Pastor-Turned-Atheist Coaches Secular Church Start-Ups

[rug]

By Valerie Tarico

On the last Sunday in September, fifty or so people tricked into an old classroom in North Seattle. Classic rock played in the background, and greeters pointed parents to a table at the back where young children could entertain themselves with art materials. They were there for the launch of Sunday Assembly Seattle, an experimental church community without gods, sacred texts or dogmas.

The launch was timed to coincide with similar events in fifteen other cities across the U.S. including Charlotte, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Phoenix, and more.

Sunday Assembly Seattle is a franchise of Sunday Assembly, which made headlines around the world in 2013 as London’s new atheist church. Organizers protest that they aren’t exactly an atheist church, but rather seek to be “radically inclusive.” A 10 point charter clarifies that Sunday Assembly “has no deity; we don’t do supernatural but we also won’t tell you you’re wrong if you do.” The group’s symbol is a triangle bordered by three short sentences: Live better. Help Often. Wonder More.

The Seattle service lasted less than an hour, including singing (“Lean on Me”, “Yellow Submarine”) and a short homily by Korin Leman, leader of Portland’s assembly, which kicked off earlier in the year. Leman talked about feeling alone after leaving Christianity until her serendipitous discovery of the Portland group. “Research tells us that happiness relates to three factors,” she said. “Gratitude, purpose, and community.” She encouraged her audience to dive in, calling the start-up phase of the Portland assembly one of the hardest and most rewarding times of her life.

http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/tarico20141111

[cbayer]

1. Whatever floats your boat.

These have absolutely no appeal to me, but they sure do for others.

No harm, no foul.

[rug]

2. I just checked out IEET. It works with the Transhumanists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanity%2B

[Promethean]

3. I see a lot of scorn among atheists for this group.

It is a little disheartening considering those same people also identify community as one of the things most missed when leaving religion. The whole point of the Sunday Assembly groups is to build community without the religious baggage.

[cbayer]

4. Do you see that IRL or on DU (or both)?

I haven't met anyone that actually attended one, but I have heard some people speak enthusiastically and who would love to have one in their community.

The church played such a central role in my childhood. The community, activities and emphasis on families can be hard to replace if one is not involved in a church.

I've hear quite a bit of negative feedback on DU. It seems to primarily revolve around the rejection of anything that makes atheism look like a religion.

But having the church without the religion can really fulfill the needs of some people.

[Promethean]

5. Yes, yes and

in other internet locations. However don't let my original statement mislead you. The reaction has been mixed, both positive and negative, but there has been much more negative than I expected.

Your point about making atheism look like a religion is one of the major arguments of the negative side and honestly they have a point but I don't think it outweighs the positive aspects.