Atheists in the Pews? The Rise of the Secular Church

John Condron

First, there have always been atheists in the pews... and the pulpits... of churches. I personally know two atheists who are currently serving as Roman Catholic priests, and have counseled numerous ministers who had realized they no longer believed, and were planning their departures from their ministries (meaning that they, too, were standing at the front of a congregation on Sundays, going through the motions).

The article gets several things wrong. First, it is ridiculous to claim that these new "churches" aren’t religious in the slightest. The arbiter of what constitutes a "church," at least here in the US, is the Internal Revenue Service, which has recognized at least two non-theistic churches: Buddhism and The Satanic Temple. The latter was further recognized as a church by the US Supreme Court. Worship of a deity is not a necessary part of the definition of "church" or "religion." There is actually no universally accepted definition of what constitutes a "religion."

I find Southern Baptist minister, William Wolfe, M.Div.'s claim that secular churches are nothing more than “cheap knockoffs” absurd, though I am not surprised to hear something that silly from the Christian Post. I defy him to prove that his own practices contain "spiritual substance and transcendent meaning.”

Representatives of mainstream Catholic and protestant churches are frightened. They know they are losing influence... meaning members and money... with the growth of the "nones," who are increasingly identifying with either non-mainstream evangelical churches, or with atheism.

People tend to lash out when they get scared. That is all that is happening here.

K Neill

I would say it’s a good place for like minded individuals who want to belong together.

David Arthur Lewis

That sounds an awful lot like an "unprogrammed" Quaker meeting. Except that (most) liberal Quakers do acknowledge a higher power, usually referred to as the Light, the Spirit, the Oneness, Nature, or some such name.

Besides, Protestants nicked the order of service from the Catholics, who nicked it from the Jews, who nicked it from the Zoroastrians. It's the kind of basic human activity that builds strong, resilient communities.

Evangelical Christianity, like Wahabi Islam, does not address the needs of 21st century societies. Of course church membership is dwindling. The modern American pantheon of gods and saints now consists of comic book super-heroes. Each one has their special powers, just like Christian saints. Plus, their movies are much more entertaining.

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

Well ... this is preferable to Christianity. I disagree with atheism, but they're not out to control, manipulate or condemn me, like Christians do.

Lionheart

I feel that sweet spirit calling me to attend an atheist church. I get an audible voice in my head telling me it’s the right thing to do. I know it’s a prompting to fulfill my calling on earth. Without it I am nothing and life wouldn’t be worth living. I need it to keep my morals intact and to stop me from being very wayward and falling into lawlessness.

Okay…..don’t panic…...I’m just kidding. I just wanted to feel what it would be like to say those silly types of things. 🤭

🦁❤️

albertha-yvonne

Doesn’t matter to me. I, personally, think (in my infinite wisdom) that no one can rationally deny the intelligent all-pervading energy (frequency/waves/life) that activates them and all things in and around them. It is not necessary to call it God or Great Spirit, or Source. It is what it is and without it one does not exist. If it’s possible to not exist.

Rev Mark D

I was once a member of a UU, Universalist Unitarian "church." But it became very clear very quickly that you were not allowed to say God, and that all Christians were not welcome and a lot of time was spent badmouthing Christians as a class but in always very personal, prejudiced terms with a great deal of emotion ranging from cynical, sarcastic terms all the way to emotionally charged spite and hate. Moreover, if you were the one making any comment or introduction about Christian or Christians, you would be tagged for quite some time with disrespect, dislike, and blame by association.

It was clear the "church" was a church in name only, much more functioned as a social club, including the children's education operation, and mostly for the business advantage of tax status.

Russel A. Kester

It's sounds wonderful. In America we have a denomination called Unitarian Universalists that seems very similar. It would not only be nice to attend such a church, but how awesome to be one of its ministers.

Melinda Fulk

I have, essentially, attended one. A secular church isn't at all new in the US - or anywhere you might find Unitarian Universalism. Our local Fellowship was founded by secular humanists back in the 1960s, although I'm sure the movement is older than that.

So this isn't anything new, but rather just a new take on things. And I have to admit, the sense of community one can find in the right church is a wonderful thing.

