An Atheist Explains Why a Secular Church Isn’t for Him

[rug]

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 I’ve said many times before, it makes for a wonderful stepping stone for people who no longer believe in God but don’t want to ditch everything they love about church. For atheists who didn’t like church to begin with, though, it’s a hard sell.

There’s very little overlap, I suspect, between the crowd you’d find at some random atheist convention and the people you’d meet at a local Sunday Assembly gathering. That’s 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]

1. Religious services provide a community.

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]

6. We live next door

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]

7. Very true. Community is the objective. And that community can be many things.

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]

8. Eh, I guess I'm a sociopath then

Cause I don't give a crap about communal gatherings.

[guillaumeb]

9. You are a participant and member of DU, an online community.

The need for interaction can be met in many ways.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. I don't think you know what 'sociopath' means.

I think you just made up a convenient meaning that you can use like a weapon and confirm your own biases.

[guillaumeb]

13. Fumesucker actually used the term.

If you wish to debate, do so with the actual speaker.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Do you even read what you post?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=221658

[guillaumeb]

15. A learning moment.

I posted:

Religious services provide a community.
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:

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of regard for the moral or legal standards in the local culture. There is a marked inability to get along with others or abide by societal rules. Individuals with this disorder are sometimes called psychopaths or sociopaths

Profile of the Sociopath - R. Preston McAfee
www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

Karl Marx says that religion is the opiate of the masses. That may be, but it's not the only drug in their cocktail. They have a lot of things that sociopaths don't have, one of which is the feeling of interconnectedness that comes from allowing considerations for other people to dominate their decision-making. It makes them feel that they are part of a web that is society. But even though sociopaths' decision-making isn't dominated by considerations for others, they still need people.

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]

16. No worries. I had a similar experience after I mis-used the term 'word salad'.

Live and learn.

[guillaumeb]

17. I had no idea what that phrase meant, and I would not have guessed.

That makes two things I learned today. That also means I will have to forget two things. Balance is essential.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Who the fuck are you calling a sociopath?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. I see his point, although he overstates it a bit...

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]

12. What you offer can be met in various, sometimes better ways.

I find community somewhere north of 7k RPM with my two-wheeled friends, if they can keep up.

Everyone's different.

[edhopper]

3. At least

the Sunday assembly aren't telling him he is going to hell for not attending.

[immoderate]

4. I'm with him. I dislike scripted rituals. I also hate parades.

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

[Kalidurga]

5. Point?