Atheist Church Opens in 35 more Towns!

[WelshBloke]

maybe they should consider joining their local Odd Fellows chapter.

I still vote for the local pub.

 

[alzan]

I didn't say anything remotely close to that.

But what I'm saying is that gathering with like-minded people is simply human...not just religious.

Atheists basically gather on the internet and spend most of their time talking about something the allegedly don't believe in...and that's God or gods.

You guys spend more time in religious discussions that you do secular, or scientific ones.

I don't believe you, partially. Sure, you'd go to a social gathering, but not because you're new to an area -- you desire companionship etc, just like your everyday religious person.

Unless you make a habit of visiting a lot of online atheist discussion groups you should remember that the atheists/agnostics you're accustomed to having discussions with on AT do not in any way, shape or form represent the totality of worldwide atheists.

Speaking only for myself, sure if you searched on my username to see what threads I contribute to you'd fin a significant percent in "religious" threads; you'd also find a significant percent in political threads, off topic threads, computer help threads, etc.

I personally wouldn't have a need for a Sunday Assembly, Atheist Club, whatever people want to call it Group; but if others do then more power to them.

I still vote for the local pub.

Seconded

 

[coffeejunkee]

hahahaa yeah, nice try..just admit it -- Atheism is a now officially a religion by any stretched definition....too funny!!

Why do religious people keep going on about this? Don't they realize that by trying to invalidate atheism by calling it a religion they are invalidating their own religion as well? You laugh at atheism because it's 'just a religion' while at the same time your own religion is 'just a religion' as well.

In fact, if atheism really was a religion you could safely convert to it and not worry about the well being of your soul. Unless you believe not every religion is correct in which case you could never know for sure if you are following the right religion.

This just apart from the fact that anyone with a bit of common sense realizes that the word 'church' isn't meant to be taken literally in this context. For those that don't understand the difference: there is no obligation whatsoever to attend its 'service' unlike a traditional church where religious persons attend service because they believe there are consequences if they don't (yes, there are religious people who never attend service, but the ones that do feel some sort of obligation to).

 

[schmuckley]

How many of these are "popping up" in Muslim countries? :awe:

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Why do religious people keep going on about this? Don't they realize that by trying to invalidate atheism by calling it a religion they are invalidating their own religion as well? You laugh at atheism because it's 'just a religion' while at the same time your own religion is 'just a religion' as well.

This behavior is a projection of their insecurities about their own beliefs. The fact is that they don't feel very good about their religion vis-a-vis atheism, and they hope to justify their own shaky beliefs by "bringing atheism down to their level." It's pretty pathetic, actually.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Why do religious people keep going on about this? Don't they realize that by trying to invalidate atheism by calling it a religion they are invalidating their own religion as well? You laugh at atheism because it's 'just a religion' while at the same time your own religion is 'just a religion' as well.

It isn't too different when they say that I cannot prove god doesn't exist as if it is an argument that supports their faith. Sure, that's absolutely true, I cannot. But that also means they cannot prove for sure that none of the 4200 other known religions and their gods aren't true and real, either. So at best, that puts them 1:4200 odds of being right, assuming that one of those faiths is the real deal (not counting other religions that were lost, individual spirituality, there not being a god, or a god that hasn't made itself known and none of those being correct... adding those types of things makes the odds even worse).

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh, the athesit church is really just an atheist club from my point of view.

That said, I have considered myself an atheist since I was about 5 years old when my mom told me thats what people who do not believe in god are called. She was not happy about it because somehow, she was able to suspend disbelief in supernatural garbage and is christian, however, I do not succeeded at believing in magic/impossible things, no matter how fantastic they may be.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Why do religious people keep going on about this? Don't they realize that by trying to invalidate atheism by calling it a religion they are invalidating their own religion as well? You laugh at atheism because it's 'just a religion' while at the same time your own religion is 'just a religion' as well. <--- so you admit that Atheism is a religion...finally an Atheist that saw the light....I see that hand brother!!

In fact, if atheism really was a religion you could safely convert to it and not worry about the well being of your soul. Unless you believe not every religion is correct in which case you could never know for sure if you are following the right religion. <-- why would I want to safely convert...I am not worried at present about the well being of my soul.....Atheist must be.....after all the are in denial that Atheism is a religion...

This just apart from the fact that anyone with a bit of common sense realizes that the word 'church' isn't meant to be taken literally in this context. For those that don't understand the difference: there is no obligation whatsoever to attend its 'service' unlike a traditional church where religious persons attend service because they believe there are consequences if they don't (yes, there are religious people who never attend service, but the ones that do feel some sort of obligation to). <-- you know little about organized religion and as such you insert your foot in your mouth.....still in denial that Atheism is a religion!!

I can see it all now -- what religion are you?? I am a Fundamentalist Atheist!! I belong to the Assemblies of Atheists!!

 

[Victorian Gray]

I can see it all now -- what religion are you?? I am a Fundamentalist Atheist!! I belong to the Assemblies of Atheists!!

And you are a Muslim. How's that working out for you?

 

[JEDIYoda]

And you are a Muslim. How's that working out for you?

your point is what?? Nobody invited you to the party...where is security when you need them?? ah....they are probably beating the snot out of some helpless old lady resisting arrest@!!

 

[SlowSpyder]

I can see it all now -- what religion are you?? I am a Fundamentalist Atheist!! I belong to the Assemblies of Atheists!!

You're just trolling now because you have absolutely nothing of substance to add or say to refute anything. Now you're just sticking your fingers in your ears and repeating yourself over and over. You're an excellent cog in the religion machine.