Merlin

Tax free profit center.

Alun Lloyd Palmer

I don't think I need to attend a church (I am an atheist ULC minister), although I can see how the fellowship still makes sense without a religion. My wife (now pagan) used to be Anglican (known as Episcopal in the US and Scotland for similar reasons). I used to attend services with her, and we certainly made some good friends in the congregation

Daniel Gray

Since Atheists dont believe in a Deity, why would they then even be in a church?

Humanism Clergy Linda

Sound's like the perfect place to attend. As it's more important to strive to be a better individual than worshipping a imagery friend. This country (USA) lacks humanity by the "holy roller" AKA "christian Taliban" .

Learning how be a better person is what Christ was about. As an individual we are not the center of the world.

This would also bring back the sense of community.

Where can I find this place?

Daphnie

The Anti-Christ is not just one person… it is a possessive evil cunning spirit, that seeks to destroy All of God’s creation, and if you look, this is what is under attack in the world. Even the Jewish-Christianity religions are under attack by mockery religions that seek to lead all away from the one true God. If you have faith, you’re fine, but if you have lost your faith —you’re living in your coffin, you’re helping the wrong entity and your soul is in eminent danger. The normalization of violence against the Jewish people, who have been invaded attacked so violently—the anti-christ blames the victim, is proof positive that minds have been twisted into NOT being able to tell right from wrong, true “God” from false god, even when they are being asked to turn their backs on God, the fail to find something wrong with that. This is evidence of evil they follow blindly. The most evil spirit is once again making its attempt lead the people away from their one true salvation Christ…..the Jews are saved, people who have faith are saved. We are not perfect and Christ make that ok Christ offers us a way to live in peace, but don’t be fooled by the people who turn God and Christ into a boogie man to drive people away from God. God Loves you as you are period and Christ makes it so there is a clear road to salvation. I preach that God loves you, as you are, God made you human, being human has conditions, we make mistakes, we learn, we tend to the Earth and all live on Earth is our responsibility to care for it ourselves. Anything anti that is the anti-Christ and seeks to destroy God’s Earth and end all that is good. When did we lose the right to defend ourselves? Why are so many youth on the side of terrorists that have American 🇺🇸 Hostages. Why is it ok to burn the image of the President and why is it ok to be down right hateful and protest out side a place of worship. Why is it ok to be asked to follow your fellow American Jewish students home to stab them to death? Why is it ok to call for the normalization of massacres? Do see the anti-Christ? This is the world you are being asked to create rebuke the evil now, pray 🙏 reconnect with God and God will set you path straight.

Laura McAllister

No I wouldn’t go into one. I don’t think we can tell people what religion to have or the right to say that’s not a real church, I would not tell anyone that they are wrong. I wouldn’t want anyone to think they have the right to tell me that my church and religion is not real.

Kevin Oconnell

This topic is a little to heavy for me, I only concern myself with the word from the bible, all else has no place in my life.

Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

Maybe if there were something similar to a Quaker Friends Meeting. As a kid my mom took us to church…for a while. Guess she thought that was important, at least up until about junior high school. And it was a Quaker Friends Meeting. And at least now I can’t remember a single difference between it and any other ‘church’. Some were just a bit more delusional than others. I did, many years later, try a different Quaker Meeting. It was slightly different. Kinda’ like an AA meeting. Still involved ol’ God. But if there had been an Atheist Friends Meeting? Might have stuck around.

Myself, my philosophy is that people only have to like me enough to pay me, have sex with me or play golf with me. Never had trouble populating those lists. However there weren’t a plethora of individuals that had a similar worldview as myself. Or at least made such views known. But in the South those sort of views are strongly frowned upon so such things are kept to oneself. Having a place where such people can get together is a step in the right direction. And in the beginning there will be some degree of cathartic bashing of xtians.

Robert Rohr

Sounds like the apostate church in the first part of the tribulation. Maybe that is a glimpse of what it will be like. Have to bear in mind what came next.

