Happy Atheist Forum

I know it's kind of against the atheist way to have a church, but if we did, what do you think it would look like? I think there might actually be a few out there. But I think it'd probably look like a coffee shop. And it'd probably more like a safe house than a church . Any thoughts on a hypothetical atheist church?

I'm not sure, but it is fun to speculate. I do know that the UU church accepts atheists into their midst.

How about a big round-table discussion where we discuss anything and everything? That could be fun. And the building could have books on science and logic, literature and history. Even philosophy! Old science journal articles going back years and covering every conceivable topic.

People could come to teach and learn; to expand their understandings and expand those around them. There would be no necessary rank, just an understanding that some people are better educated in some areas than others.

We could call it the Happy Atheist Forum and Library.

Would NOT call it a church.

Yes i wouldn't really call it a church, like i said, it might be more like a safe house or place of refuge . But yes Willravel, good point about no rank, that's something I've been meaning to say about atheism, their is no ranking for atheism, certainly there are those more respected than others, like Richard Dawkins, but we're all equal because we all look at it our own way.

Sometimes I think atheists should somehow start taking advantage of the tax free status religions get and the power and government protection that organizing gives religion, so having meeting places would be handy in this.  I get the feeling, though, that we are all a very disparate group and in the minority so organizing would be a challenge, especially for those of us entrenched in rural religious communities.  I like the idea of a coffee shop or library atmosphere.

The real problem, though, is that a place like this would, actually be an atheist church. That kinda flies in the face of what it means to be atheist. In order to make such a place, you'd need funds. You'd get funds through donations solicited from the atheist community, essentially advertising our beliefs in order to solicit cash. And in order to maintain such a place, the cash-flow would need to continue, which means more donations. It runs the risk of becoming an atheist version of the church, which is something I'm sure none of us want.

What may be better is simply meeting in public places and having discussions and debates about this and that. A park or coffee shop makes sense, or having someone host a dinner.

I don't care for the idea of an organized atheist 'church' but the simple idea of meeting somewhere sounds great. Aren't there conventions or something? I may not be thinking of the right thing...

Conventions and casual meetings are nice, but it would be kind of nice to have a place of our own. Even if it's just one atheist with a big house who always has an open invitation. You know, we may all show up one night, like 20 of us and raid his fridge. But we're not running this out of some guys room who lives in his mothers basement.

My doors are always open to anyone.

Well I do appreciate the offer Willravel, that might be the point of this forum, to bring together atheists who can't make it all the way to San Francisco lol

The coffee shop sounds good, but what's wrong with a bar?  :wink:

^ Yeah.  Bars can serve coffee but coffee shops can't serve beer.

Re: bar
I can handle a caffeinated fundy, but a liquored up fundy could end up with a physical altercation. Thus atheist conversation would probably be better at a coffee shop. Or an organic tea shop!

Haha, yeah, I was actually suggesting that a hypothetical "atheist church" should resemble a bar.  :wink:  

I certainly agree that ticking off drunk fundies is probably a bad idea.

It would look like this:

http://www.churchoffreethought.org/ (http://www.churchoffreethought.org/)

If you want to know anything about it that isn't covered on the website, I have been in contact with their activities director.

"What Would An Atheist Church Look Like?"

An empty building.

Seriously. I'm an atheist, you're an atheist. We agree on the simple fact that God doesn't exist. But that gets boring. We don't have any dogma or ancient traditions to work with. We'd have to talk about scientific topics or a variety of philosophical point of view to have a reason to stay together.

But, in that case, you might as well call it a freethought church. It wouldn't be centered around atheism anymore.

It would be more of a gathering place. Combination coffee shop/ bar! San Fran would be great. What are our chances of getting medicinal marijuana and tax exempt status?   :cheers:

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tfproject.org%2Ftfp%2Fcustomavatars%2Favatar45210_2.gif&hash=b009cb36367ac1f676d1b9a9f27f5f263abb75fd)
Martian has spoken, and he's probably right.

I would rather just kick it at a coffee shop or a library and read, think and be merry! The idea of a church-no matter how relaxing or "non-religious" you attempt to make it-it'll still probably have that uncomfortableness (is that even a word?) w/ it that makes the experience unpleasent for many!

Hi everyone. I'm actually writing an article for a national news service about this very subject. I'd like to talk to people who have attended a church-like gathering for atheists or who attend church or synagogue or another religious place of worship despite being atheists.

