Church without god?

[WhichWayDidHeGo]

Hello all,

I'm new to this board, so a bit of background. I'm an adult with a wife and kids who was raised in a strong Christian family. However, I'm the "black sheep" of the family as I strongly believe there is no God, god, or gods, much like I believe there is no Santa Claus. If I was presented with some evidence about the existence of a god, I would be willing to change my opinion as I would if Santa showed up on my roof with his rain deer

While I do not believe in a god or any spiritual force, I have a strong moral base as I feel most humans do. I believe there is a right and wrong we should live by and my overall goal is to improve the world around us for my children and my neighbor.

Being atheist does have a big negative as I feel I am missing out o the fellowship available through religion. While I always disagreed with the religious concepts, the fellowship aspects of church always appealed to me and still does. I always respected my paster growing up and while his council was always religiously based, he was also a good source of secular wisdom. The friendships established in church were deep and long lasting often crossing the typical social divides. It was also a pleasant environment to share day-to-day issues with each other. Additionally, I always enjoyed the community outreach where we helped those less fortunate or just helped each other out (helping someone move, paint their house, helping provide food to the homeless, etc.). One of my fondest memories as a teenager was helping my dad with electrical work in a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) base in Mexico. Again, while I didn't agree with the religious outreach, they also helped the local community with a number of different work efforts.

I guess what I am looking for is a church without the religious aspects. A place possibly where speakers talk on different aspects of life such as raising a family, marriage, interpersonal relationships, etc. A place where I can take my family and my children have a place to feel secure with those around them and a place to help them grow into strong moral adults. I want a place where others are looking for fellowship, where people can discuss the day-to-day joys and pains of living on this wonderful and at times scary world. A place where a strong goal is to help the local community improve through regular charity efforts, both financial and with work efforts.

I have thought of attending a typical religious church and pretending to be a typical Christian. It would be easy for me to pretend to be a Christian with all the years of church experience I have, however I feel this would be a waste of my time, other's time and I would be lying to receive the benefits of church. This is contrary to the deep relationships I am looking to forge and a violation of my code of ethics.

In short, does an "atheist church" exist?

Thanks,
Dave

[teifuani]

Secular Humanism is what sprung to my mind, although as far as I'm aware there aren't really congregations. Unitarian Universalist churches are accepting of atheists, though.

Also, welcome!

[PoopShoot]

Welcome.  I think the closest thing you will find is a UU church.  Alternatively, you could sign find you local chapter of Satanists.

[AreEl]

I guess what I am looking for is a church without the religious aspects. A place possibly where speakers talk on different aspects of life such as raising a family, marriage, interpersonal relationships, etc. A place where I can take my family and my children have a place to feel secure with those around them and a place to help them grow into strong moral adults. I want a place where others are looking for fellowship, where people can discuss the day-to-day joys and pains of living on this wonderful and at times scary world. A place where a strong goal is to help the local community improve through regular charity efforts, both financial and with work efforts.

Join a golf club for the well-heeled. Everything you are looking for will be found there. A yacht club will also do.

If you are not so well off, buy a motor home and join a camping club with weekly meetings.

[Whitney]

If you happen to live near Dallas we have exactly what you are looking for:  Fellowship of Freethought (see link in signature). It's not set up as a church...it's a community group that offers the social, educational, and charity aspects of a church but doesn't have the dogma.  It's also member run which fits well with the freethought mentality.

If you don't live near Dallas I would suggest finding a Unitarian Universalist church (result may vary some are more religious than others) or searching on meetup.com for secular/atheist/freethought/humanist groups in your area that might fit your needs.

[WhichWayDidHeGo]

Thanks for everyone's input so far.

I'm in Orange County California, so I'm going to go to the local Council for Secular Humanism a try next Sunday. They have a talk on Exposing the God Virus: Religious Infection in Our Society which seems appropriate for this search, maybe I'll find I've just been infected by religion

There is also a UU church down the street, though the religious and worship aspects don't seem to be what I'm looking for. I'll keep an open mind and give it a try though.

Dave

[WhichWayDidHeGo]

Welcome.  I think the closest thing you will find is a UU church.  Alternatively, you could sign find you local chapter of Satanists.

I assume the Satanists recommendation was a joke?

[PoopShoot]

I assume the Satanists recommendation was a joke?

No.  Why?

[WhichWayDidHeGo]

I assume the Satanists recommendation was a joke?

No.  Why?

I don't understand how atheism equates to Satanists.

[Asmodean]

I assume the Satanists recommendation was a joke?

No.  Why?

I don't understand how atheism equates to Satanists.

La Veyan satanism is deglorified atheism.

[The Magic Pudding]

Welcome Dave and good luck with your search.
What's the volunteer sector like there?
Here volunteer bushfire brigades, surf lifesaving, land care, and sporting organisations are popular.

[PoopShoot]

I assume the Satanists recommendation was a joke?

No.  Why?

I don't understand how atheism equates to Satanists.

Satanism is an atheist religion and the only religion that I know of which requires you to be an atheist.  

Besides, the church services often consist of putting a dildo into a woman.  Who wouldn't want that?

[AreEl]

There is also a UU church down the street, though the religious and worship aspects don't seem to be what I'm looking for. I'll keep an open mind and give it a try though.

The UU stuff is for losers. Go there if the shoe fits.

Join a yacht club; believe me, you'll find exactly what you are looking for as well as some of the best role models for your children.

[Thumpalumpacus]

There is also a UU church down the street, though the religious and worship aspects don't seem to be what I'm looking for. I'll keep an open mind and give it a try though.

The UU stuff is for losers. Go there if the shoe fits.

Join a yacht club; believe me, you'll find exactly what you are looking for as well as some of the best role models for your children.

Where do I sign up to get a yacht issued to me?

[AreEl]

Where do I sign up to get a yacht issued to me?

I am serious. If your credit/equity is good, you can get a loan for a yacht. $100,000 or so will get you an acceptable used yacht. Yachtsmen are gregarious and will take under their wing a neophyte.

If yachting is too costly, a motor home is a good alternative: buy a motor home and join a club with weekly outings. People with motor homes come in all income levels and are very family-oriented.

One last thing:

I'm in Orange County California, so I'm going to go to the local Council for Secular Humanism a try next Sunday.

I don't know what these things are like in SoCal but I have an acquaintance who is in such a group here. I've attended two of their meetings and they impressed me as a group of frustrated intellectuals who - for the most part - didn't work, or were underemployed. Not good role models, suffice it to say.