Nicholas J Page

How can you be an ordained minister if your Atheists and look how the so called church was set up by 2 British comedians both I have never heard of.I will stick to what I was brought up with Christianity And why set up a so called church if you don't believe in GOD AND JESUS Etc

Keith D

LOL... 'ecstatic atheists' just popped to mind! Aiyiyi. Me, I feel much more in church when in an empty chapel or quiet forest than with all the hoohaw that many churches bring. There's a time for hoohaw, but to gather for it on a weekly or more frequent basis seems to be attempting to compensate for a lack of real unity consciousness.

This could end up being a step in the right direction, or it could be yet another 'trap' to step right into and snap it. Depends on the individual and the information to which s/he chooses to expose self.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"But these new "churches" aren’t religious in the slightest."

Well, to be fair, nether are most old "churches". 94% of "churches" today are simply corporations that launder money for their stakeholders, tax free.

"Pay to Caesar what is Caesars", he didn't say, "Except for the churches, ...."

"Churches" are the little welfare kid at school that no one wants to eat lunch with or hang out with. When you guys start building GODS HOUSE instead of "the building where we pass the plate and make money" you;ll have more credibility.

If you're preaching that homosexuality, abortion, illegal immigration is OK or actually pleasing to the Lord, then you're a money launderer, not a church ~ your company mission is producing income, not spreading/doing the Lords work.

chrissy

Why do they need a physical church? Who do they go to church to worship? This makes no sense to me unless they need a place to worship people who do not believe in God.

Tareq Asfour

Leave it up to G’D The Almighty. Great Awakening is coming for these fake ungrateful ungodly people worldwide who will taste punishment for their transgressions against G’D Commandments…

Rev_Shaun

Hmmm, nothing new here. Newington Green Unitarian Chapel in North London - one of the most famous chapels of its kind was run very successfully by an atheist minister for over ten years. In fact, he got banned from public broadcasting on the BBC here, because there are some programmes atheists are not allowed on. He's retired now, but I believe the current minister is also an atheist too.

Colleen McAllister

Each to his own. There are many groups that meet yet don't do any type of worship. I do have curiosity as to the music the use. "What Kind of Fool am I?" Perhaps?

Steven Ferrell

To bad there is not a different name that could be used other then ‘church’.

Amber Fry

I like it. I have always thought people could learn to get along for the sake of getting along, for the good of the people rather than fear of crossing some God. It sure eliminates the whole "my god is bigger/badder/better than your god" attitude that starts wars. I don't mind them using the word church either as its a building used to gather. If in the early days of the US they could use a church as a school house and even today smaller towns sometimes still use it for other community gatherings then why not for humanistic or non religious spiritual gatherings?

Tammy Lynn Breeden

Any one need a cup of coffee. Because there is to much winning in here.

There is one GOD and a lot of Churches and GOD can be in each and one of those. It is not for us to judge. Only one can Judge and he died on the Cross. Jesus Christ

Michael Hall

I might visit one, but I don't think I would make a habit of it. Wolfe's objection rings true, even for a strong atheist like myself. I think a group devoted to a particular philosophy might be a better fit, rather than people sharing a lack of faith.

David George Promis

If one can read then one can interpret a religious text for his/her self…it’s been long past due that we should rely on another person to be a so called vessel for a higher being. If one wishes fine, but it is not a necessity like the World has been lead to believe for centuries. Personally I go by the idea of “Cause no intentional harm to yourself or anyone else, and assist those in need” nothing else is required per religious indoctrination.

Catherine Christina Deslippe

The church I was raised in since the day I was born. Not even the pugh we sat in is there anymore. Either is the choir, which I sang in, The outside of the church is one of the most beautiful churches you have ever seen, The bell rings every Sunday, and the stained glass windows and ceiling are the most beautiful you have seen, As in life, as in our faith there will always be change, We are the ones that can be anywhere, anytime and still have our faith, As the church has a band that plays loud music, as the crowd (use to be called congregation) gets up and claps their hands and sings, As once was called a minister is now called by their first name. Does this look like my church, no. yet on a good, it is filled with people of all ages, For years there have been several who came to church to please their family, Did they believe? Well, we have always wondered if an atheist will be what they please, the opportunity to learn, within any place they may go whether it be a church or not, They may see the works of the Lord And Saviour, or they may blame for all that is not. We as Christians can only do our best to be kind, loving and pray for them.

