Atheist 'mega-churches' take root across US, world

Sounds great.

I think I will be the first person to write the "Official" Atheist Bible or "Book of Stories".

The 1st testimony will start.....

In the beginning, there was a great Atheist...but before him there was a big bang and the Universe began (as per current theorem..or until something better comes along).
Then 9 billion years later the Sun and the Earth formed, from Universal gases and elements of dead stars.

The 2nd Testimony will go....

And then "He" was born in a hospital, the Son of the Atheist, and he also had a twin sister, who was black and mixed with a bit of asian with red hair, Atheist knows where that mixture came from.
He said unto thee....Hello behold the truth....there is no such thing as supernatural being who floats in some fantasy place called heaven.....there is only truth and the here and now. Not silly desert tribe myths and superstitions.
And he spoke the Truth to all Man (and woman) Kind.

Etc etc.

That'll be $10.00 from each and everyone thanks.........this is the Word of Atheist here you know!!

.

League of Militant Atheists
en.wikipedia.org...

The League embraced workers, peasants, students, and intelligentsia. It had its first affiliates at factories, plants, collective farms (kolkhoz), and educational institutions. By the beginning of 1941, it had about 3.5 million members of 100 nationalities. It had about 96,000 offices across the country. Guided by Bolshevik principles of antireligious propaganda and party's orders with regards to religion, the League aimed at exterminating religion in all its manifestations and forming an anti-religious scientific mindset among the workers. It propagated atheism and scientific achievements, conducted 'individual work' (a method of sending atheist tutors to meet with individual believers to convince them of atheism, which could be followed up with public harassment if they failed to comply) with religious people, prepared propagandists and atheistic campaigners, published anti-religious scientific literature and periodicals, organized museums and exhibitions, conducted scientific research in the field of atheism and critics of religion. The League's slogan was "Struggle against religion is a struggle for socialism", which was meant to tie in their atheist views with economy, politics, and culture. One of the slogans adopted at the 2nd congress was "Struggle against religion is a struggle for the five-year plan!"[4] The League had international connections; it was part of the International of Proletarian Freethinkers and later of the Worldwide Freethinkers Union.

Martyred in the USSR - Militant Atheism in the former Soviet Union

Martyred in the USSR is a documentary about militant atheism in the former Soviet Union. It tells the personal, emotional and horrific story of what people went through simply because they chose to cling to their faith, even at the risk of death. It did not matter what religion you practiced, if you believed in God in the USSR you were persecuted, and persecuted brutally. From 1917 to 1990 people of faith were shot, executed, thrown in the gulag and left to die because the Soviet Government hated religion. What makes this story extremely important is that the new generation in Russia knows nothing about their past and will deny that the brutality ever happened.

See a pattern here?

VelvetSplash
I'm not a fan of this kind of thing. It seems to me they'd rather have an adversary than find a new way of doing things.

The best way to diminish something's influence, is to ignore it. They seem to want to inflame the very the thing they say they stand against.

they can't help it.

time will tell what religions they don't "approve" of.

or they just shut their mouths, lol!

Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion, and Promoting Terrorism
www.dailymail.co.uk... ndwork-Islamist-terrorism-U-S-Israeli-targets.html

Klassified

It looked like a typical Sunday morning at any mega-church. Hundreds packed in for more than an hour of rousing music, an inspirational sermon, a reading and some quiet reflection. The only thing missing was God.

Dozens of gatherings dubbed "atheist mega-churches" by supporters and detractors are springing up around the U.S. after finding success in Great Britain earlier this year. The movement fueled by social media and spearheaded by two prominent British comedians is no joke.

Uhm. What!?
If this is such a great thing. Why do I feel like atheism is being co-opted, religionized, put in a box, and labeled, so it can be stereotyped, and put on a shelf? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for atheists coming out of the closet, and being honest about what they don't believe. I'm also for people coming together and putting aside the division that permeates our society, but do we really need an atheist "church"? What next? Door to door proselytizing? Putting flyers on peoples cars? Inviting people to our Sunday meetings? Maybe we can make the Christians that visit our church sit in the back.

Does this picture look familiar? It does to anyone who has been to a protestant church service.

That impulse, however, has raised the ire of those who have spent years pushing back against the idea that atheism itself is a religion.

"The idea that you're building an entire organization based on what you don't believe, to me, sounds like an offense against sensibility," said Michael Luciano, a self-described atheist who was raised Roman Catholic but left when he became disillusioned.

"There's something not OK with appropriating all of this religious language, imagery and ritual for atheism."

