UK’s first atheist church to open today
Mr Jones and Ms Evans, a musical improv comedian who had a BBC Radio 4 show called Showstopper, came up with the idea for The Sunday Assembly after agreeing they liked many aspects of religion but didn’t believe in a god.
“We thought it would be a shame not to enjoy the good stuff about religion, like the sense of community, just because of a theological disagreement,” said Mr Jones, who recently became the first person to sell out the Sydney Opera House by personally selling all tickets by hand.
He continued: “It’s part atheist church and part foot-stomping show. There will be a speaker on a theme each month but there will also be an awesome house band, which Pippa will lead. We’ll be helping people try and stick to their new year’s resolutions in the first service.”
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will Nietzsche’s The Madman be the invocation?
tom daschle concerned on January 6, 2013 at 11:50 AM
An atheist church…*chortle*
Is there an empty box on the “altar”?
Dack Thrombosis on January 6, 2013 at 11:52 AM
wtf
John the Libertarian on January 6, 2013 at 11:53 AM
This should be entertaining.
-1 for not mentioning that it’s run by stand-up comics though, AP.
HitNRun on January 6, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Be careful. The muslims ain’t gonna be happy.
tommy71 on January 6, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Which songs do they sing, is there a sermon, and is anyone expected to dress nicely out of respect to…uh…a non-existent deity?
This is stupid. You could meet in a coffee shop and talk about the weather, same effect.
Bishop on January 6, 2013 at 11:57 AM
Believe it or not, this is a positive move for theists. “Militant atheism” has for far too long operated under the following tautology:
I am an atheist, and therefore not religious. Therefore, my deeply held beliefs about the origins and meaning of life, the offense or non-offense I take at the religious practices of others in public, et cetera are not, by definition, religious beliefs. Because they are not religious beliefs, they are therefore not subject to secular laws meant to keep religious people from offending one another and obnoxiously evangelizing one another in inappropriate ways.
If atheists can be recognized as a religious un-belief unto themselves, and atheists subject themselves to those secular laws that they would squeal at seeing the majority faith of their particular nation following, there would be far fewer problems.
Sekhmet on January 6, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Ironic, but boring.
Ted Torgerson on January 6, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Heh.
You know, I always find it funny how atheists, gays, fringe leftwing activists, etc always wonder why people can’t stand them.
So often it isn’t even about their views or outlooks, it’s about how these types of people are CONSTANTLY acting out in a bid for attention.
Atheist churches, ridiculous gay parades like the Folsom Street Fair, shutting down conservative conferences or speakers.
These people just crave attention at all times. It’s infantile, and something to be pitied.
blatantblue on January 6, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Were Good LT, mazer9, and Dan_Yul there?
22044 on January 6, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Look at me! Look at me! I’m so clever! Look at me, Daddy!
Daddy?
Daddy!
John the Libertarian on January 6, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Does it have a Festivus pole?
HotAirian on January 6, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Some atheists are better entertainment than 99 percent of Hollywood.
CW on January 6, 2013 at 12:17 PM
atheist church
Does not compute.
gophergirl on January 6, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Ahhh, so this is the state of Western civilization.
…or are these people some of the “citizen of the world” types?
Mr. Prodigy on January 6, 2013 at 12:28 PM
My first thought was: will anyone go? And my second was: if they do, it could, quite possibly, be the biggest collection of a**holes ever!
besser tot als rot on January 6, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Last night, a Conservative friend of mine texted me this from a wedding of liberals she was attending: “they are handing out environmentally safe trees as a gift.” LOL I’ll ask her for further detail next time I talk to her!
All of these freaks have the following in common: they live joyless lives, and they are missing a sense of community, which was indicated in the article.
Anti-Control on January 6, 2013 at 12:52 PM
How silly.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on January 6, 2013 at 1:08 PM
Unitarians?
tom on January 6, 2013 at 1:25 PM
Isn’t this like opening a vegetarian steakhouse?
tommyboy on January 6, 2013 at 1:50 PM
So…what do they BELIEVE? Part of going to church is being with people who have certain BELIEFS and VALUES in common. And, prayer. This group sounds like the no labels group. Although, I bet if you check the “congregation” they will all be Democrats, LOL. And, what do they sing? Cat Stevens songs?
It’s interesting because I have a friend who, after attending my mother’s funeral at our big African American church, said that he would love to have that sense of community he felt at the church…but, he just didn’t want the God part.
sydneyjane on January 6, 2013 at 1:50 PM
It’s funny, actually.
Otherwise, why care?
Moesart on January 6, 2013 at 1:54 PM
These atheists are religious. They believe in the absence of a God.
But it’s a belief that is not backed up by anything other than a belief.
As is a religion where others believe in a deity.
All this proves is that mankind has a hunger for something organized to pigeonhole beliefs.
The God gene?
Whatever it is, instead of trying to vilify & insult people who do believe in a deity, perhaps atheists could respect a person for their beliefs as others are supposed to respect atheists’ belief in nothing.
Bcs when you get down to it, there is no scientific evidence that proves or disproves the existence of a God.
Badger40 on January 6, 2013 at 2:12 PM
Keep in mind when I say this, I am referring to actualy hard scientific evidence.
I’m not talking about people’s spiritual experiences.
Which I believe are very real.
But trying to quantify such things is not really possible. As of yet.
So I’m strictly speaking in the sense of hard concrete proof according to the scientific method.
And that’s what I’ve always thought atheists should base their opinion on as they insult & deride others for believing in spiritual beings.
It’s only fair.
Badger40 on January 6, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Amen. In the same vein, I would include some of the more in-your-face religious denominations.
BocaJuniors on January 6, 2013 at 2:15 PM