Tecla Caryl Loup

I wouldn't bother to attend, as one of the major sacrifices I made when I retired was to not lock myself into any routine/schedule if I could help it. The only regular thing I do is check out my chiropractor once a week.

ServantOfJudgement

The level of faith required for a self spawning cosmos and the physics required for energy interaction that didn't exist yet is beyond anything the bible requires in the belief department. When we add self spawning life from trippy mud with better than flawless reproduction we can safely say atheists most definitely need a church.

Such faith demands positive reinforcement. Good for them!

Praise the Funky Nothing and it's Trippy Carbon Clones! ......or whatever....

Morgan Lewis Williams

An atheist "church" is not a church. I believe in the traditional church but with lgbt friendliness. As the hymn says "On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

Dr. Darryl G Dykes

The term Church does not have to be religious. Iwas.shocked the.first time when the newspaper union called the first union meeting I was in was called Church. I had only been on the job a couple weeks when during shift the Union called a meeting to address a grievance with company the announcement was we are having a meeting of.the Church. I was what! Then one if the guys said that is what we call a meeting.of.the Union members. I was uncomfortable with the term Church bit that was their tradition.

Jude Terence McGloin

Well it's ok with me. This is a free country. I have always considered any belief a religion. So these are indeed churches. If they threatened you as a member of another belief I ask you how is your belief?

Rev. Michael Gerraghty II

To borrow from Anton LaVey I'd call this more of a "grotto" than a church.

Rev. BH

Any social group is better than none. Church, bingo, yoga, book group, garden club. Belonging is necessary,.

Ari Joseph Bertine

I think it's a good community idea. A lot of people who may be estranged from their childhood religion were still imprinted on the community model that a structured church provides, and miss that social connection. I know more than one ex-Christian that still occasionally attends church just to be with familiar people. There is more regularity and predictability, and therefore more stability, to that structure than there is in something like a new social club or a neighborhood community center without regular, repetitively similar meetings. So it's perfectly natural that people who miss the social side but don't want the religious side would come up with the idea to create a community-based meeting in that format.

That said, I am a bit surprised that this would be popular with atheists. I can see agnostics having no problem with it, but the majority of the atheists I have seen discussing religion sound like they would rather eat worms than even appear to be having anything to do with religion. They have also been extremely emphatic that atheism is not and cannot be considered a religion, and don't care what the dictionary has to say about the word. So I would have expected this to be popular with agnostics and people who are content with private beliefs, but I find it very interesting that atheists have any interest in it. Perhaps my experience with atheists is tainted by having mainly encountered them on the internet, I don't know.

Anne Damrosch

Sounds like a number of Buddhist sanghas in the US (mostly in New England) which I've been loosely connected with over the years. There is no mention or worship of deities, just people supporting each other in meditation practices, ethical behavior and life style choices.

Gureg Amun Ankh

I have a lot to say about this subject and it’s not about pushing a faith and belief system on someone one, a church is a place for connecting to the spiritual dimension, if it’s about divine love for all humanity and nature then who are we to judge because it doesn’t fit in you criteria of what spirituality is, a lot of different ideologies profess, judge not less you be judged, if it brings joy and agreeable guidance to one’s life, then let well enough alone, and learn to come together as one, learn to live for and by one another, if it is evil intent it will manifest, just as evil intent was and possibly still is in the archdiocese, Jews and Muslims killing one another over land, hatred for on one another,or is it holy wars because of miss interpretation, of your own religious holy books, today wither you realize it or not, people are looking for facts not faith, their fate in life not belief, the world is changing in this new millennium of spiritual connection with in themselves, don’t destroy their peace cause it’s not what we don’t agree with.

Alex Pineiro

I believe it is absolutely irrelevant to one's own Spiritual aspirations, beliefs, and practices...what someone else is doing, or the manner in which they worship. Life is a brevity, and if you spend it, expending your energies worrying about what your neighbor is doing, you will be doing so for lifetimes and remain stagnant in your own understanding and growth.

