Atheist Temple: Nonbelievers To Get Place Of 'Worship' In UK

[onehandle]

Atheists have long criticised devout followers of faith. But now it seems Atheism is stealing from that very religious tradition by erecting a temple of worship.

Author Alain de Botton announced plans to build an Atheist temple in the U.K., reports DeZeen magazine.

A collaboration with Tom Greenall Architects, the structure will be built in the City of London.

Dedicated to the idea of perspective, the black tower will scale 46 meters (150 ft), with each centimeter honoring earth's age of 4.6 billion years, notes Wired.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/atheists-temple_n_1231848.html

It's official. Atheism is a religion.

[truebrit71]

1. "It's official"? No it isn't.

..

[2ndAmForComputers]

29. It's official...

like Joshua Norton was officially the Emperor of the USA. Because he said so.

[Honest_Abe]

2. No

If it's for Atheists, there is no temple, there is no worship.
There is, perhaps, a meeting place for people to share ideas.
Calling it a temple makes no sense, and saying it's a religion makes even less sense.

[rollin74]

3. what are they going to worship?

if they're atheists

[JackRiddler]

66. Whatever they please, as free human beings.

Are fictional sky-god creators and the human scammers who claim to speak for them the only worthy objects of worship in the universe? They will worship the beautiful dung beetle, because it exists.

[montanto]

4. I wonder how many atheists will show up to worship?

lol.

[izquierdista]

14. You mean NOT show up

I believe George Carlin will NOT show up.

[montanto]

17. Of course.

For the atheist, the world is a temple, every book a bible.

[PassingFair]

30. Can I visit if I'm on my period?

Cause that would suck.

[Deep13]

33. Wow. Oddly specific. nt

[PassingFair]

34. Not so odd...pretty typical in India.

We have "polluting" qualities, you know.

[Deep13]

36. Actually there are rules about that in the Old Testament too.

The men writing these rules were truly terrified of anything to do with feminine sexuality.

[Guy Montag]

55. That is a silly ban for a temple

If men had menstrual periods they would be sacred events and they would be told to come to a temple during their time of the month.

[fascisthunter]

5. Who is calling it a Temple? Serious question?

The author? And is this article another attempt by the religious to lump atheists in with all religious folks?

[LanternWaste]

8. Alain de Bototn-- author of the book 'Religion for Atheists'

Naming it as such is not the fault of the author of the article, but rather the author of the book 'Religion for Atheists' whose idea this is.

"Alain de Botton has laid out his plans in a new book, Religion for Atheists, which argues that atheists should copy the major religions and put up a network of new architectural masterpieces in the form of temples."


http://www.dezeen.com/2012/01/25/alain-de-botton-plans-temples-for-atheists/

[JackRiddler]

67. So what's wrong with a few architectural masterpieces?

The problem with churches isn't the beautiful buildings or the communities that meet there.

[PassingFair]

31. Its OFFICIAL! We're STEALING from religious tradition! nt

[cemaphonic]

6. Not a foxhole?

Talk about a missed opportunity.

[Moostache]

42. EXCELLENT IDEA!

I am announcing the Atheist's Foxhole today on DU!....what's that?....Really?...

Guess I was beat to the punch:
http://www.militaryatheists.org/expaif.html
http://ffrf.org/outreach/atheists-in-foxholes

Atheists in Foxholes

Atheists in foxholes, some say they are myths,
Creations of the mind who just don’t exist.

Yet, they answered the call to defend, with great pride.
With reason their watchword, they bled and they died.

They took Saratoga from the British crown,
Secured America’s freedom at the Battle of Yorktown.

From Sumter to Appomattox, fields flowed with their blood.
When the cannons grew silent, the flag proudly stood.

From the Marne to the Argonne, in trenches and tanks,
They defeated the Germans -- the whole world gave thanks.

They were bombed at Pearl Harbor, fought on to Berlin.
Many freethinking women served along with the men.

Still war keeps erupting -- Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
Where is the peace that eludes people so?

It is broken by tyrants who bear crosses and creeds,
That overshadow reason with hate and cruel deeds.

So atheists prevail until your work is complete.
Mothers mourn, children cry, and bigots plan your defeat.

By air, land, and sea, you answer freedom’s call.
Without god or faith, you seek liberty for all.

