An atheist decides to go to church and needs some help

[cleanhippie]

So, after much thought and being tired of online conversations with people I do not know, I have decided to check out the local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in my town. It is my understanding that this is a dogma-free, ideology-free venue that attracts both believers and non-believers alike (and everyone in between) that have a sense of reason and a desire to discuss and learn (about many topics) based on logic, reason and evidence.

Has anyone attended such a congregation and can anyone tell me what I can really expect? I will, of course, give a detailed report......

[Warpy]

1. All congregations are different, of course

but UU is the least dogmatic of them all, at least officially. They're people who come together in all stages of belief or unbelief for community, mutual guidance and discussion, not worship or ritual.

I know a lot of atheist friends who have found a home there.

Were I to develop a need for community, it's where I'd go first. If that didn't work, I'd try the Quakers. They're more Christian in orientation, but at least they got the point.

[cleanhippie]

5. Thanks, thats what I am hoping for.

I have friends, but I want to meet, in person, people who are like-minded. I guess I am looking for a sense of community.

[Ian David]

2. You'll be expected to bring your own goat for the sacrifice.

I'm kidding.

I've been to a Unitarian church only for a wedding.

I think you'll find it completely innocuous.

[grasswire]

4. it's kind of like wanting to eat fish that doesn't taste fishy

...in a way

[CTyankee]

3. I love Unitarians. They are typically well educated and liberal.

Nice people. A true voice of sanity when I was growing up in Dallas in the 50s...

[cleanhippie]

6. Cool, I'm looking forward to it.

[Snotcicles]

9. I'm kinda where your at. To bad we don't live closer, we could ride share. nt

[cleanhippie]

10. You can go to one close to you and we can share experiences.

[Snotcicles]

14. Yeah we have a big one in Ann Arbor. Attended some as a kid

My folks and grandparents were Unitarian.

[Nay]

7. I was a member of the Chattanooga TN Unitarian church for many

years and only stopped going because we moved. You'll find many, many great people in UU churches. There is always a bunch of atheists (which we were), some Buddhists, some woo-woo types, lots of scientists and mathematicians, and other intelligent, well-read types. The only thing I've heard that bothered me a bit is that there are some UU churches that are more Christian than others, and I would think that you'd find a lot less variety in one of those types of churches.

When you go, make sure to look at their bulletin board, if they have one -- lots of classes, yoga stuff, volunteer opportunities, etc.

Enjoy!

[TNDemo]

13. What are the church services like?

Is it somewhat like a regular church one?

[Nay]

29. Yes, similar, with a sermon about some aspect of decent human

behavior, or some such topic, but without the reference all the time to god or gods as the prime movers of everything. Many times there are talks on aspects of certain religions, philosophies, etc., and their ideas of how to create a good like for everyone.

Usually there is singing as well, and there is a UU hymnal.

It's run very similarly to a regular church service but with a much expanded world view not necessarily based on any religion.

[monmouth]

8. As I mentioned on DU a while ago, a friend wanted company so I

went with her. I loved it, no ramming of anything down the throat, no idolization of anything or anyone. Was a wonderful experience and I have gone back several times with her...

[msongs]

11. from our UU church website in Riverside, CA ->

http://www.uuchurchofriverside.org/content/principles-and-purposes

open to a variety of NON_EXCLUSIONAIRY spiritual philosophies.

Msongs

[Walk away]

12. I spent my teenage years as a member of the Unitarian church in Paramus N.J.

It was a wonderful and nurturing place and the perfect antidote to several frightening and emotionally abusive years in a Catholic church and school.

Everyone was open minded and open hearted. Ethics and social responsibility were studied in their Sunday school and my church was the first in the United States to perform a Gay marriage. Unlike Christian churches, they never advocated pushing their beliefs on others. They performed good deeds and helped people because they wanted to, not trying to buy their way into heaven.

You will find a group of supportive and intelligent people. I spent a wonderful summer at their LRY camp up in Harriman, N.Y. and it helped form my lifelong commitment to liberal causes.

[skepticscott]

15. So what precisely makes this

a "church"? I'm afraid I don't understand the need of atheists to attend something, anything that they can call a church, any more than I understand vegetarians who need to eat something that looks like a hamburger but has no meat in it.