Exactly.

But hey. Who am I to judge these folks. If they're enjoying themselves. I think it's great. But I also think they aren't going to like the end result. If atheists thought they were stereotyped before, they haven't seen anything yet.
Source

edit on 11/11/2013 by Klassified because: spelling

edit on 11/11/2013 by Klassified because: ETA

Atheism is a religion like any other religion. But I think they do think out of hate and the fun of mocking Christians. You don't see them imitating Islam, but then they might get killed if they did that. Christians just look on and sigh.

reply to post by Dr1Akula


Huh? Are you trying to pitch atheism to me? Because that isn't necessary. My belief is that anything is possible until it has been proven with 100% certainty that it isn't possible. I may lean in one direction or another at times throughout my life due to gaining more knowledge about a subject, but I never abandon this core tenet. Therefore I don't need an explanation on why these phenomenon can happen without the existence of a God.

reply to post by Klassified


Yeah just goes to show Atheism is a religion, like I have always said, as is the Evolution teaching which is basically the foundation of Atheism. Evolution and Atheism are totally faith based, there are no real facts to back it up or Evolutionist takes facts and make them fit their fantasy, a Creation scientist can take those same facts and make them fit as well or better.
Christianity has plenty of historical facts to back it up, atheism has nothing to go on but faith.

reply to post by Fromabove

Atheism is a religion like any other religion.

Atheism is not a religion. It is a lack of belief in a deity. That's all that is required to be an atheist. Nothing else.

But I think they do think out of hate and the fun of mocking Christians.

Are all Christians Catholic, or Lutheran, or fundamentalist? Are all Christians smug and self-righteous? Should all Christians be responsible for the acts of a few pseudo-Christians? No. Then why generalize all atheists?

You don't see them imitating Islam, but then they might get killed if they did that.

Most atheists have grown up in predominantly Christian countries. So that is what they have been exposed to in thier lives. They have little knowledge of the inner workings of Islam. Why would they imitate it?

Kaboose
reply to post by Klassified

 

Yeah just goes to show Atheism is a religion, like I have always said, as is the Evolution teaching which is basically the foundation of Atheism. Evolution and Atheism are totally faith based, there are no real facts to back it up or Evolutionist takes facts and make them fit their fantasy, a Creation scientist can take those same facts and make them fit as well or better.
Christianity has plenty of historical facts to back it up, atheism has nothing to go on but faith.

Atheism, in and of itself, is not a religion. It is simply a lack of belief in a deity. Evolution is a scientific theory with a high probability based on supporting evidence. Having said that...

Anyone can turn anything into a religion, and/or a faith. As I said in the OP. My disapproval is based on their methodology and labeling of themselves as a church, not the gatherings themselves. I see no good coming out of this if the direction stays the same, and this thread is already a sampling of what is to come.

If there is one thing we, as a society, seem to excel at, it is finding new ways to create more division. In that, we are indeed united.

reply to post by Fromabove




True, their main objective is making fun of Christian.

They should be careful what they wish for.

reply to post by Klassified


The history of the transition from Christian country to atheist society speaks for itself.

It's all awaste of time.
Ezekiel 38
17 Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face.

Stormdancer777
reply to post by Klassified

 

The history of the transition from Christian country to atheist society speaks for itself.

Can you expound on that just a little? If you're talking about America, we're still a "Christian" society. Less than 20% of the population is atheist. Christians out number atheists by a long shot in America, and world-wide. So help me understand your gist.

Whats the US flag doing there? Are we sure they haven't chosen state over church?

A "Church of State".

Religulous

I say good for them, they get tax break and w/e benefits those pesky religious get!

But i might visit once every few months to get the latest information about the status of spaghetti monster and Unicorn overload. No seriously, i think it will be fun to discuss things and what made us became Atheist etc.

It will be more like a club.

I will not be visiting on a schedule basis of course or giving my salary to them or trying to recruit friend into joining atheism.

Kaboose
Yeah just goes to show Atheism is a religion, like I have always said, as is the Evolution teaching which is basically the foundation of Atheism. Evolution and Atheism are totally faith based, there are no real facts to back it up or Evolutionist takes facts and make them fit their fantasy, a Creation scientist can take those same facts and make them fit as well or better.

