Church for the Un-Churched

2010-05-14 03:49 PM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 197

Has anyone ever been to an Atheist Church?

I went once, to one in Dallas, and the crowd was older... and it just wasn't my style.

I like the idea of having a community of people to bond with, much like religious people get with church, but I found that gather to talk about current events and such was... well, boring.

Wondering if anyone else has had a different opinion.

2010-05-14 04:09 PM

MrWonder
Medium City, TX
Posts: 226

Hi Christy,

I agree it would be boring.

MrWonder

2010-05-14 05:35 PM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 119

Sounds like it would be boring. You can go to any local watering hole for a better experience talking about current events probably

2010-05-14 05:39 PM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 197

And that I do.... But there has to be an organization of YOUNG atheists that is more stimulating....

Or I'd think there would be...

2010-09-19 04:25 PM

archaeologist
Seoul, South Korea
Posts: 79

how can you have church for anagnostic or atheist when they do not believe in any gods or God? it wouldn't matter where they met for the content woul dbe the same, they would have no one to worship, pray to, give thanks to and their meetings woul dhave no edification for all their opinions would be the same. ou could hold the meetings in a pub or a restaurant and it wouldn't matter. in fact you would have the same effectjust by meeting together for coffee.

temples/churches are for worship of a diety whether real or imaginary, they provide a sense of purpose though only the worship of the one true God would actually have any real meaning and effect. the concept of worship is to acknowledge the One who is greater than you, give them adoration and praise for what they have done, though this falls short for those who worship false gods and their services often denegrate into sexual activities for they have nothing else.

only the God of the Bible is worthy to be praised and worshiped, everyone else is a waste of time.

2010-09-20 11:57 AM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 197

Church is just a word for weekly meetings with like minded people. You could replace the word with assembly... but church already gives the connotation of regular meetings for those anyone would like to attend.

http://www.churchoffreethought.org

Coming together for a sense of fellowship isn't something that goes away when you become a non-believer.

2010-09-20 07:06 PM

archaeologist
Seoul, South Korea
Posts: 79

like i said, there is no point to having a special building for such meetings because such activity can be done at any time and anyplace. there is nothing 'special' about it.

2010-09-21 11:27 AM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 197

With that logic, there is no need to have a special building for religious meetings. Sure the bible mentions that you should come together with fellow christians to worship... but it doesn't say that you have to do that in a church. You could just as easily do it at starbucks.

I have a friend who attended church in a barbershop because they hadn't raised the money to get a building yet.

2010-09-21 02:37 PM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 119

going to have to side with Arch on this one. Not over the definition of church but because the lack of specificity for the congregation. People who go church have a common belief that that go and discuss which makes the gathering interesting and eventful for each attendee. An atheist church lacks the specificity that a religious church would.

I think for most humans to be interested into going to something every week and discussing ideas, the group should be more focused. God, books, politics, games.. etc are all examples of more specific ideas that have successful scheduled weekly gatherings.

Athiesism lacks that idea to discuss.

"So, don't believe in any one god, eh?"

"Nope."

"Well, okay then. Same time next week?"

Now, I'm not saying they deserve their own building if they want to start up weekly meetings. If they want to invest the resources to have a place to gather and talk about stuff, they absolutely have that right. I'm just saying it sounds really boring.

2010-09-21 02:51 PM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 197

I'll agree with the boring part. I've never been to a church that wasn't boring. I think it's geared toward more of an older crowd who lack social interaction with like minded people.

2010-09-21 07:31 PM

archaeologist
Seoul, South Korea
Posts: 79

ChristyR Wrote: With that logic, there is no need to have a special building for religious meetings. Sure the bible mentions that you should come together with fellow christians to worship... but it doesn't say that you have to do that in a church. You could just as easily do it at starbucks.

I have a friend who attended church in a barbershop because they hadn't raised the money to get a building yet.

we christians do not need a special building for the Book of Hebrews tells us that our bodies are now the temple of God and Jesus said we need to worship in spirit an dtruth thus a building is not required to meet those criteria.

we could do it at starbucks but many of the other customers may not like their quiet time interupted for the offering...or the company would not like the idea of having no sales for a couple hours of the day... we have special buildings because most people are not believers and do not want chrisianity associated with them or their structures.

now i do not agree with the millions that are spent on these buildings by church people but that is another topic for another day.

