guy sitting in the pews, though I wouldn't interrupt or sleep.  I would debate with Christians and they would try their best to convert me.  But we would still be friends and perhaps they wouldn't fear the word "atheist".

Most of my social group are still Christians, I enjoy their company immensely they are bright considerate people and a delight to have long conversations with about everything. They know I'm an atheist now and don't really push any agenda, and I'm familiar with church speak so it does not come across as intent to convert.

Lately the questions they have been asking me suggest that they too doubt the validity of their beliefs, but simply enjoy being a church community. As for going to church myself, I'm glad to attend for special events and social events, but find the thought of praying and singing praise to be empty, it's not that I don't want to be hypocrite it's more that it simply feels a little daft to me.

I will continue to value their genuine friendship and will always love them for the part they played in my life, though I suspect looking at others stories of leaving the church that I'm one of the very lucky ones. I never fell out with the people in church, and realised it was pointless being angry at a god that did not even exist, so now I'm chilled.

[Gwaithmir]

I've been to church only twice since giving up on religion. The first time was in 1972, right after I served my last tour in Vietnam. My dad insisted that I go to (Catholic) church on Sunday, so I did just to avoid a big argument with him. I didn't participate in the mass, however. I just sat there, twiddling my thumbs. He didn't try to get me to go to church again after that.

The second time I went to church was for Dad's funeral and that was only to keep my mom happy. Again, I didn't participate in the mass, but just sat at the back of the church, watching everyone going through the motions.

[onlinebiker]

I've been to church only twice since giving up on religion. The first time was in 1972, right after I served my last tour in Vietnam. My dad insisted that I go to (Catholic) church on Sunday, so I did just to avoid a big argument with him. I didn't participate in the mass, however. I just sat there, twiddling my thumbs. He didn't try to get me to go to church again after that.

The second time I went to church was for Dad's funeral and that was only to keep my mom happy. Again, I didn't participate in the mass, but just sat at the back of the church, watching everyone going through the motions.

What branch?

[Ravenshire]

At the Church where I used to attend Mass, if you announced to the other people in the pews that you were an atheist, the other people would be very likely to inform the staff of what you said, and you would then be escorted out of the building.

Poe

[Spongebob]

At the Church where I used to attend Mass, if you announced to the other people in the pews that you were an atheist, the other people would be very likely to inform the staff of what you said, and you would then be escorted out of the building.

Poe

Yeah, at my church we had these two guys at the back who wore dark glasses and were armed with AK47's.  They had Ninja skills, too and on a good day they could bend steel with their mind.  Terrible at softball, though.  Kept destroying the balls.

[Gwaithmir]

I've been to church only twice since giving up on religion. The first time was in 1972, right after I served my last tour in Vietnam. My dad insisted that I go to (Catholic) church on Sunday, so I did just to avoid a big argument with him. I didn't participate in the mass, however. I just sat there, twiddling my thumbs. He didn't try to get me to go to church again after that.

The second time I went to church was for Dad's funeral and that was only to keep my mom happy. Again, I didn't participate in the mass, but just sat at the back of the church, watching everyone going through the motions.

What branch?

Roman Catholic.

[arewethereyet]

What branch?

Roman Catholic.

I think he meant of service...

[Gwaithmir]

Roman Catholic.

I think he meant of service...

I was in the army. I served in the 101st Airborne for my first three Vietnam tours and the 1st Armored Cavalry for my last.

[Fake Messiah]

"They" had bouncers at your church?

You do realize that some of us are ex-Catholic so you should really work a little harder to make your stories believable.

Not just bouncers...
Armed guards.
Seriously.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2...urity.html

That's for protection against gunmen so that mass shooting doesn't happen, and not to drag out people out of the church if they find out someone is not a Christian, as Ahriman claims.

Although, if you are a Christian, wouldn't you want to die in a church during the mass because that would certainly mean that you go to Heaven?