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HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)

22. As an atheist-leaning agnostic I saw Unitarian congregations as intellectually incoherent.

Mon Nov 11, 2013, 03:10 PM

Nov 2013

Atheism, as I am familiar with its practice, lacks tolerance for beliefs that on inspection look rather like deceptive rationalizations through the use of fictionalized 'spiritual entities' that enable believers in such things to mortar over psychological distress common to human existence.

I didn't find it was possible to be honestly supportive of the 'everything is OK' point of view of Unitarian congregations. I found myself feeling judgemental of the beliefs of others.

I recognized THAT as un-Unitarian. So I moved along, found the same go-along to get along thing in several UU congregations and decided that wasn't an arena for me.

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Atheists starting godless churches [View all] Redfairen Nov 2013 OP

Doesn't Unitarianism fill that gap? Bragi Nov 2013 #1

Yes....pretty much Stuckinthebush Nov 2013 #3

Not in my Church JustAnotherGen Nov 2013 #6

I think that would be considered to be out of the mainstream UU Stuckinthebush Nov 2013 #7

Nah JustAnotherGen Nov 2013 #15

Nope Stuckinthebush Nov 2013 #86

Thats not Unitarian Universalist at all! VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #28

Not really JustAnotherGen Nov 2013 #4

As an atheist-leaning agnostic I saw Unitarian congregations as intellectually incoherent. HereSince1628 Nov 2013 #22

Dunno, I think it varies from congregation to congregation Warpy Nov 2013 #18

It sounds like it varies, perhaps geographically. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #23

No it doesn't.. VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #31

It's a bit one directional, it seems. Chan790 Nov 2013 #61

then you are proselytizing too. I reject that from anyone. VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #65

A parable from my day. Chan790 Nov 2013 #73

this is your opinion...and no they don't all proselytize... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #85

Well Dorian Gray Nov 2013 #80

My point remains that an atheist in a UU congregation... Chan790 Nov 2013 #83

Why not start a bowling league? pscot Nov 2013 #2

Or go to your local pub? FSogol Nov 2013 #5

I meet most of my atheist friends at death metal shows OriginalGeek Nov 2013 #43

I once lived in a small town with around three hundred Cleita Nov 2013 #50

I am not religious... CherokeeDem Nov 2013 #8

As an atheist I don't think I would want to attend Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #24

I agree loyalsister Nov 2013 #52

Except that they don't. The media does. The organizers call it an assembly. Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #70

Do I have to wear a hat? It's what turned me off of "real" church fadedrose Nov 2013 #68

Yeah, I agree. Sunday morning is for sleeping in. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #71

I've always considered one of the benefits of being an atheist... KatyMan Nov 2013 #9

DING, we haz a winner NightWatcher Nov 2013 #25

Fine with me. HappyMe Nov 2013 #10

I think that this would be as unpalatable to me as would a pentacostal service Orrex Nov 2013 #11

My group has mandatory sleep in on Sunday morning rurallib Nov 2013 #12

Sounds like a weekly community resource meeting. Why call it a church? haele Nov 2013 #13

Why not? Cleita Nov 2013 #14

Atheism need not be a belief system, and science should not have a church Orrex Nov 2013 #16

Scientists need not attend. Cleita Nov 2013 #19

What would a "church of science" be, in your estimation? Orrex Nov 2013 #21

Consider this. Cleita Nov 2013 #26

That doesn't explain what a "church of science" might be. Orrex Nov 2013 #27

I don't know either. I'm sure a bunch of like minded people could Cleita Nov 2013 #36

Everyone has a "World View". Everyone has philosophical frameworks. Everyone. KittyWampus Nov 2013 #64

Atheism need not be a belief system, and science should not have a church Orrex Nov 2013 #78

I am an ordained atheist minister Ohio Joe Nov 2013 #17

Using Religion to Discriminate Zorra Nov 2013 #20

In theory, yes you can! n/t Chan790 Nov 2013 #63

Doesn't starting a church go against the belief of atheism? Initech Nov 2013 #29

Bingo! B Calm Nov 2013 #46

Well, the organizers don't call it church so there you go. Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #56

oxymorans spanone Nov 2013 #30

this will not end well Egnever Nov 2013 #32

How embarrassing LittleBlue Nov 2013 #33

Organized Atheists for the Non-heretical Heretic. What would you name the locations NightWatcher Nov 2013 #35

How embarrassing that you believe the article. Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #67

what songs would be in the Atheist hymnal? NightWatcher Nov 2013 #34

"This is the entire atheist hymnal, right here." Heidi Nov 2013 #81

Isn't an "atheist church" the same as a regular "meetup?" Blue_Tires Nov 2013 #37

but tax exempt. KurtNYC Nov 2013 #47

My wife and I went to the North Texas Church of Freethought a few times back in the 90s derby378 Nov 2013 #38

I hae never heard anything so stupid and I'm an atheist malaise Nov 2013 #39

They're doing what the UUs have already done. Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2013 #40

I don't understand the point. MadrasT Nov 2013 #41

Otherwise known as a "gathering of people." NOT a "church" and NOT a "sermon." WinkyDink Nov 2013 #42

An atheist "church" is frogmarch Nov 2013 #44

Call it a community. That's what church actually meant in the beginning Cleita Nov 2013 #49

They do. They call it an assembly. The media has dubbed it a church. Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #57

Thanks. That's better! nt frogmarch Nov 2013 #58

an atheist schism arely staircase Nov 2013 #45

Call Me Old Fashioned... Blue Idaho Nov 2013 #48

The assemblies actually don't qualify for the definition of mega anything. Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #59

Thank Goodness for that! Blue Idaho Nov 2013 #88

Nope. No thanks. LadyHawkAZ Nov 2013 #51

I'm an atheist, and... no thanks. N/T devils chaplain Nov 2013 #53

Oh crap, I saw this on South Park Incitatus Nov 2013 #54

Lol. Union Scribe Nov 2013 #55

Most likely this terminology originates from crap journalism. nt alp227 Nov 2013 #60

Yes, indeed it does and a lesson on how to people will believe Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #66

It's great. Every Sunday Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #62

One of the reasons why I am an atheist is because I don't Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #69

Is it a church? They don't call it that. They call it an assembly.. Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #72

I know that. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #82

The Australian angle... fadedrose Nov 2013 #74

When I lived in another state fadedrose Nov 2013 #75

Wait, what? nt Deep13 Nov 2013 #76

Quaker Meetings like mine are more inclusive. quaker bill Nov 2013 #77

My Church Looks Remarkably Like A Golf Course ProfessorGAC Nov 2013 #79

Can't see the problem, meself. sibelian Nov 2013 #84

Seems like a good idea! n/t zappaman Nov 2013 #87