Madison chapter promotes church for atheists

[Goblinmonger]

7:24 a.m. CDT August 4, 2014

MADISON — A movement aimed at providing atheists a chance to experience the fellowship of church without all the religious trappings is coming to Madison.

Sunday Assembly Madison, the local chapter of an organization that began in London 18 months ago, will hold its first service next month, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Sunday.

One of the local organizers is Naomi Kroth, a 30-year-old Madison native who loved everything about the Christian church of her childhood — well, everything but the God talk. She stopped attending, but felt that something was lacking.

"I've always missed going to church — the singing, the sermon, the volunteerism, the community," Kroth said. "But I couldn't reconcile that with my views on religion."

http://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2014/08/04/madison-church-atheist/13564409/

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Anyone feel like they have a need for a church? I have a lot of Catholic mass in my history and was a UU fellowship member for a while, but it didn't do a lot for me. Just kind of stopped going. Nice people and felt welcomed as a atheist, but I just didn't feel the need for that kind of thing. I'm sure there are many where this will fill a legitimate need.

And FWIW, Madison is a world in-and-of-itself in the middle of Wisconsin.

[Shadowflash]

1. As an Atheist

I don't see the need for this. This is just going to feed into people saying that Atheism is just another religion. It's like buying photo albums to put in all the postcards you DON'T collect.

[JNelson6563]

2. I don't feel the need myself but can understand those who do.

I also think this would be a good way to organize some community efforts. For the mostart if we want to support such efforts we do so seperately through existing orgs. I wouldn't mind seeing atheists start something on our own.

Julie

[mr blur]

3. Actually, I think it's pathetic. Even sad.

"I've always missed going to church — the singing, the sermon, the volunteerism, the community,"

WTF is wrong with people? You miss a sermon, being told what to think?! Fuck that.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. All of those activities are free, and available, if one has any inclination whatsoever.

[trotsky]

5. Yeah not getting the need either.

I mean, great for people who want that kind of thing - but I don't like how this generally gets spun as "atheist church" to validate the "atheism is a religion" false meme.

[cleanhippie]

6. I still attend UU Fellowship, but not for the "church experience".

It's really turned into a Community Organizing center for social justice causes. Lots of networking and action. And best of all, no belief in the supernatural, just ourselves and each other.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. I'm not a joiner myself but providing an

alternative to faith centered communities could be a good way to deflock the charlatans. Not that it hasn't been tried UU and the Ecumenical Humanist Societies have been at this for a long time.

[AlbertCat]

7. "I've always missed going to church — ..."

Then go!

I mean, if you miss the sermon, you don't miss the religion.

She could just go to the theatre, y'know. A church service is nothing but (often bad) theatre. Hell....where do you think theatre came from?

Don't make up some new "traditional ceremony"; support the arts!

[whatthehey]

8. Nope. I'm good.

[skepticscott]

9. Maybe these are mostly faitheists

who still feel the need to be doing something churchy on Sundays, just to feel like they're leaving the door open, and sustaining the habit. There are plenty of ways to find "community" (if one needs that sort of thing) and plenty of outlets for charitable impulses, without having to call them "church".

For myself, being distinctly anti-social, I've never felt the need.

[LostOne4Ever]

10. IMHO

The single best thing about being a non-believer is not having to go to that hour to hour and a half of torture every week.

If someone derives pleasure from that, by all means go, but I won't be joining them.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. the only thing I miss about church

is pot lucks. But given my current disdain about buffets I probably son really miss them, just being sentimental.

[nil desperandum]

13. No need for a church

I guess some folks just need to get together to experience a sense of community in a formalized setting on a set day every week...

It's not for me, but I've no quarrel with any group getting together for whatever reason, including religious people....just do me the courtesy of understanding when you tell me about your group and I'm not interested leave it at that. I don't need your god, your group or your message to do good things in my community and enjoy my life....if I do I will seek you out, and trust me that will never happen.