Atheists in church

[Spongebob]

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".

[Fake Messiah]

There are other nonreligious communities he could join, like chess club, or astronomy club, or similar.

[Ahriman]

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.

[brewer]

There are other nonreligious communities he could join, like chess club, or astronomy club, or similar.

Great, clips of support group scenes from, 'Fight Club' stuck. Ca-mon Big Bob, sweat on me.

[onlinebiker]

Only if it means you' ll get some nookie.



Otherwise - why bother?

[arewethereyet]

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.

That's bullshit.

[Ahriman]

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.

That's bullshit.

You mean, "bullshit" as in, it's not true? Because it is true, that's what they told us to do.

[onlinebiker]

Totally believable bullshit....

I know gay people who got tossed from a formerly Methodist church... Whern they split from the.Methodists they told an openly gay man not to come back under threat of tresspass laws....several left..

Pretty fucked up...

[Angrboda]

Church is ultimately a ritual, a ritual with a purpose, say salvation or becoming better people. To engage in that ritual without engaging in the purpose would be like cooking a meal even though you do not intend to eat simply because you find interacting with pots and pans and measuring cups soothing.

It also occurs to me that there is something questionable about "being a part of a community" that is different than being a part of a group of strangers on a bus, or of a group of people waiting in line at a store. I'd want to be clear about what that added part that makes being a part of a group of people into "being a part of a community" and whether I was comfortable with whatever is added. It would seem that relationships are part of what is added, and part of relationships is mutually agreed upon expectations. Would I want to adopt and honor those expectations, or would I be abetting an aspect of religious privilege by doing so?

[arewethereyet]

That's bullshit.

You mean, "bullshit" as in, it's not true? Because it is true, that's what they told us to do.

"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.