 

[Victorian Gray]

your point is what?? Nobody invited you to the party...where is security when you need them?? ah....they are probably beating the snot out of some helpless old lady resisting arrest@!!

Seriously, how's that Muslim thing working out for you?

 

[datalink7]

Guys, just ignore JEDIYoda. He's a well known troll, as can be seen here:

Link

 

[Darwin333]

Buddhism, Taoism, and Scientology are also affiliations that don’t believe in God, but they’re still considered religions and receive tax exemptions.

The below pastor has no problem labeling himself as part of an atheist church; he even preaches from a pulpit and wears religious garb only absent of a clerical collar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egFaJXFTBbw&t=2m42s

So yeah, atheists have a belief system based in countering an eternal truth and a community with gatherings directed at understanding based in this ultimate truth... the very description of a religion.

Atheist organizations also receive the same 503C tax exempt status. Under the law they are considered religious organizations.

Wait, are you saying that under the law all "503C" (I think you meant 501(c)(3)) tax exempt organizations are religious organizations?

 

[Darwin333]

The IRS (and DOJ) has asserted that American atheist organizations are tax exempt eligible under the *identical* benefits granted churches, and could indeed register as churches. So I guess you don't deem Buddhism or Taoism religions or that either can be an atheistic system of thought or philosophy. Or perhaps your opinion would be more relevant if you too owned a church.

BTW, Minister Jerry Dewitt is asking for donations for his secular community at his Community Mission Chapel. Don't see how this scenario is any different than a church of Scientology.
http://www.patreon.com/jerrydewitt

Actually, 501(c)(3) covers:

The most common type of tax-exempt nonprofit organization falls under category 501(c)(3), whereby a nonprofit organization is exempt from federal income tax if its activities have the following purposes: charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.

Please take note that there are numerous reasons for exemption with only a single being religious.

Is fostering amateur sports competition a religion too? How about testing for public safety, what heathen god do those bastards pray too at their meetings?

 

[Darwin333]

I find this post sort of confusing. According to what I've come to understand over the years, atheists for quite a while, compared congregating other atheists to "herding cats" and that they weren't really interested in gathering together. Now that these "cats" are being herded, you seem OK with it, but don't want it called a "church" (which I can understand).

Could it be that you (they) were in denial about having a need to gather all along and now they're simply declining to fight against it?

It just seems to me that some atheists are simply reluctant to accept that FACT that they aren't really different from their religious counterparts, expect in the idea that they replace God with the Human mind, or science.

We always replace God with something else god-like.

People who are alike, either physically (race) or mind (culturally) tend to seek each other out because they have shit in common.

This is true with immigration just as much as religion and even, gasp, non-religious stuff. I belong to a photography club, I enjoy swapping tips and hanging out with people interested in the same thing as I am, is photography a religion? How about Mexican, is that a religion? Go to any town with a bunch of Mexicans and guess what, most of them live very close to each other.

It's human nature, the very same human nature that has allowed religion after religion to prop up, propagate, die and be replaced.

 

[Darwin333]

I still vote for the local pub.

That's exactly the point except I vote for the local tax exempt pub making the beer and booze much cheaper!

 

[WelshBloke]

That's exactly the point except I vote for the local tax exempt pub making the beer and booze much cheaper!

I vote for you.

 

[OverVolt]

Ehh, the athesit church is really just an atheist club from my point of view.

That said, I have considered myself an atheist since I was about 5 years old when my mom told me thats what people who do not believe in god are called. She was not happy about it because somehow, she was able to suspend disbelief in supernatural garbage and is christian, however, I do not succeeded at believing in magic/impossible things, no matter how fantastic they may be.

Religion is just a club too but the atheists try and say its responsible for all wars on the entire planet earth.

 

[datalink7]

Religion is just a club too but the atheists try and say its responsible for all wars on the entire planet earth.

"The Atheists"? Who are these people? Cause I'm an atheist, but I don't say that religion is responsible for all the wars on the entire planet, so I guess I'm not a part of "The" atheists?

 

[Thebobo]

Religion is just a club too but the atheists try and say its responsible for all wars on the entire planet earth.

I remember the days of the great atheist wars of the past.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Seriously, how's that Muslim thing working out for you?

seriously that the best you can do??? sad..maybe even pathetic....

 

[disappoint]

If you actually believe what this horrific strawman implies...then it's no small wonder that one with this mentality would hate Christianity or any God that would allow such injustice.

Angry Man Shakes Fist At God

Back off on the LSD. Those are clouds not God.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Religion is just a club too but the atheists try and say its responsible for all wars on the entire planet earth.

I doubt anyone is saying religion is responsible for 'all' the was on the entire planet. But, you're lying to yourself if you don't believe a huge amount of bloodshed is a direct result of religion. What's ISIS' driving reason for cutting off people's heads today? A slightly different version of islam compared to others in their area? Would the many Crusades ever have taken place if there was no holy land to go save?

 

[Moonbeam]

I doubt anyone is saying religion is responsible for 'all' the was on the entire planet. But, you're lying to yourself if you don't believe a huge amount of bloodshed is a direct result of religion. What's ISIS' driving reason for cutting off people's heads today? A slightly different version of islam compared to others in their area? Would the many Crusades ever have taken place if there was no holy land to go save?

Because you do not know yourself, the truth of what you feel, you see only the surface of the issue. It is not religion or nationalism or the hundred other things people quarrel about that cause war, but the ego need to identify with such externals because our organic self respect was destroyed by being put down as children. We had to identify with sone external illusionary ideal the identification with which would make us feel OK, in order to bury our feelings of self hate.