Can an Atheist Church Make Nonbelievers Nicer?

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

So you didn't read the article written by a fellow Atheist, Aye...A funny meme would have been a better reply...The article is about Atheists organizing and forming communities. "Church" is just a lack of a better term, not religious in the article. If you didn't have your blinders on, maybe you would have noticed that.



There might not be a formal system but there is definitely a lot of belief.

I did read the article and refused to even address the fact that Atheism is a belief system. That's the most ridiculous thing that is said over and over. Not believing in something is not a belief system.

I addressed the correlation between not attending church and his idea that somehow he missed out on something that he would like to replace.

Also, I don't think that atheist are not nice. What I think (because I used to be offended before as well) is that people who believe, get really offended when others even question their beliefs. They can't even imagine a world without god, so they take that as a direct insult.

[RajahBell]

What exactly would we discuss?

"I don't believe in God."

"Me neither"

"OK, meeting adjourned."

Maybe boxing, you guys do a good job with that around here, the Atheist Church of Boxingscene...I think that is one thing the article is trying to address. Atheism can be more than being defined as an anti-message or lack of religion by others. You guys seem like a tight knit community here and it seems that other Atheists hunger for the same thing but in the real world. So they form groups to share in their commonalities and focus on the positives.

I think the technical terms are bar and casino.

[cupocity303]

What exactly would we discuss?

"I don't believe in God."

"Me neither"

"OK, meeting adjourned."

Perhaps they can get a debate going if the odd man out happens to not be Leftist/Liberal/Progressive in his every day politics.

That's about it.

[cupocity303]

Maybe boxing, you guys do a good job with that around here, the Atheist Church of Boxingscene...I think that is one thing the article is trying to address. Atheism can be more than being defined as an anti-message or lack of religion by others. You guys seem like a tight knit community here and it seems that other Atheists hunger for the same thing but in the real world. So they form groups to share in their commonalities and focus on the positives.

Nah, seems like a waste of time. Unless we can gather around a candidate for higher office who secretly plans on making religion illegal, or something to that extent.

[squealpiggy]

Besides, if we had to go to church how would we find time to worship Satan!?

[led]

I think religious gatherings (church) don't make people nicer. Church makes people (feel) better in every way ( I think I don't need to tackle this).

Whether we believe or not, as a human we do good because it is the right thing to do and we don't commit offense becuase of fear of the consequences.

And yes, I didn;t read the article.

[Nooblet]

New Zealanders are atheists and they are very nice people.

on the thought of that i haven't search for a new zealander **** star. im about to do that.

[The Noose]

The person who wrote that doesn't make much of an argument. His basic premise is that ignorance is bliss. So because believing in god makes you happier or better adjusted, then that's good enough to believe or not to tell the truth? I'm sure if you had cancer and the doctors decided not to tell you, it would also make you happier and better adjusted.

I dont know how you got that from reading the article.
I thought it was very clear that the idea of an atheist church was a social meeting place where people form a community and focus on uplifting, inspirational stuff.


He didnt say believing in God makes people happier, but that attending church has a positive impact on people because it brings people together, and helps people meditate on positivity.

I’m not really worried about the lack of God in my life, since God doesn’t exist. But it’s possible that by skipping church, I was leaving behind a community and a support network I could have had.

IMO i think its a good idea but dont see it catching on. People would rather be with friends, family or watching sports on a pub. Plus atheists who are very anti-religious are put off by it seeming too church-like. Anything that even resembles religion they are hostile towards. They would rather belittle people online.

[2501]

Well, religion doesn't make believers nicer, why would it work for Atheists?

[2501]

This is what annoys me about self righteous Christians, Muslims, believers in religion in general. They're constantly crying about how they're beliefs and ideologies are being attacked and oppressed when, in reality, they're doing all the criticizing, instigating and oppressing. Just look at this forum for example. It's always some "Christian" making bait threads, trying to instigate a hostile "debate" only to make redundant replies after being made a fool of.