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Atheism will always struggle to grow its ranks until it replaces the necessary features provided by religion. I'm an atheist/agnostic who spent a few years in

Atheism will always struggle to grow its ranks until it replaces the necessary features provided by religion. I'm an atheist/agnostic who spent a few years in a very cult-like christian denomination. I can say a lot of bad things about it, but it did help me to become more social and taught me a lot about the benefits of shared beliefs. Having a network of people to call on in times of need is priceless. Regular socialization and group participation helped me graduate from being an anti-social outcast. You can form groups around hobbies and activities, but the bonds just aren't strong enough to overcome our natural tendencies to judge others or take offense at the slightest indiscretions. I think a lot of people like me end up Unitarian Universalists just so they can gain some semblance of a community again.

enraged_camel 8y ago
>>Atheism will always struggle to grow its ranks until it replaces the necessary features provided by religion Strange claim, and wrong as well, since number of atheists/agnostics has been increasing steadily for a long time now, as fewer and fewer people identify as members of a particular religion.
- irrational 8y ago
  What does that have to do with finding a replacement for the community aspects of churches?
- 01100011 8y ago
  > since number of atheists/agnostics has been increasing steadily for a long time now, Worldwide or in the west? Is the number increasing as a percentage of world population, or are we only growing near the population growth rate? If we produce a bunch of aimless atheists, we may find ourselves outbred by cultures and belief systems which find ways to encourage their adherents to procreate.
fjsolwmv 8y ago
Unitarian Universalisy is exactly the church for atheists who see the value in the non religious parts of church. The problem is most people don't understand the value of this, so most people won't get it unless they are driven to it by religion, and religious people tend to not notice that religion isn't the main reason the good parts of church are good. Religion is to church like the stone is to stone soup, including the part where dirt on the stone can mess up the soup.
- tathougies 8y ago
  > religious people tend to not notice that religion isn't the main reason the good parts of church are good. I strongly disagree with this statement. While I am quite involved in my church now, and think that's great. A belief in God (independent of a congregation, and at times, in spite of the congregation) has kept me sane at the worst points in my life. I get that you do not see the value in this -- that is your right of course. However, please do not project your feelings on religious people.
  - jniedrauer 8y ago
    It doesn't require projection to make that observation. A formerly religious person could make that observation and be talking about themselves. In fact, it would be kind of strange for a non-religious person to think that a higher power is the reason for the good aspects of religion.
  - nitrogen 8y ago
    However, please do not project your feelings on religious people. As a formerly very devoutly religious person, I have to say I agree with the parent comment that religion is the worst part of organized religion. I have been much happier (and to your point, "saner") since I stopped believing. One of the things I definitely understand but don't miss is the defensiveness that comes out when someone says they are better off without religious belief. Returning to the main topic of loneliness/community, I think we can have a sense of shared purpose without needing a sense of higher purpose. I hope we can find a way as a society to rebuild the carrot of strong communities without needing the threat of loss of salvation as stick.
    - humanrebar 8y ago
      > One of the things I definitely understand but don't miss is the defensiveness that comes out when someone says they are better off without religious belief. The "defensiveness" wasn't in response to an expression of personal experience as you claim. The pull out quote was characterizing a diverse group of people, including scientists, scholars, and former atheists, as somehow oblivious. I think patronizing hand-waving about defensiveness is unfair.
CalRobert 8y ago
Hah, I wouldn't be shocked if we were in the same denomination. They have a bit of a cult problem (Waco comes to mind). I have social groups around hobbies and activities, but the bonds are different, and without a shared belief (or, I often suspect, professed belief regardless of one's actual deep-down convictions) the nature of the relationships is different. I'd have sooner asked someone from church to watch my child in an emergency than someone from the homebrew club. Not that there's anything wrong with homebrew club members! It's just a different set of norms, expectations, etc. that come from being in each group. Of course, this can be stifling too. HBC members are a lot less likely to care if I'm gay, etc. (though honestly the church people, or at least those under 40, didn't seem to care either)
sharadov 8y ago
Basically, atheists need to form their own religion.
- krtkush 8y ago
  I can be your God.
  - pauljurczak 8y ago
    Nice try!
  - sharadov 8y ago
    O Lord if there is a lord, save my soul if there is a soul!
apexalpha 8y ago
https://www.sundayassembly.com https://www.sundayassembly.com This is an example of what you seek. They pop up every now and then in my country. Quote from website: >The Sunday Assembly was started by Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, two comedians who were on the way to a gig in Bath when they discovered they both wanted to do something that was like church but totally secular and inclusive of all—no matter what they believed. The first ever Sunday Assembly meeting took place on January 6th 2013 at The Nave in Islington. Almost 200 people turned up at the first meeting, 300 at the second and soon people all over the world asked to start one. Now there are over 70 Sunday Assembly chapters in 8 different countries where people sing songs, hear inspiring talks, and create community together. Why do we exist? Life is short, it is brilliant, it is sometimes tough, we build communities that help everyone live life as fully as possible.