2010-09-21 07:33 PM

archaeologist
Seoul, South Korea
Posts: 79

ChristyR Wrote: I'll agree with the boring part. I've never been to a church that wasn't boring. I think it's geared toward more of an older crowd who lack social interaction with like minded people.

no you would be wrong. a lot of the times the younger crowd do not know what real worship is and worship is NOT social interaction. it is adoring GOD not each other. you really need to do some proper study on the church. the seculr world i sclueless when it comes to the things of the spiritual.

2010-09-22 11:48 AM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 197

You are making assumptions again.

First of all, I was speaking of the church for free thought when I said it was geared toward and older crowd who lack social interaction with like minded people. That church has nothing to do with worship.

Worship can be performed anywhere. Christian Church, on the other hand, is about one part worship and 1 part social interaction. Maybe 2:1. Between the potlucks, the socials, the lock ins, the retreats and a camping trips, and all of the other church events..... A large part of time spent with the church revolves around social interraction.

You keep making these broad statements about secular people as if we know nothing of your world. I was born and raised in Church. Went to church 3 times a week for the first part of my life. I didn't decide to become an atheist until sometime during college, after I hit the age of logical reasoning.

2010-09-22 04:09 PM

archaeologist
Seoul, South Korea
Posts: 79

ChristyR Wrote: You are making assumptions again.

First of all, I was speaking of the church for free thought when I said it was geared toward and older crowd who lack social interaction with like minded people. That church has nothing to do with worship.

Worship can be performed anywhere. Christian Church, on the other hand, is about one part worship and 1 part social interaction. Maybe 2:1. Between the potlucks, the socials, the lock ins, the retreats and a camping trips, and all of the other church events..... A large part of time spent with the church revolves around social interraction.

You keep making these broad statements about secular people as if we know nothing of your world. I was born and raised in Church. Went to church 3 times a week for the first part of my life. I didn't decide to become an atheist until sometime during college, after I hit the age of logical reasoning.

"church for free thought "

this is a misnomer. the christian church is for those who are christian an dthink like them. the hindu temple is for hindus and who think like them and so on. you can have free thought but no church is going to accept false thinking or put it in their worship or religious ceremonies.

you can do free thought anywhere, you do not need to go to a church to do it for then it would not be worship for the deity in that particular church but anarchy. your whole first paragraph is just off. older people do not lack social interaction, you just misread them and your last sentence there is way off as the building may be called a church but that is ot what the church is.

your second paragraph has you confusing worship and socialization. socialization is not worship, it is just growing tighter with your fellow christian and can be done anywhere. worship is an act of adoration toward God, you do not need social interaction (which is called 'fellowship') to worship.
\
it is clear from your statements that you do not understand the concept of christianity or what the Bible says, so did the late charles templeton but he showed that he did not grasp what God was all about either as he listened to the secular world over Him and went off nto atheism just like you. Listening to the secular world is disobedience as God said not to do that for they do not have the truth nor do they understand God's word.

you have done the same thing. you have opted to listen to the secular world's idea of what 'logical reasoning' is and have left your faith. not good. read 2 tim. 3. just because the world wants what it cannot have doesn't mean they are right. they do not want to use faith but that will always be part of the equation. you can't even have salvation without using faith.

demanding evidence, demanding 'free thought' and so on is just acting like spoiled children who do not get their way. free thought in its base form is just anarchy and double-mindedness and those aren't of God.

2010-09-23 02:41 PM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 119

archaeologist Wrote:

you have done the same thing. you have opted to listen to the secular world's idea of what 'logical reasoning' is and have left your faith. not good. read 2 tim. 3. just because the world wants what it cannot have doesn't mean they are right. they do not want to use faith but that will always be part of the equation. you can't even have salvation without using faith.

demanding evidence, demanding 'free thought' and so on is just acting like spoiled children who do not get their way. free thought in its base form is just anarchy and double-mindedness and those aren't of God.

This is an excellent summary of what is wrong with religion and religious zealots today. Insult common sense, insult reason, bring up "salvation," say "God" is the answer, and then claim it cannot be question because some book says it can't.

I have studied the Bible, there are some historic accounts in there, just like there is with every other group of legends and stories. But that is about all they are, a group of stories and legends to entertain your children, like Santa Claus and King Arthur.