# Atheist Churches, Good or Bad Idea. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 7, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579 "2013-02-07T12:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/201 "2013-02-09T14:56:04Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > No, I didn’t say that. But Christianity is special…it is the only religion where God shows His love by becoming Man. Jesus (God) experiences everything Mankind experiences and then dies on the cross. He led by example and apparently to atheists he has abandoned Mankind. Oh, you are just precious! You do know that you answered the question "Do you think that your god is the only one this is all about? " with “No, but my religion is the only one that counts!” ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/202 "2013-02-09T14:58:21Z")
All I’m saying is that a crumbling cross would be a good logo. It shows that God has abandoned mankind and now atheists need to find a better way. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/203 "2013-02-09T14:59:46Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > All I’m saying is that a crumbling cross would be a good logo. It shows that God has abandoned mankind and now atheists need to find a better way. Which just shows that you are being deliberately ignorant of atheism. ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/204 "2013-02-09T15:10:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Which just shows that you are being deliberately ignorant of atheism. Untrue…the goal of any world view is to show that their world view is better than others. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/205 "2013-02-09T15:11:09Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > All I’m saying is that a crumbling cross would be a good logo. It shows that God has abandoned mankind and now atheists need to find a better way. No. A crumbling cross would only indicate that the Christian churches need repair. I doubt an atheist would be interested in a message of abandonment by an entity who they believe never existed. We need to buy eggs, not because the Easter Bunny has abandoned us, but because the Easter Bunny never existed. (Even if a rabbit did exist in the past, the stories about his egg deliveries are myths which have been added to his story.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/206 "2013-02-09T15:12:27Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Untrue…the goal of any world view is to show that their world view is better than others. And what do you think the world view of atheists is? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/207 "2013-02-09T15:13:34Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Untrue…the goal of any world view is to show that their world view is better than others. Apologies for the double post, but by God that is a hateful and intolerant concept, of the type that leads people to killing off their neighbours instead of understanding why they have different beliefs or habits. ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/208 "2013-02-09T15:16:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And what do you think the world view of atheists is? You’re an atheist, you should tell me that. From a Christians viewpoint…there is no world view. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/209 "2013-02-09T15:25:46Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > You’re an atheist, you should tell me that. From a Christians viewpoint…there is no world view. I can’t tell you what _you_ think-that’s your job. I gave you the dictionary definition of atheism, and despite claims to the contrary you have rejected it. If this is wrong, you could prove it by now giving us the definition of atheism that you personally believe is correct. ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/210 "2013-02-09T15:30:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I can’t tell you what _you_ think-that’s your job. I gave you the dictionary definition of atheism, and despite claims to the contrary you have rejected it. If this is wrong, you could prove it by now giving us the definition of atheism that you personally believe is correct. Non-responsive, admit it…atheists don’t really have a rational world view. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/211 "2013-02-09T15:36:28Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > He led by example and apparently to atheists he has abandoned Mankind. This is not complicated. Atheists think that gods don’t exist, not that they’ve abandoned people. Do you understand that you can’t be abandoned by something that doesn’t exist? ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/212 "2013-02-09T15:40:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is not complicated. Atheists think that gods don’t exist, not that they’ve abandoned people. Do you understand that you can’t be abandoned by something that doesn’t exist? If God doesn’t exist…then what is an atheist’s world-view? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/213 "2013-02-09T15:42:40Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > If God doesn’t exist…then what is an atheist’s world-view? World views vary from person to person. You don’t need god to have a perspective on the world. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/214 "2013-02-09T15:42:50Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > If God doesn’t exist…then what is an atheist’s world-view? That there are no gods. Not God-gods. This isn’t just about you or your personal deity. ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/215 "2013-02-09T15:47:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > World views vary from person to person. You don’t need god to have a perspective on the world. That’s true, but then it would be rather pointless to have an atheist church, right? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/216 "2013-02-09T15:50:51Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > That’s true, but then it would be rather pointless to have an atheist church, right? I don’t think you need to have an entire worldview in common to go to a church. You can have some common interests or just the desire to do community work or meet some people who think some of the same things you do. Places like this aren’t big on doctrine. And none of this explains why you are totally unable to understand that atheists don’t believe in god. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/217 "2013-02-09T15:58:44Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > No, I didn’t say that. But Christianity is special…it is the only religion where God shows His love by becoming Man. Jesus (God) experiences everything Mankind experiences and then dies on the cross. He led by example and apparently to atheists he has abandoned Mankind. What. The. Holy. Fuck.? ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/218 "2013-02-09T15:59:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think you need to have an entire worldview in common to go to a church. You can have some common interests or just the desire to do community work or meet some people who think some of the same things you do. Places like this aren’t big on doctrine. And none of this explains why you are totally unable to understand that atheists don’t believe in god. Okay then a crumbling cross would be a good logo, God isn’t in the picture at all. Since there’s no world view let’s avoid calling it a church, but maybe you could call it an Atheists Community Center. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/219 "2013-02-09T16:01:27Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Okay then a crumbling cross would be a good logo, God isn’t in the picture at all. Putting a cross in the logo implies the group has something to do with Christianity. It doesn’t. Atheists have no particular opposition to Christianity. They don’t believe in any gods at all, not just that one. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579/220 "2013-02-09T16:02:17Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Okay then a crumbling cross would be a good logo, God isn’t in the picture at all. Since there’s no world view let’s avoid calling it a church, but maybe you could call it an Atheists Community Center. NO. Do you understand that atheists do not believe in god or gods? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-churches-good-or-bad-idea/649579.md?page=12)