enraged_camel 8y ago

>>Atheism will always struggle to grow its ranks until it replaces the necessary features provided by religion Strange claim, and wrong as well, since number of atheists/agnostics has been increasing steadily for a long time now, as fewer and fewer people identify as members of a particular religion.

irrational 8y ago
What does that have to do with finding a replacement for the community aspects of churches?
01100011 8y ago
> since number of atheists/agnostics has been increasing steadily for a long time now, Worldwide or in the west? Is the number increasing as a percentage of world population, or are we only growing near the population growth rate? If we produce a bunch of aimless atheists, we may find ourselves outbred by cultures and belief systems which find ways to encourage their adherents to procreate.

fjsolwmv 8y ago

Unitarian Universalisy is exactly the church for atheists who see the value in the non religious parts of church. The problem is most people don't understand the value of this, so most people won't get it unless they are driven to it by religion, and religious people tend to not notice that religion isn't the main reason the good parts of church are good. Religion is to church like the stone is to stone soup, including the part where dirt on the stone can mess up the soup.

tathougies 8y ago
> religious people tend to not notice that religion isn't the main reason the good parts of church are good. I strongly disagree with this statement. While I am quite involved in my church now, and think that's great. A belief in God (independent of a congregation, and at times, in spite of the congregation) has kept me sane at the worst points in my life. I get that you do not see the value in this -- that is your right of course. However, please do not project your feelings on religious people.
- jniedrauer 8y ago
  It doesn't require projection to make that observation. A formerly religious person could make that observation and be talking about themselves. In fact, it would be kind of strange for a non-religious person to think that a higher power is the reason for the good aspects of religion.
- nitrogen 8y ago
  However, please do not project your feelings on religious people. As a formerly very devoutly religious person, I have to say I agree with the parent comment that religion is the worst part of organized religion. I have been much happier (and to your point, "saner") since I stopped believing. One of the things I definitely understand but don't miss is the defensiveness that comes out when someone says they are better off without religious belief. Returning to the main topic of loneliness/community, I think we can have a sense of shared purpose without needing a sense of higher purpose. I hope we can find a way as a society to rebuild the carrot of strong communities without needing the threat of loss of salvation as stick.
  - humanrebar 8y ago
    > One of the things I definitely understand but don't miss is the defensiveness that comes out when someone says they are better off without religious belief. The "defensiveness" wasn't in response to an expression of personal experience as you claim. The pull out quote was characterizing a diverse group of people, including scientists, scholars, and former atheists, as somehow oblivious. I think patronizing hand-waving about defensiveness is unfair.

CalRobert 8y ago

Hah, I wouldn't be shocked if we were in the same denomination. They have a bit of a cult problem (Waco comes to mind). I have social groups around hobbies and activities, but the bonds are different, and without a shared belief (or, I often suspect, professed belief regardless of one's actual deep-down convictions) the nature of the relationships is different. I'd have sooner asked someone from church to watch my child in an emergency than someone from the homebrew club. Not that there's anything wrong with homebrew club members! It's just a different set of norms, expectations, etc. that come from being in each group. Of course, this can be stifling too. HBC members are a lot less likely to care if I'm gay, etc. (though honestly the church people, or at least those under 40, didn't seem to care either)

sharadov 8y ago

Basically, atheists need to form their own religion.

krtkush 8y ago
I can be your God.
- pauljurczak 8y ago
  Nice try!
- sharadov 8y ago
  O Lord if there is a lord, save my soul if there is a soul!

apexalpha 8y ago

https://www.sundayassembly.com https://www.sundayassembly.com This is an example of what you seek. They pop up every now and then in my country. Quote from website: >The Sunday Assembly was started by Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, two comedians who were on the way to a gig in Bath when they discovered they both wanted to do something that was like church but totally secular and inclusive of all—no matter what they believed. The first ever Sunday Assembly meeting took place on January 6th 2013 at The Nave in Islington. Almost 200 people turned up at the first meeting, 300 at the second and soon people all over the world asked to start one. Now there are over 70 Sunday Assembly chapters in 8 different countries where people sing songs, hear inspiring talks, and create community together. Why do we exist? Life is short, it is brilliant, it is sometimes tough, we build communities that help everyone live life as fully as possible.