[Tom Ripley]

53. I really did laugh loud

[haele]

7. I think it's a publicity stunt by Alain de Botton.

Yeah, he's a pop-philosophist/critic who apparently had one atheist parent, but still - smacks of performance art that is directed towards his fans and followers rather than the general non-believer.

If you want to give an atheist a "temple", a library would be more apropos. But then, as there is really no other way to identify atheist behavior other than "non-theist", there would be quite a few - perhaps even more than half - who see no more value or importance in a library than they would in a random rock, car, or fast-food joint.

There is no logic in building a temple for atheists. Unless you were really building a temple for one of the most prevalent preconception about atheists that some theists tend to promote.

Oh, well - as an animist married to an atheist, I hope it's pretty, at least. de Botton has an interest in modern architecture and how it relates to "happiness" that might translate well here.

Haele

Damn, when do we get speell-chek back?

[LanternWaste]

9. de Botton appears to have many reasons for doing this, and they appear to be valid ideas...

"There is no logic in building a temple for atheists...."

de Botton appears to have many reasons for doing this (as follows), and they appear to be valid ideas, regardless of whether one may agree with them on a personal level.


"constructed to represent the idea of perspective..."

"...the author points to design, art and community to inspire and attract a following."

"argues that atheists should copy the major religions and put up a network of new architectural masterpieces in the form of temples. A beautiful building is an indispensable part of getting your message across. Books alone won’t do it.’"

"‘You can build a temple to anything that’s positive and good. That could mean: a temple to love, friendship, calm or perspective.’"

[loyalsister]

38. to inspire and attract a following.....

As an atheist I don't want to "follow" anyone and I don't want anyone to follow me. One huge advantage to non belief is not taking part in group think.

[LanternWaste]

47. I do think his ideas are rather insightful and meld seamlessly into the historical habits of human.

While I don't believe I'm guilty of group think, I do think his ideas are rather insightful and meld seamlessly into the historical habits of human nature to congregate together regardless of reason.

That being said, I certainly don't think group think is predicated on a person's faith or lack of faith; rather, I think it is wholly predicated on the individual-- regardless of religion, philosophy, art, politics or any other imaginary construct.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. As an atheist, I'd just like to say, "Huh?"

Or maybe, "WTF?"

[Shadowflash]

21. Quoted for truth!

Also, As an atheist, I'd just like to Double that WTF?

[sarcasmo]

51. +1

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. I'd love to see them try this in the good ole USA

Just to see the red flushed faces, bugged out eyes, and uncontrolled spittle spewing from the mouths of the inevitable hypocrites like Pat Robertson, and FAUX n Friends' reaction.


edit: After reading some of the responses while I was writing....I have to say I think its a GREAT idea!
I'm speaking as more of an agnostic, but have been moving towards the atheist position since being brought up in a fundamentalist Christian family. Atheists are invisible. That is a great weakness in this ever increasing social world. FAUX News can ridicule and disrespect them because they are invisible and have no visible structures or places of worship...er... meeting.

They are marginalized and regarded on the same level as pedophiles by some. I think it would be great if only on the symbolic level to show that they exist. There are Buddist Temples and Mormon Temples and Evengelical Temples, and Hindu Temples. They ALL are so different in their beliefs, yet all call their places of gathering a "temple".

[fascisthunter]

26. The US is too bigoted towards atheism... hence, there really is no freedom from religion

good post btw.

[humblebum]

12. Really nothing new.

France had something like temples of reason during the Revolution, and Brazil and other S. American countries have their churches dedicated to Humanity or Positivism.

[wial]

13. personally I don't believe in a creator god

because it makes no logical sense, but I do find the grandeur of geological time completely awe inspiring, and I can't begin to fathom what we humans must be given the billions of years of patient blind work put into us. Plenty of reason for worship without having to gussy it up with bronze age fictions (which are interesting enough in themselves, to be sure, but I prefer my reality naked, thank you).

[Moostache]

43. I don't understand the concept of "work" you refer to...

There is only evolution - a blind, and destination-less process of change in allele frequencies within a breeding population as a result of changing environmental and ecological conditions. It REALLY is that simple.

"WHY" are we here? Because over billions of years, the number of times our particular genetic code has been mutated, replicated and survived to repeat the process has far surpassed the number sufficient for population growth and for winning the eternal competition for survival resources. Period. Full Stop. EVERYTHING else is just window dressing and a feeble attempt of a limited intellect (the human condition in general) to make sense of the incongruous nature of reality and infinity.

