Atheist ‘Church’ Launches In Usa

[naomi24]

Atheists – what do you think of this? Do you feel the need for a sense of community - or to 'Come Out' as an atheist?

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/global-mission-atheist-church-launches-in-usa-8708733.html

Personally, I abhor the way in which this appears to be emulating Christianity. These people don't speak for me.

[jim360]

I listen to Carols from King's.

[FredPuli43]

Correct, missnemesis. Well, it is to the extent that all atheists believe that there are no gods. That must mean that we think others are wrong but we are not going to try to convert others who sincerely believe that there are,we respect their faith, and we are not going to lay down codes of behaviour and practices which adherents must follow "because God has said so, or because God , through his emissaries on Earth says so"

[LazyGun]

I listen to Carol Kings Tapestry every so often, Jim :)

[jim360]

Yeah, that's not the same though :P

[missnemesis]

I think as human beings we all like to 'belong' chrisgel. The thing I have trouble with is the way that some think we should all 'belong' to the same tribe as they do (be they Christian, Muslim, Athiest) and that not to do so makes you somehow less intelligent.

Holding a point of view/belief system is a personal thing and just because someone chooses not to believe the same this does not give them the right to be disdainful of those who do.

Believe / do not believe but live and let live.

[chrisgel]

Missnemesis - //Believe / do not believe but live and let live.//
If only life were that simple.

[missnemesis]

///That must mean that we think others are wrong but we are not going to try to convert others who sincerely believe that there are,we respect their faith,///

I take it Fred that by 'we' you mean fellow athiests? (Forgive me if I have read that wrongly) If that is the case then I'm sorry but on here I see a lot of disrespect for others' beliefs.

[sandyRoe]

Forgive them, Missnemesis, for they know not what they do.

[LazyGun]

@ MissNemesis

"Believe / do not believe but live and let live."

Excellent sentiment - one I heartily endorse.

It is unfortunately not as simple as that. Religions around the world intrude into the daily lives of everyone. They would like to give their religious ideas special protection, by introducing blasphemy laws. They wish to dictate sexual morals with a certitude born out of faith in outdated scripture. They are the foundation for cultures which continue to practice patriarchal mysogyny, with all the secondary fallout from that- deaths to girls who stand up for their right to be educated, or honor killings for girls who bring shame to the family. The list of intrusions into our daily lives that religion demands is exhaustive.The more fundamentalist sects reject science, hampering their childrens life chances. The more fundamentalist sometimes reject medicine, endangering their childrens lives!

Once they let all that go, I will be perfectly happy to "live and let live".

[naomi24]

missnemesis , you’re missing the point. The only thing that atheists have in common is non-belief in any God - and yes, some are more intelligent than others. Why is it so difficult for people who feel compelled to cling to one doctrine or another to understand that the rest of us aren’t restricted by that compulsion? Additionally, live and let live is fine – if only religion would allow that – but it doesn’t - so please don't ask me to respect beliefs that encroach upon other people's lives. I don't.

Woofgang, //atheists now have other atheists to argue with!//

Why wouldn’t we? It’s nothing new. See above.

[missnemesis]

/// If only life were that simple///.

Chrisgel I believe it can be; on a personal level. There are many things I neither agree with nor believe in however I am quite happy to allow others to do so (providing it is legal) and do not possess the hubris to demand they should think otherwise.

[LazyGun]

Oh, and it may offend you, and I am sorry about that ( actually, I am not, really, but still - social convention demands I say it) - but religious belief is not worthy of automatic respect.

[jim360]

That depends on what you mean by disrespect. It's not disrespectful to challenge someone's opinions or beliefs, or to call them wrong if you sincerely believe so (or have good reason to think that way). Nor is it necessarily disrespectful to imply that all leaders of organised religion are just men in power who abuse it and those under their control. Nor should it be thought of as rude to say that any organised religion is a massive and sustained con designed to oppress the masses by enforcing a moral code and unquestioning obedience, and in so doing distracting them from the truth. Nor should anyone get offended by being told that they have bought into this con and by attempting to spread the message and perpetrating it on future generations and undermining the future progression of the human race.

I'm sorry if ever the impression of being disrespectful has come across.

[naomi24]

missnemesis , a question. Is there anything that any religion actively promotes that offends you or that you think is wrong?

[missnemesis]

///religious belief is not worthy of automatic respect.///

I agree LazyGun.

[Khandro]

Fred; Your connection between atheists and alcoholics is an apt one; both should be treated with sympathy.

[modeller]

//Believe / do not believe but live and let live.//
//If only life were that simple. //

How true ! Have you tried asking someone having a rave up at 3 o'clock in the morning to turn the volume down ? And you get the answer :
Live and let live ! One person's living could another's hell.

[jim360]

"should be treated with sympathy"... I could say the same of all those who believe in a God or God for whom there is no evidence for existence, and who have not for a long time had any measurable effect on this world.

[naomi24]

Khandro, I've told you before, if you're going to attack, aim for the message, not the messenger. As usual, you offer no argument.

[missnemesis]

naomi24 the vast majority of 'organised religions' contain many, many things which I believe to be wrong and offend me personally so I choose not to subscribe to their doctrines and dogmas. However, as such I believe a person's faith to be their own choice and do not think it is my right to proselytize to them one way or the other.