Atheist churches provide a community for Dallas nonbelievers

[rug]

By STEPHANIE EMBREE
Staff Writer
Published: 08 August 2014 10:20 PM
Updated: 08 August 2014 10:20 PM

In Pastor Tim Gorski’s church, there are no Bibles, prayers or songs of worship. There is no mention of God. But every Sunday, people come to him looking for a community.

Gorski is a pastor and founder at the North Texas Church of Freethought, an atheist church that has been in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1994. They have monthly meetings, a youth group and social outings — programs usually reserved for traditional religious organizations.

“We want to not only be a community for people who reject the supernatural,” he said, “but also for people who need help dealing with life upsets.”

Overshadowed by steeples and temples, atheists in Dallas have gone largely unnoticed. But with each year the number of atheists in the United States grows, and Dallas has become home to atheist churches that bring together those rejecting religion.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/religion/20140808-atheist-churches-provide-a-community-for-dallas-nonbelievers.ece

http://www.churchoffreethought.org/

[clydefrand]

1. well,well,well

so now the atheists have become a 'religion' unto them selves. I think, as an atheist, that I should simply let live. If you want to believe in a god, so be it. I don't need to go to a 'church' to NOT believe! I have never tried to 'convert' anyone to my way of non-belief.

[cbayer]

2. There are a growing number of these all over.

I think it speaks to the kinds of things religious groups and organizations provide that really have little to do with the religion to which they are attached.

Community, support, being with like minded people, a way to organize activities, a place to meet, activities for children - these are all things that some people miss when they leave religion.

For those that do not need or want this, there is no reason to be a part of it.