[safeinOhio]

16. Our Church has

pondered the idea of changing the name to a fellowship. However, we do meet on Sunday mornings and talk about religions. I'd think, for the most part, we fall under the heading of human secularist.
I feel like I have found a family of like minded people. Some are much more spiritual than I am. We try to practice "deeds instead of creeds". Just a small group that does good works. Help at food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, tree planting and things like that. Best of all we have lots of parties and road trips. We also sponsor a lot of wonderful speakers on many different topics.

[cleanhippie]

18. The one I will be attending tomorrow is a "fellowship" as well, not a "church"

very intrigued about what I will find.

[skepticscott]

19. Well, since you began your OP

with "an atheist decides to go to church", I assumed that's what you considered it.

[cleanhippie]

20. I know, I looked at their website again and noticed it was a "fellowship" after seeing comments here

My bad.

[cleanhippie]

17. I do not NEED to attend CHURCH

I am looking for a place where like-minded people congregate. Thats it, nothing more. Not sure why its called a church, and don't care. The one here in my town is actually called the UU Fellowship, not church. Is there a difference, I do not know. I am checking it out because it is my understanding that much of the folks that go ARE atheist and agnostic, just like me.

I am willing to try anything once, and if its lame or misrepresented, then I will not go again.

[skepticscott]

21. There are plenty of organizations

of liked minded people. Just not sure what the fascination is with one that looks like a church and acts like a church, when it's just as easy to find one that isn't.

[cleanhippie]

22. Well then I welcome your assistance in finding something

here in the North Puget Sound area, 'cause this is all I can come up with. The Humanists here are unorganized, so........

And its not a fascination, its intrigue and exploration.

[skepticscott]

23. so....

why not organize them? It sounds like there are plenty of them around, and that they would welcome an organized social gathering that wasn't a religious organization and didn't involve worship in its activities. Wouldn't you also? Best of all, they could sleep in on Sunday mornings.

[cleanhippie]

24. No thanks, I have other things to do, thats why I was looking for an already organized group.

Sheesh, you are like my wife!!!!! :)

[Dorian Gray]

30. He explained her reasoning already

I honestly don't know why that would be problematic for anybody.

[ironbark]

26. I don’t know if this matches up with your motivations

but I got to the stage of being either bored/tired of party/dinnerparty/pub/club noise, alcohol, smoke and shallow flippant banter I couldn’t recall in the morning…or didn’t want to.

Most of my oldest friends are inadvertent atheists (or hedonist atheists ;-) who don’t think/care about religion at all…good fun to be with…but conversation rarely gets deep/serious.

So for me fellowship with the UUs and Baha’is provided sober interesting exchanges on religion, history, science and a whole lot of cross cultural issues I had been previously unaware of.

If nothing else it is a great way to get insight and understanding of how others think…and face to face(as opposed to online) folk are far less rude and aggressive.

Good luck with it.
Look forward to hearing the report back.

[cleanhippie]

27. Thanks, thats exacly it!

You seem to be reading my mind

[ironbark]

28. Glad my post resonated

….good luck with it all.

(If I could read your mind I would not be a mere agnostic...I would be a fully qualified atheist ;-)

Kidding.

Enjoy.

[ironbark]

25. The Baha’is can be as much fun to talk to as the UU’s, but often harder to locate.

No priesthood, pretty non dogmatic, ‘Firesides’ (fellowship) open to believers and non
and great food…wonderful food….hmmmmm Persian rice……….(sorry…food fetish).

Depends on where you live….if you can find a UU or a Baha’i community I recommend you go for it and enjoy.

;-)

“A fundamental principle of the Bahá'í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. Bahá'í scripture asserts that true science and true religion can never be in conflict.<1> `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, stated that religion without science leads to superstition and that science without religion leads to materialism.<2> He also admonished that true religion must conform to the conclusions of science”
Wiki

[frogmarch]

31. Sounds interesting

I wish there were a UU fellowship near where I live.

I like this UU lightbulb joke:

How many Unitarian Universalists does it take to change a light bulb?
We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the light bulb. However, if you have found in your own journey that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three- way, long-life, and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.