I haven't read anything this misguided in a long time.
Atheism is not and never will be a religion and if you maintain that it is, then you have serious issues that only a therapist can address.
Religion has a dogma.
It's what makes it a religion and not just a "bad idea with too much time on it's hands".
The notion that it can not be questioned and is a divine truth regardless of evidence.
Atheism is just an idea.
Problem is since you maintain that evolution is "faith-based" (I have NO CLUE what this means since it is science-based and has zero to do with faith) you have clearly and openly demonstrated that you ignore facts, turn a blind eye to the truth and will say anything regardless of how ridiculous it sounds if it supports your belief in god.
The truth of the matter is the only person with less than zero percent proof here is you.
This is why religion is "faith-based" and not based in facts as it would fall apart faster than you can say "Rapture" because no proof exists to verify the truth of it's claims.
NONE.
EVER.
NOT EVEN ONCE.
A "creation scientist" is an oxymoron and anyone pushing these flat earth fairy tales as gospel has serious psychological problems.
Simple truth is you and every religious person who walks the planet is a victem of childhood trauma or trauma in adult life. You are victems of people who didn't love you enough to tell you truth.
Instead they only taught you to believe in what they themselves feared.
Trying to paint everyone else as "victems" does not change his.
Pretending facts don't apply to you does not change this.
You are obviously angry at atheists.
They are a threat to what you choose to believe in.
But making up silly stories and speaking as if they are true does no one a service.
This type of attitude is exactly why atheists don't like the religious in general.
It is misguided, delusional and borderline sociopathic.
No need to fire back with all your supposed proof of god...we both KNOW none exists so save your breath.

"No facts to back up evolution"

Now, THAT'S funny!
That one ranks of there with:

"The cheque is in the mail" and [snip]

If you are man, the only possible way you could say something even more ridiculous would be to add:

[snip]

I can prove evolution in two words:

"Australia" and "Marsupial"

What's that sound?
That's the sound of "nothing but net".
You have my deepest sympathies sir.

-Peace-

They just created another church LOL. Yes very innovative. I wonder how much money the founders are racking in?

Klassified

It looked like a typical Sunday morning at any mega-church. Hundreds packed in for more than an hour of rousing music, an inspirational sermon, a reading and some quiet reflection. The only thing missing was God.

Dozens of gatherings dubbed "atheist mega-churches" by supporters and detractors are springing up around the U.S. after finding success in Great Britain earlier this year. The movement fueled by social media and spearheaded by two prominent British comedians is no joke.

Uhm. What!?
If this is such a great thing. Why do I feel like atheism is being co-opted, religionized, put in a box, and labeled, so it can be stereotyped, and put on a shelf? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for atheists coming out of the closet, and being honest about what they don't believe. I'm also for people coming together and putting aside the division that permeates our society, but do we really need an atheist "church"? What next? Door to door proselytizing? Putting flyers on peoples cars? Inviting people to our Sunday meetings? Maybe we can make the Christians that visit our church sit in the back.

Does this picture look familiar? It does to anyone who has been to a protestant church service.

That impulse, however, has raised the ire of those who have spent years pushing back against the idea that atheism itself is a religion.

"The idea that you're building an entire organization based on what you don't believe, to me, sounds like an offense against sensibility," said Michael Luciano, a self-described atheist who was raised Roman Catholic but left when he became disillusioned.

"There's something not OK with appropriating all of this religious language, imagery and ritual for atheism."

Exactly.

But hey. Who am I to judge these folks. If they're enjoying themselves. I think it's great. But I also think they aren't going to like the end result. If atheists thought they were stereotyped before, they haven't seen anything yet.
Source

edit on 11/11/2013 by Klassified because: spelling

edit on 11/11/2013 by Klassified because: ETA

reply to post by Klassified


The growth of the "athiest/christian" opposing factions, as seen across social media is so frikkin tired. It's like two kids arguing over The Hulk being better than Superman, only a whole lot less fun and without the groovy green skin and the "pants on the outside" bizzle.

Celebrating what you dont believe in and holding it as an identity is even dafter than the opposite position.

I dont believe in a whole host of mythical creatures but so what? I think i'd be hugely irritated by the evangelical humanists and their organised showy crap, quite frankly. It's just gone way too far into downright attention whore-dom and bloody over the top christians and evangelical athiests can crawl up my fetid bumhole and fight it out there.

And i've been eating Chillies all week. Seriously, every motion feels like someone's rubbing Tiger-Balm onto my pet starfish.

reply to post by Klassified


It must be those damned dirty hipsters.

borntowatch
well I hope they serve beer and allow smoking
Oh that would be a Pub or bar

Actually, here in Britain you can drink beer in a church - in fact I'm going to a gig at a church on Friday and there's a bar .....

(and yes, it's a normal Christian church, though obviously not a religious service)

Not allowed to smoke though ....