If that sounds like you, please PM me or respond in this thread.

Thanks,
Alex

I should also add, if the idea of going to church in any way seems unappealing to you as an atheist, I'd also like to talk to you as well.

Participating in the article would be a way to get more atheist voices in the media.

Thanks!
Alex

Like we said, if it were to be a "church" it certainly wouldn't be like one. A church is designed for preaching, lots of pews facing a single podium. An atheist church would be a bunch of tables, like at a library.

Quote from: "JournoNYC"Hi everyone. I'm actually writing an article for a national news service about this very subject. I'd like to talk to people who have attended a church-like gathering for atheists or who attend church or synagogue or another religious place of worship despite being atheists.

If that sounds like you, please PM me or respond in this thread.

Thanks,
Alex

Journo, you should contact the people from the link I posted above for the north texas church of free thought; they would be a great source for your article.  

May I ask what made you decide to write this article and what conclusion you expect to draw from it?

I've never been to a church-like gathering for atheists....I have been to meetups but that's just getting together with friends.  I don't think I'd feel comfortable attending most religious churches since very few tend to support open conversations about the day's topic.  

I have noticed that those who define themselves as freethinkers are typically very able to discuss a heated topic without being offended or turning it into a fight,   Unfortunately, I can't say I've had that same experience with dogmatic individuals.

I don't find the idea of going to a religious church appealing because I have better things to do with my free time than sit in a pew for an hour listening to a minister preach.  If I want to learn about a religion I can read about it on my own without having to have some one's interpretation spun into it.

Quote from: "laetusatheos"

Quote from: "JournoNYC"Hi everyone. I'm actually writing an article for a national news service about this very subject. I'd like to talk to people who have attended a church-like gathering for atheists or who attend church or synagogue or another religious place of worship despite being atheists.

If that sounds like you, please PM me or respond in this thread.

Thanks,
Alex

Journo, you should contact the people from the link I posted above for the north texas church of free thought; they would be a great source for your article.  

May I ask what made you decide to write this article and what conclusion you expect to draw from it?

I've never been to a church-like gathering for atheists....I have been to meetups but that's just getting together with friends.  I don't think I'd feel comfortable attending most religious churches since very few tend to support open conversations about the day's topic.  

I have noticed that those who define themselves as freethinkers are typically very able to discuss a heated topic without being offended or turning it into a fight,   Unfortunately, I can't say I've had that same experience with dogmatic individuals.

I don't find the idea of going to a religious church appealing because I have better things to do with my free time than sit in a pew for an hour listening to a minister preach.  If I want to learn about a religion I can read about it on my own without having to have some one's interpretation spun into it.

Hi.
I did in fact contact the NTCoF and they'll be in the article. I don't know that I expect to draw a "conclusion" from the article, since that's not exactly how it works. I became interested in the subject when looking for some kind of Jewish organization I could join that would take God out of the equation.

Also, if anyone is a Unitarian Universalist atheist, I'd like to talk to them too.

Thanks.

For one, I demand that it be designed by The Fountainhead's character Howard Roark, and it would be a great temple dedicated to human potential.

As for what we'd talk about, there would be a lot of:
"You know Bob, I don't think god exists."
"You're right, Frank. God doesn't exist."
"Isn't it amazing that no gods exist?"
"Sure, Frank. Hey, let's go get some coffee and doughnuts!"
"Great idea, Bob!"

true, Howard Roark should design it. He's totally crazy, course, I don't care what this building looks like, or rather each one where ever it is, and if these "churches" have free thought in mind when building them, is it likely that any will look the same?

If u start an "atheist church" in  India some people will errect a staue of atheist god there and will start worshipping! I have tried to talk to my friends and relatives for years about the non-existence of god, noone would accept.  Even the week believer would like to have some supernatural power to rely upon!

You forget the most important parts of our "church"!  We need someplace to sacrifice things!  Oh and a pit for burning the holiest of holy scriptures of the world religions!  Yes, and a secrets underground chamber for plotting sinister plots!  Come on now, we can't disappoint the Christians.

Quote from: "EvolutionCalling"You forget the most important parts of our "church"!  We need someplace to sacrifice things!  Oh and a pit for burning the holiest of holy scriptures of the world religions!  Yes, and a secrets underground chamber for plotting sinister plots!  Come on now, we can't disappoint the Christians. :D

And I likes "temple" better than "church" :devil: )

A bloody great festival. That is my church. Although, instead of attending once a week, i attend once a year.