We are part of a cycle of interconnected electricity and matter, nothing more and nothing less...

Yet, instead of investing everything we have into a greater understanding of that reality - how it came about, how it is held together, how it developed beyond instinct and survival to include consciousness and art, and how it will end or IF it will end - we trade in myth and fairy tales and lies to avoid facing the truth of our condition - it is finite, time-bounded and ENDING EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF OUR LIVES.

[RainDog]

15. oi

[sinkingfeeling]

16. Being an atheist, I sure wouldn't go to worship anything. Might look at it from the outside.

[starroute]

18. Why honor the age of the Earth with a black tower?

If you're one of them tree-hugging, vaguely pantheistic-type atheists, that seems like a stick in the eye of Mother Nature.

If you're one of them cosmically-attuned atheists who laugh at the conventionally religious for thinking of the Earth as the center of the universe, it seems like a self-serving pat on the back for humankind.

Either way, there's an arrogance about it that seems out of keeping with both religion and atheism.

[Gman]

19. What will they do? Sit around and drink beer

and talk about the weather? Or, more accurately, sit around and talk about how they're so much smarter than believers?

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. Seems like a poor imitation of the London Monument

which, though built over 300 years ago, was a bit bigger, and had a scientific purpose originally (though in practice it didn't work out), as well as being a monument:

In the news this week you may have read that the Monument near London Bridge has just reopened after restoration work. This large column was erected next to the Thames as a memorial to the Great Fire of London of 1666, and was completed in 1677. But what is not so well known is that its designers, Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, intended it to be used as a telescope.

The Monument was designed as a type of telescope known as a zenith telescope, used to observe stars that pass directly overhead. Wren and Hooke hoped that by looking at one star in particular they might be able to detect stellar parallax - a change in the position of an observed object caused by a change in the observer's position. This was something that should be observed if the Earth was moving around the Sun, but astronomers had not yet been able to detect it. In fact, it was only in the nineteenth century that stellar parallax was finally observed.

Here, the whole structure was the telescope. The observer sat in a room in the basement and looked up through the 'tube' created by the spiral staircase. The flaming urn on top had a hinged lid that opened for viewing. Sadly, it didn't prove to be up to the job because it expanded and contracted in different temperatures and swayed in the wind. Try not to think about that if you go up it!

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/rog/2009/02/telescope_stories_a_monumental.html

[frazzled]

22. "Worship" is definitely the wrong word; maybe "temple of contemplation"

"worship" is a transitive verb: it has to have an object. Since atheists do not believe in a deity, there is nothing "to" worship.

[LanternWaste]

24. I believe it may also be defined without implication to an object of the verb

I believe it may also be defined as "to feel an adoring reverence or regard" without implication to an object of the verb. If one may feel reverence for (e.g.) space-- which is indeed, 'nothing' in all practicality, then I believe one may indeed 'worship' it.

However, I believe one may worship validly worship and/or hold with reverence the belief that a thing does not exist.

Additionally, it may simply be an informal shorthand used to more quickly imply an idea. We all know that the color white does not exist, but we often refer to the color white without objection.

[frazzled]

35. I think the general usage implies "adoration" of something

That is to say, a kind of idolatry. You can worship the ground someone walks on, of course (a kind of idolatry of the person), or worship (no object) at the feet of someone (still a notion of idolatry).

But when you say you build a house of worship, the general understanding is that you are worshipping someone or something. The fact that the object is missing from the verbal construction is irrelevant: the object is implied, even if not specified.

If you are an atheist and fine with calling such a structure a house of worship, then who am I to complain.

[LanternWaste]

48. That is,of course, merely one interpretation of a preexisting definition.

"the object is implied..." That is,of course, merely one of many interpretations of a preexisting definition.

Quite often people also believe the word 'miracle' is also predicated on a religious construct when of course it's not. I imagine we are all often guilty of illustrating our biases by focusing on one definition of a word over that of other, just-as-valid and just-as-relevant definitions (myself included, of course...), and in doing so, allow our own world-views to hold precedence over the actual intent of passage.