The spectrum within which we would measure a given consciousness, no less all individual consciousnesses, is VERY broad indeed. I would not name call a Neanderthal because, ie; he decides he wishes to worship a large colorful stone. He is doing precisely the right thing..."for where he is" Life as we know it is a "process" of growth and expansion of consciousness. We are not all in the same place in space and time and this is true even if two people are standing next to one another in the same room. The illusion is of close proximity to one another, or of closeness, but the reality is not so. I would admonish the neanderthal to be the best rock worshipper he knows how to be. In his own time, he will change. It is not my place to judge him, but to Love him as myself to the degree possible. It is not my place, nor the Christian, nor the Catholic's nor anyones to claim that anyone is going to go to hell if they do not follow my way or any given way. ONLY God, knows. In all the great scriptures of the earth, I find the same universal message, only confused by the limited understanding of individual minds. The message is the same. 1. "The kingdom of God is WITHIN you." Judge not lest ye be judged", and "Worry about the plank in your own eye" These admonitions are not exclusive to Christians, Catholics, or Muslims, but for all humankind what wishes to attain to the Father and his kingdom. Therefore, spend more time within, practice understanding, empathy and kindness instead of self-righteous condemnation and judgement, and practice LOVING all as thyself, regardless of difference. ALL are God's and the final admonition to keep ever fixed in your consciousness is "As you do unto others, so you do unto me."

Patti Anne Lisenbee

I first was alerted to the presence of athiest "churches" via another article. I posted it on a big FB athiest group and boy, did the angry comments roll in, mostly incensed that it was called a church. I too wish they would not call them "churches." They are social hubs, community gatherings, not a building meant for the worship of an invisible, unproven diety in the sky. The dictionary online says a church is "a building used for public Christian worship." Wikipedia says it is "A church, church building, or church house is a building used for Christian worship services and other Christian religious activities." Thus, these places of Athiest gatherings are NOT churches, so quit calling them such! Please call them something else as no religion is in play there. Thank you.

Steven Allen Bell

These churches have existed for a very long time. They call themselves Unitarian.

Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

As a Secular Humanist Pantheist (SHP) bishop in the ULC, I consider the entire Earth my church, and thereby every person alive, a potential member of my ULC congregation. Because, as a ULC’er, God and nature are synonymous, the SHP’ists, are the only identifiably group actually able to prove the existence of God — which means that those who reject, the SHP provable God, are atheists — unless they can prove the existence of their God; which they can’t— because otherwise I’d have already heard of them doing so. Want a provable God? Become a SHP’er.

Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

As a former atheist, now that I’m actually able to prove the existence, of the only known provable God, it’s safe for me to publicly declare, that anyone merely believing in an unprovable God, is, as a matter of logic, an atheist.

An interesting metamorphosis; I, a former atheist, am now a God-knower; while those only capable of professing belief, in an ineffable God, are now all atheists.

PS. As a Secular Humanist Pantheist, the totality of God, is precisely the same as the the entirety of nature; and nature (AKA, God) is easily proven to anybody— who’s not mentally challenged.

Christopher M Lynch

I mean I am being honest here. would i attend a church that doesn't worship God and Jesus. Probably not.. I do know heaven and hell do exist even though people don't belive it. Jesus in all the bibles said himself though the bible he does not want anyone to parish but, to have everlasting life with God our Father. to be saved and go to heaven is yet simple to do just repent that your a sinner and you agree that Jesus died for all our sins. Other "so called religons" you have to do so many things to be even saved. look at hindus, buda, etc. as a assembly of god church member, people have gifts of the sprit, talking in tounges, and God gave people who have given there life to God/Jesus can preach the word, do baptisims, heal the sick though prayer.

Rev. Dr. Father JJ

“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” Carl Sagan

Peter Senderowitz

There is something to be said for the theistic argument that non- traditional spiritualities live off the moral crumbs of judeocristianity . By the way, I could argue that these new spiritualities are, indeed knockoffs, but of Unitarian Universalism, a " faith" that has existido since 1933. Rev. Butch S

James Grainger

Freedom to worship as you please, right Are you afraid they might be right???