Is Atheism At Risk Of Becoming A Religion?

Mz Demeanor: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/atheist-church-sunday-assembly_n_2432911.html

http://news.discovery.com/human/life/atheist-church-set-to-go-global-130308.htm

Britain's first atheist church is quite popular and branches of The Sunday Assembly are opening in Scotland and Australia.

A quote from the first article "Critics have suggested by holding the meeting in an old church, (albeit deconsecrated) and by following a format of songs interspersed by reading and addresses, the comedians are at risk of turning atheism into its own sort of religion."

Is this going to far? Should only the religious organizations get dibs on assembling? Is this making atheism into a sort of religion?

Ka0tic: I dont see it as a sort of religion per se,if these gatherings start getting tax exemptions,political clout,trying to set social agenda's etc then maybe you could draw a comparison to religion,but for now i see it as a little bit of piss taking (holding it in a defunct church lol) mixed with a way for non religious to socialise.

Wild__: I hope they don't knock on my door and try to convert me.

*shhh, the Atheists are coming*

OCD_OCD: I have no problem with people having religion or not having a religion. I have a problem with extremism in either. When atheists deny religion to others, it it wrong. When religion denies people the freedom to not believe, it is wrong. When religions clash with each other and deny the right of any other religion to exist, it is wrong.

CatO9_Tales: jeezus, you`d think these ppl would just kick back & ignore religion,,,,but NOOO. they have to group up & get offended by shyte they should just fukken ignore, as if there aren`t enough complainers nitpicking already. GAWDamm, one gets sick of all this!

ColonelKusanagi: nope

Zanjan: That sounds like an ordinary civilian community center to me.

All the atheists I know have a severe aversion to religion so I doubt they'd stay long if their organization starts looking like one. Why not have such a thing if it makes them happy? It doesn't sound much different than a neighborhood block party. If they head out in droves to do volunteer service, so much the better.

Comrade_: As an AA meeting?

Zanjan: Not quite - AA has RULES,one of them being 'confession'. The minute the atheist assembly institutes a LAW, it's dead in the water.

Comrade_: haa ok. I think there are different shades of atheists. Some do come off preachy while others are reserved. The same with theist I guess.
...maybe that inner aspect that's within us all plays out regardless of what stand is taken

Zanjan: Well, we all have a need to be needed. The first big step towards health and productivity is to find out what need you can fill.

R E B E C C A: They certainly do a lot of preaching about it on here .....

Mz Demeanor: I have mixed feelings about these "atheist churches". On one hand, I think its a good idea for atheists to be able to meet together as I've heard several atheists that are former Christians complaining they miss the socializing from going to church and don't know where to meet people. However, having such a structured weekly meeting seems a little too close to organized religion for me.

near50ohoh: umm hmm get ready here comes an opinion. i've seen desanctified churches used for a lot of things. meeting in them doesn't imply more than living in one does. but personally. i wouldn't chose to walk where i was spiritually unwelcome (i've never felt that way in any world temple, by the way) yet i see no implied religion in meeting, singing or taking meetings. any more than a legion hall, banquet room etc. i guess it is left at what their motive was. were they "piss taking" or just utilizing the best building size and lay out available in their area? unknown to me.

R E B E C C A: you mean another opinion....because that's what they all are. Now if you just try not to swear next time we'll all be very grateful ok...thanks sweets.

near50ohoh: notice quotes? it doesn't belong to me, sorry "sweets". it was in an earlier post.

R E B E C C A: yes but you chose to re-type and repost didnt you.... now its not a big ask really.... u can do it

near50ohoh: wow there r far worse offenders in this issue 2 i promise. if u look at my post history u might get that . i'm not that crude or rude and i don't much like being spoken down 2 . sometimes worse than the worst things we women can call each other. i'm actually quite good at minding my own p's & q's. ty

near50ohoh: i'm not sure if you're proving my case or yours. have you noticed how many separations even the christian church has had in the 2 thousand years it' been? is there such a thing as a typical theist? atheists may be more monogeneric(?) than believers are. joke, sort of

Zanjan: What do you expect for an organized body that has weathered 2 thousand years or more? Can't say that for any atheist group - they don't have the right stuff.

near50ohoh: some faiths that have been around longer have less divisions than this "baby" does

Geoff: My arse has been my arse for a long time, doesn't mean I have to listen to it.

near50ohoh: there are times in life my dear when you have absolutely no option but to listen to your arse or poop yourself.

OCD_OCD: That's called an expellation, not an exhalation.

near50ohoh: yup but (t) wind direction is not and in a gale just know, it's rare that no poop storm is pending and get to the toilet it cries!!