(That's a paraphrase of a short treatise written by Ben Franklin in "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin&quot

[cbrer]

23. What do they do?

Drink and play cards? Worship non worship? Pass the plate for parish support?

Will the temple have gargoyles and be on the tourist map?

[Blue_Tires]

25. Why is it a "temple" instead of a regular old "meeting place"??

conference center?

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. Only about 15ft square inside

http://artinfo.com/news/story/757687/author-alain-de-botton-plans-to-build-temples-for-godless-londoners

Not much of a meeting place, really. It's a 'temple' because de Botton has a book to sell, in which he says atheists should get organised and nick bit of religion, like symbolic buildings.

[and-justice-for-all]

28. I dont mind having a 'temple' dedicated to reason...

I think the words 'Symbolic Structure' is more fitting that 'temple' however.

[Deep13]

32. They can probably skimp on the carpeting and decor...

...since no one is ever going to see it.

Atheists use libraries, community centers, parks, private homes, internet chat forums, and coffee shops. We don't use temples.

[Stuckinthebush]

40. Bars

I use the neighborhood bar for my atheist worship.

[Deep13]

46. Well there is that.

[Javaman]

37. the non-religious religious cult.

now I have heard it all.

Once again, I'm always amused by various atheists who feel the need to "congregate".

btw, I'm an atheist.

[Neoma]

61. I wouldn't mind having atheist friends though.

Can't bumble through life disagreeing on everything with everyone you meet. You go insane.

[Javaman]

63. did I say I was disagreeing? No, I am amazed.

if these fools feel the need to congregate, then let them do so.

Atheists don't believe in organized religion as part of their belief that there is no supreme deity.

So these folks are organizing their non-belief into a congregation.

organized atheists.

fine.

however, erecting a building as a place to "gather" reeks of organized religion.

a rose by any other name...

[mopinko]

39. will they serve booze?

i know i would if it were my atheist temple.

[truthisfreedom]

41. Sounds like an excellent idea.

I'm fascinated by this. Having a support group to help fend off ridiculous attacks by religious people seems like a good thing.

[flamingdem]

44. How about Deism?

Some of our founding fathers were deists, I believe that was a softer way to say atheist back in the day..

[Blue Hen Buckeye]

45. Is 'Nothing' sacred?

[tawadi]

49. I am confused

Really. I don't get this.

[cleanhippie]

50. It's not official. The guy is promoting a book.

It's a publicity stunt.

[Tom Ripley]

52. They aready exist; I call them libraries

[rayofreason]

54. Imitation...

...is the sincerest form of flattery.

[Guy Montag]

56. There seems to be consternation and no consensus on what it is.

It's an atheistic structure alright.

I know some religious folks have called for atheists to be locked up as criminals at different times in history. You have to admire folk that can scare those who lack such basic human toleration of others.

[Tripod]

57. Good for them.

I'm laughing out loud,,,, What?

[dipsydoodle]

58. Why not ? The Pastafarians have already got their own church.

It called The Spaghetti House.

[Nevernose]

59. Blasphemer!

TRUE Pastafarians go to the House of Pasta, not the Spaghetti House. Do we need a holy war to decide this?

[BiggJawn]

60. de Botton is a Moran.

He just needs to go say the Sinner's Prayer and join a church and leave us Atheists alone.

"Temple"... What a load of bullshit. I definitely won't read his book now, not even if it was a free kindle download.

[arely staircase]

62. will they have a sung or spoken liturgy? nt

[onehandle]

65. More like a litany of smugness.

[U of M Dem]

64. Awesome!

If done well, much in the same way of Colbert's Super Pac, a 'national church of atheism' (or whatever title fits) would work so perfectly to undermine, and expose hypocrisies of, organized religion - especially the special treatment they receive through tax exemptions and other political liberties they take, both formally and informally. If an atheist 'church' were to fight for and be awarded the same tax exempt status as the mainstream, politically-charged 'religious' entities, the house of cards that is religious bigotry could topple. The key would be to point out that religion is so broadly defined that almost any superstition could be considered a religion. Also creating an 'atheist dogma' would be a hilarious venture. (I believe in rational thought, I believe in the concept of social change, I believe that Pi = 3.1415926535...)

After writing this, i realize that if a fundamentalist [fill-in-the-religion] saw the above, they would frightenedly point their finger and yell something like "You're going to Hell for that!"