After a schism, a question: Can atheist churches last?

[rug]

January 4th, 2014
09:00 AM ET
By Katie Engelhart, special to CNN

LONDON (CNN) - The Sunday Assembly was riding high.

- snip -

But nearly as quickly as the Assembly spread, it split, with New York City emerging as organized atheism’s Avignon.

In October, three former members of Sunday Assembly NYC announced the formation of a breakaway group called Godless Revival.

“The Sunday Assembly,” wrote Godless Revival founder Lee Moore in a scathing blog post, “has a problem with atheism.”

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/04/after-a-schism-a-question-can-atheist-churches-last/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Godless-Revival/532305740178434

[dimbear]

1. We are rapidly approaching the stage known as "Praise and Honor to the non-Participants" nt

[goldent]

2. I think schisms would be expected

If the atheist churches don't last, I think it will not be due to schisms, but more that it turned out to be a short-term fad, and people simply loose interest.

[cbayer]

3. I remain skeptical about the intent of some of these people.

Some descriptions come off as performance theater and I wonder if they see a source of revenue as the primary driver.

At any rate, while I don't see why their should be a prohibition against using the word "atheist", I do think there is cause to be more inclusive. Many don't consider themselves religious, but don't consider themselves atheists either. In fact, this may be the largest part of the intended audience.

[mike_c]

4. I'm hard pressed to imagine anything sillier than an "atheist church...."

I'm sorry if that sounds smug, but still. I'm an atheist. Why on Earth would I ever want to attend any sort of "church" service with other atheists who have similarly little use for worshiping anything? What would we do there? And why would we do it regularly?

I do understand that shared religious superstition unites congregations and societies, but atheism, at least as it relates to my life, is simply rejection of those shared beliefs in the absence of evidence to support them, not replacement with some other belief system that brings a different congregation with it. I've seen numerous references to "atheist churches" in recent months, but the very notion suggests that herd behavior is more important than rational behavior, and that simply reinforces my atheism.

[cbayer]

5. While there are many like yourself for whom this holds no interest,

there is a population that it speaks to.

I've seen a number of articles that outline the various reasons that someone might choose to do this and one of the most consistent reasons is a thirst for community.

There are things that churches offer other than worship that some people miss if they leave. It's often hard to find organizations within communities that provide these things.

It's not for everyone, as you have shown.

[2naSalit]

6. How about

they just meet and call it a meeting rather than a "church" which implies that there is some religiosity to their connection as a group?

The concept of an "atheist church" sounds kind of like "bourbon-drinking alcoholics anonymous".

[cbayer]

7. I definitely think there is an good argument for a new nomenclature.

Many of the words being used to describe these have their roots in religion and that turns a lot of people off.

[2naSalit]

8. Good point! n/t

[AtheistCrusader]

12. There is way too much baggage associated with the term 'church'.

It's a house of worship.

I would argue there are 'atheist churches' everywhere. Every university lab. Every library. Every town hall. Every community center. Every place that humans congregate, alone or in groups, to share knowledge, understanding, art, science, love, all of it, qualifies in the basest sense.

It was an idea in search of a meaningless label.

[cbayer]

13. I agree. New language would be helpful.

The difference between these "assemblies" and the places you describe are that they allow people to congregate (another potentially loaded word) with like minded people.

While I agree that atheists can be found in those other places, they sometimes do not feel at liberty to declare their atheism or openly discuss it with others.

I think one of the things that is driving this move towards "assemblies" is the wish to be in an environment free of religion.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. I don't think either group calls itself a 'church'

It's the media, and internet commenters, who do that.

[2naSalit]

10. Just goes to show

how little they understand the concepts they write and talk about! I would hope the group doesn't call it church.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. Who cares. Somewhere, there's a fish in need of a bicycle.