Atheistic Churches look for new non believer members..

[ShockBlast]

It`s sheer stupidity.

This kind of wordplay must not be allowed, atheism is not a religion and atheist gatherings are not churches.

A church or any "holy" place is built to honour a god(s) and/or as a special place to worship said god(s).

Atheists don`t believe in god(s) thus any building they gather into can`t be called a church.

[Mangalore]

Do they get tax exemption? If they don't they are not a real church, at least where I come from you wouldn't even be a proper religion...

[Denny Crane!]

Even a rights/morality talk. In Buddhism all of that stuff exists independent of God or some form of objective authority figure. It is seemingly something some people require or desire and if it happens that Christianity or Islam isn't their bag then they seek it out or create it elsewhere. And it is of course obvious that people like identities and groups or collectives to create a sense of belonging so the idea that they want to create a unique identity is not unusual either.

I don't know whether there is any truth to it but the mass urbanisation, the demographic shifts and the cultural changes (where church was the center, now its the TV and Facebook) that have led to us not having a solid small community is supposedly deleterious to our psychological health.

[ShockBlast]

Do they get tax exemption? If they don't they are not a real church, at least where I come from you wouldn't even be a proper religion...

Tax exemption you say...well then, I guess we could discuss it.

[Himster]

A church or any "holy" place is built to honour a god(s) and/or as a special place to worship said god(s).

That isn't exactly true. From a western perspective, it seems or appears to be the de facto reality, but that is because of religious history here, it is not the reality of all religions. Buddhism is the biggest exception, but of course there must be other religions that don't necessitate deities in it's doctrines. "Holy" places can be irrelevant to Gods.

But, still, in this case it does not appear to be a religion in any way other than superficial similarities, in much the same way as a hypothetical club dedicated to non-golf players may have superficial similarities to a club for golf players.

[Portuguese Rebel]

But I do understand the need people have for some kinda meeting place/social occasion.

Personally i don't... What would i have in common with those people? Will i get together with them sharing the non belief in something? Basically getting together because of a position of not believing in a deity? Heck no. The question is not important enough for me to get together with someone. The existence of god isn't a core aspect of my life. When i said those places were speed dating spots i meant it. That's what they are in reality. Guys and girls trying to spot suitable partners to avoid having to deal with religious partners that can mess up your life.

[Denny Crane!]

Personally i don't... What would i have in common with those people? Will i get together with them sharing the non belief in something? Basically getting together because of a position of not believing in a deity? Heck no. The question is not important enough for me to get together with someone. The existence of god isn't a core aspect of my life. When i said those places were speed dating spots i meant it. That's what they are in reality. Guys and girls trying to spot suitable partners to avoid having to deal with religious partners that can mess up your life.

Different strokes.

[Aeneas Veneratio]

Meh, I don't attend any troll attempts of making atheism into a religion, which it isn't and never will be, I get my sense of community from my rowing club and I get my need for social gatherings fulfilled from hanging out with friends, family, rowing mates or parties at my rowing club. I don't need some ridiculous attempt of making a church based on no set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe, no (objective) moral code, no specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices agreed upon by its adherents and no practice of religious beliefs like relying on faith. All of these things, of course, need to be present to declare something a religion. A sport would make a better case of being considered a religion than any atheistic "church".

They're getting their 10 virtues aswell.

All he did was do a logical observation of, what makes a society function. He doesn't claim that resilience, empathy, patience, sacrifice, politeness, humour, self-awareness, forgiveness, hope and confidence have something objectively correct about them, more that, in his subjective opinion, these virtues enrich the members of a society to strive for a common cause rather than work against each other.

[Phier]

Personally i don't... What would i have in common with those people? Will i get together with them sharing the non belief in something? Basically getting together because of a position of not believing in a deity? Heck no. The question is not important enough for me to get together with someone. The existence of god isn't a core aspect of my life. When i said those places were speed dating spots i meant it. That's what they are in reality. Guys and girls trying to spot suitable partners to avoid having to deal with religious partners that can mess up your life.

Friendships come from shared experiences, even if that experience is just hanging out for a Sunday Atheist BBQ and sing along. The issue would be just being there to enjoy the experience, rather then being there to prove a point.

[G-Megas-Doux]

I tried to start an Nihilistic church once. After arranging the first gathering and sermon no one attended. I found whilst they accepted the principle of the idea they didn't accept the existence of the church.

E-harmony had matched a couple of Solipsists and had to issue a refund. Whilst the match was a success they successfully pointed out that E-harmony said that they would match them with another person. It was argued that since the other half was merely a reflection of their own persona and not a new individual mind that E-harmony failed in its promise.

[Col. Tartleton]

Our Lady of the Implausible Nothingness

My Atheist Church is going to be Catholic.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

There's power in community. One of the reasons religions are so powerful is that they have an entire organization to sway their stuff with. If Atheists don't organize, then where's the counter? If religions can have all the benefits of a church because they believe something, why can't atheists? It's not a religion. Yet the benefits of being considered one? Apparently many.

You have a problem, it strikes a coord that there's an Atheist "church"? Well, take away all the benefits of "real" churches. Start taxing and stop making special considerations to people's rights just because you believe there's a guy upstairs.

If atheists can't be treated special for their beliefs, why the should others?

[Aeneas Veneratio]

If Atheists don't organize, then where's the counter?

All the non-religious/secular organizations that people can join no matter their belief?

[Phier]

All the non-religious/secular organizations that people can join no matter their belief?

And which of those would stand up for your rights as an atheist to be atheist?

[Portuguese Rebel]

Associate to defend rights doesn't require a mockery of religion in itself. We could do well without that.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

Associate to defend rights doesn't require a mockery of religion in itself. We could do well without that.

Forming a group of like-minded atheists is a mockery of religion?

[Phier]

Associate to defend rights doesn't require a mockery of religion in itself. We could do well without that.

Come now, how can mocking affect those who know the TRUTH, they should laugh at us for denying god.

We atheists have taken crap a long time from the believers, truly they earned it.

[Col. Tartleton]

Just because we want to have cool costumes, relics, and arcane rituals doesn't mean we're mocking religion.

[Visna]

OP, do you get the joke behind the event? Do you think a bunch of comedians doing a massive joke represent atheists worldwide? Seriously?

At least our representatives are voluntarily funny.

[chriscase]

So it seems that despite people insisting that atheism is not a religi

Oops. Lack of interest in this argument wins again.