Religion
Related: About this forumAn Atheist Explains Why a Secular Church Isn’t for Him
January 19, 2016
by Hemant Mehta
The biggest asset for the Sunday Assembly is also its biggest downfall: It resembles a church in many ways. The organizers want all the benefits of worship songs, sermons, community, ritual without any of the religious nonsense.
As Ive said many times before, it makes for a wonderful stepping stone for people who no longer believe in God but dont want to ditch everything they love about church. For atheists who didnt like church to begin with, though, its a hard sell.
Theres very little overlap, I suspect, between the crowd youd find at some random atheist convention and the people youd meet at a local Sunday Assembly gathering. Thats not a bad thing in any way just an observation.
John Rael recently attended a Sunday Assembly meeting in his area, and he really enjoyed the lectures and music
but he has no plans to go back. He explains why in this video:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/01/19/an-atheist-explains-why-a-secular-church-isnt-for-him/
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Certainly not the only way, but one way. And except for sociopaths, people need community.
Unitarian services provide community without a specific theology. I would, and have suggested that option to people who are looking for a communal gathering.
Dorian Gray
(13,499 posts)to a Ethical Society. (Secular meetings.) Their sunday meetings are generally hippie fests. In the summer, outside, barefoot, singing songs in a circle while kids are playing.
It's attractive to a number of people in our neighborhood, but it certainly isn't for everyone.
Lots of people don't need this community thing. Many lapsed catholics stop going to mass on sundays and don't replace it with anything. (Well, maybe football. Or Soul Cycle!)
This type of service appeals to some but not all.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)A garden club, a walking club, a game playing club. A family is a community. Whatever fulfills the need for community is fine. A church is one example among many.
The Ethical Society sounds very interesting. Very Jeffersonian.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Cause I don't give a crap about communal gatherings.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)The need for interaction can be met in many ways.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)I think you just made up a convenient meaning that you can use like a weapon and confirm your own biases.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)If you wish to debate, do so with the actual speaker.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)I posted:
Certainly not the only way, but one way. And except for sociopaths, people need community.
Unitarian services provide community without a specific theology. I would, and have suggested that option to people who are looking for a communal gathering.
Then, Fumesucker self-described as a sociopath. Perhaps in jest. A simple rereading of the thread will confirm this.
div class="excerpt"]Eh, I guess I'm a sociopath then
Cause I don't give a crap about communal gatherings.
=============================================================
A definition:
www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html
http://www.sociopathworld.com/2010/04/everybody-needs-somebody-sometime.html
So the error is mine, and I hope I do not repeat it. A better understanding of the term would have led me to rephrase the question and substitute "antisocial" for sociopath.
Thanks for pointing out the error.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Live and learn.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)That makes two things I learned today. That also means I will have to forget two things. Balance is essential.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)as an overly active member of a UU church, I have the task of understanding why our membership is declining. Basically, people have more, and often better, ways to spend their Sundays, and the church community (always more important than the theology) just isn't that important any more.
We offer a non-theological spiritual experience that isn't too strange or off-the-wall to former churchgoers and current nonbelievers.
Apparently, however, that's not enough.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)I find community somewhere north of 7k RPM with my two-wheeled friends, if they can keep up.
Everyone's different.
edhopper
(33,615 posts)the Sunday assembly aren't telling him he is going to hell for not attending.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)Can't decide which I dislike more, opening ceremonies of closing ceremonies. Opener, no surprises, -- flag, pledge, anthem or equivalent, vs. being benedicted.
Spontaneity, is what it is, or where.
--imm