A church for Atheism? Would you support my idea?

Question

I personaly am an Atheist so when I found out that america had just recognized it as an official religion I laughed alot. After that was done i figured out the ramifications of their decision. You could start a church for atheism.

Since the "church" would be tax free this could be some very interesting stuff. Now I dont believe that people would come to listen to preaching, but what if the church just had smart people (profesors and such) to awnser questions on math, science, and other academic things.

I would love to get this started but there are 2 major problems
1- starting capitol (u cant ask for investment because there could be no return)
2- getting people to come and teach 1 or 2 days a week (befor the church became large there would be no pay)

Some problems to fix
1- Atheism is NOT americas official religion nor did I say it is. IT is however given tax exempt status as a religion.
2- Yes it does sound like school. FREE SCHOOL. people pay thousands to go to school. I would like to provide it for free.
3- Pls read and understand befor replying

Answer 1

Nope, I wouldn't support it. What would be your miiion statement?

I love God.

Answer 2

Well, it seems to me that such a curch has already been created and is very healthy and making lots of money to boot all around the world. Most public college campuses seem to fit the bill quite nicely. However, they tend to cater to everyone's educational needs and don't really exclude people for beliefs. Perhaps in that way they are better than some churches.

Seriously, I am not myself an atheist, but I am curious as to what these services would look like. The question seemed to frame them as looking alot like a college course. If they were taught by really good professors I think that I would attend just for the knowledge that I could get from them. Though I doubt that I would change my beliefs.

Thanks.

Galen

Answer 3

Well I'm not sure what atheism was recognized as, but America has no official religions, at all. Your Atheist Church might be granted non-profit status under tax law or something similar, but it's not an official religion.

That said, it seems to me an Atheist Church would be hard to pull off, just for the simple fact that atheism is not a well-defined enough worldview on its own to form an entire religion. Atheists all, by definition, agree that there is no god, but when it comes to other philosophical (or atheological?) issues, they are as diverse as any other group. It would be like having a Monotheist Church-- not a Christian, Muslim, or some other religion, but strictly monotheist. There are so many doctrinal differences that could arise, it would be hard to keep the church together.

But hey, it might be interesting to see if you could pull it off after all.

Answer 4

there are already 2 atheist institutions powerfully at work within our society; separation of church and state makes public schools like churches, because they are used to disseminate doctrinal propaganda which we use to live and survive together. also, science is primarily atheistic, and it has several associated institutions which could be mobilized to become more churchly; science labs in higher education, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, all of these are places where strange and non-Christian rites and rituals are practiced.
You don't need to start a whole new organization, just use the systems already in place to spread the good word.
Except schools are generally too busy investing in turning our students into street soldiers than literate people capable of discerning a little of the light of truth.
And most scientific institutions are busy calculating profits to really know anything about which way the wind blows. So we'll just have to keep going to a Christian church when we want to hear some rousing piece of scripture, for now.

Answer 5

Where are you?

But, isn't that called a library? :-)
And it's spin off, UNIVERSIty (schools).

But really, Atheists need a place where like minded people can meet. Is that so strange??

And, it's discriminatory if we didn't ALSO get the same privilege as the charlatans.

I'd like to see recreation centers and halls where anything could be discussed openly, FOR FREE.


I don't like anything about religion, especially the "don't worry, it's out of our hands, it will all work out" crap that they deliver to Man.

It IS responsible for making everything fall apart, real soon now too.

The Brazillian rain forests won't last much longer, and that's a primarily catholic country.

Answer 6

Atheism IS one of the belief systems recognized by the US government and the US military. As for the idea of an Atheist church-- Sure! Where do I sign up? Spreading the real word (reality ONLY) is just as valid to me as bogus gods are to the religious nuts.

Answer 7

Church of instructions. And why would you want an atheist church? the full factor of atheism is we do not favor a daft position to worship because nicely.. we've not something to worship! also we do not pontificate, because all of us knows truly that God does not exist.

Answer 8

It's not a church, it's a school. A church is a place to worship God or whatever deity one may believe in, something that's contradictory to atheism. If you call it a church, what exactly would you be worshipping?

Answer 9

Your talking about a school... sorry but that has been done.



ha ha atheist church... isn't that an oxymoron?

PS I love how you make it sound that only atheists are "smart people". Their are PLENTY of intelligent people who believe in a higher power. Just not the leader of America.

Answer 10

Is there a difference between a church for atheism and a satan worshipping cult. You dont have to start one just go out and join a cult. If you don't beleive in God, then it should not matter to you. Do you believe in Satan? If you do then who do think is his opposing force.

Answer 11

America has not recognized atheism as the official religion.