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Atheism starts its megachurch
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| Desiderata |
The non-religious Assembly is perhaps the fastest growing church in the world -- and it's coming to a mall near you.
http://www.salon.com/2013/09/22/ath...a_religion_now/
Organized Atheism is now a franchise.
Yesterday, The Sunday Assembly—the London-based “Atheist Church” that has, since its January launch, been stealing headlines the world over—announced a new “global missionary tour.” In October and November, affiliated Sunday Assemblies will open in 22 cities: in England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, the United States and Australia. “I think this is the moment,” Assembly founder Sanderson Jones told me in an email last week, “when the Sunday Assembly goes from being an interesting phenomenon to becoming a truly global movement.” Structured godlessness is ready for export. |
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| Lira |
Again!?
We tried this in Brazil centuries ago and it never caught on :conf: |
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| Dykes_on_Jay |
| China did it first. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dykes_on_Jay
China did it first. |
Before 1881? Unless you're talking about Buddhism (which is quite unlike contemporary atheism in many ways), China was quite late compared to the West on this one :p |
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| Desiderata |
Just the word "church" is a conflict in my mind. Unless of course they mean it in the verb tense because the noun definition literally means a place to worship god.
How did it go in China and in Brazil? I take from Lira's response it didn't go well in Brazil but how did it go in China. I'm not advocating this, it's just an article I found in my Chess forum. |
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| Desiderata |
| Nevermind, They are using the word "church" to get equal public recognition at places like courthouses, city halls, etc. And to normalize Atheism. |
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| Lira |
Here in Brazil it was an off-shoot of the French positivist movement. Two of the three pillars of Comte's religion, namely "Order" and "Progress", are still there in our flag ("Altruism" was just too much for the military class back then), just so you can have an idea of the impact it had in 19th century Brazil. The whole thing was just nuts though (hardly a bad thing in my opinion), and it quickly withered away for several reasons.
I mean, I'm all for going nuts and coming up with quirky ideas, but I really don't see how this can work. A church based on what people do not believe in? |
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| Desiderata |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Here in Brazil it was an off-shoot of the French positivist movement. Two of the three pillars of Comte's religion, namely "Order" and "Progress", are still there in our flag ("Altruism" was just too much for the military class back then), just so you can have an idea of the impact it had in 19th century Brazil. The whole thing was just nuts though (hardly a bad thing in my opinion), and it quickly withered away for several reasons.
I mean, I'm all for going nuts and coming up with quirky ideas, but I really don't see how this can work. A church based on what people do not believe in? |
I agree but they are trying to normalize Atheism and becoming a church can help in areas like city halls, etc. that other religions have a huge grip on. I guess they feel this is the way to get into that sort of arena. But I think it dumbs down Atheist in the eyes of theist. Just another thing we have to defend ourselves about is now a church in the name of a non-god. |
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| idoru |
| quote: | Originally posted by Desiderata
... Just another thing we have to defend ourselves about... |
As an agnostic who leans atheistic, I have yet to find myself in a situation where I have felt the need to "defend myself". My beliefs are my beliefs, just like the beliefs of others are their own. If somebody disagrees with me I really could not be bothered at all, as I am content with my belief system. Whether or not someone I am conversing with may strongly feel otherwise and be adamant about how I may be wrong is entirely irrelevant.
Perhaps I'm missing something here, but why do you feel the need to "defend yourself"? |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Desiderata
I agree but they are trying to normalize Atheism and becoming a church can help in areas like city halls, etc. that other religions have a huge grip on. |
But, what for? I understand the people mentioned in the article that miss the sense of community you can find in a church, but there are loads of ways you can build a similar community...
As for defending myself, I hardly ever have to tell people I'm an atheist. Is it common where you live? |
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| Dykes_on_Jay |
| I came 8 times today. 6 of them were with a melon. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dykes_on_Jay
I came 8 times today. 6 of them were with a melon. |
:stongue:
Oh, the wonders of traditional Chinese contraception :p |
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