Atheist's Church?

[Stump]

First of all, I've had about 7 beers...so I apologize if this is a stupid question. But is there a such thing as an Atheist Church? I mean, I'm an agnostic, where could I go to congregate and hang out with other skeptics with an emphasis on helping the community and having fellowship with other freethinkers?

[MadAnne]

1. Don't know where you are in Virginia

Atheists and agnostics are like anyone else they like to congregate with like minded people. Here are a couple of groups. Just google it or contact these groups and they can steer you in the right direction.


http://fa-va.com/
Freethinkers and Atheists of Virginia (FAVA)

http://www.student.virginia.edu/~atheist/
Virginia Atheists and Agnostics

[patrice]

2. There are atheist groups on the internet: googlegroups & yahoogroups.

The big Unitarian church, near one of our most popular social areas in the metro area, is extremely open and popular. Free thinking is encouraged there; I've met and worked with their members in several community activists' environments. I'm sure some Unitarian congregations welcome atheists. There would probably be atheist organizations around any state university and some colleges.

[Warpy]

3. Unitarians tolerate atheists who feel the need to seek a community

but no, atheists don't have a church.

Buddhism is an atheistic philosophy and there are Buddhist temples, but it's a whole different animal from church.

[blue sky at night]

4. too bad you are so hung up on.....

someones spirituality to not see the power of association with good folks. It is easy to fall into working toward a common goal with a bunch of great folks at a church, sure better than hanging out at a bar or at the mall. The power of positive people is amazing at times, the things that we can do as a team has been remarkable....faith aside. It is a very rewarding relationship we have developed with each other, and the bottom line is we SERVE others. Just because you attend a given church does not mean you believe every word of the bible or what comes out of the pastor's mouth. We all have free will YOU KNOW?

BTW, check out your local UCC Church, you might be surprised.
Please take five minutes to explore:

http://www.ucc.org/find/

[More Than A Feeling]

7. I didn't realize the UCC recruited attendees by sneering at them.

[varkam]

8. Well, you catch more flies with piss and vinegar than...

oh, wait a minute.

[Bill McBlueState]

13. problem is...

You're saying to get involved in a church for the community aspects, even if you don't believe in any gods.

Sounds easy enough to a believer, but someone who doesn't believe in any gods will not be able to participate fully in the life of an institution that has the existence of a particular god as its entire premise. It's not about whether you believe "every word of the bible or what comes out of the pastor's mouth," it's about having a substantially different view of reality.

[usregimechange]

5. UU

[Az]

6. In addition to the Unitarian Universalists there are other options

Depending on your location you may have a Church of Freethought in your area. This is a relatively new Church devoted to atheism and freethought. It has regular meetings like a religious church does. But none of the fire and brimstone.

There are also numerous atheist organizations that meet semi-regularly. Check your local www.meetup.com to see if there is an atheist group meeting. These can be quite interesting and provide links to other local atheist organizations. There is also American Atheists but as you list yourself as agnostic (thats for a different debate) they may be a bit strident for your taste.

Then there are the various Humanist groups. Humanists are atheists that don't focus on the atheism instead focus of being humane and social. Secular Humanism is the largest of these groups but there are others to look into.

[Nay]

9. Look up RAFT and WASH --

Richmond Area Free Thinkers And Washington Area Secular Humanists -- google them, there are several groups in VA.

[edhopper]

10. Try these two affiliated orgs.

http://www.secularhumanism.org/

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/

There are local chapters around the country.

[shrike]

11. Paula Poundstone's atheist church

Where the faithful gather 'round and sing "One hundred bottles of beer on the wall." And the blind man will get up and say, "Yesterday, I couldn't see. And today, I still can't see."

Sorry, I know that doesn't help you, but your post reminded me of that. I'm Catholic, but heard that routine on the radio once on the radio while I was driving. I almost had to pull over, I was lauhing so hard.

[YankeyMCC]

12. I often go to the Sunday Platforms of my local Ethical Society Chapter

American Ethical Union http://aeu.org/index.php?case=fromsoc


There is one in VA:

NoVES (Northern Virginia Ethical Society) http://www.esnv.org/web/about-noves