Maybe it’s because I’m in a new city and don’t know many people, but I have been bandying around the idea of starting an atheist social club.
Kinda like church for atheist, without the whole God thing.
Would you join? Or is one of the perks of being an atheist, is not having to do anything on Sunday mornings?
I would need more information, but, tentatively, yes.
Why must it meet on Sundays?
I could be tempted to join, but the molded Jell-O salad socials are right out.
I’m on a weekly subscription list for the local atheist/humanist group. Usually they meet at Old Country Buffet once a week and some other standard social events. Every once in a while they have a speaker who addresses more topical items that are getting passed through the local legislation (and that’s the reason I signed up). I’ve yet to go to any events though. I’m not social in that aspect but would be interested in any fora that they plan in regards to politics.
Sounds like it could be interesting. I do like my Sunday mornings at home though. I’d rather meet during the evening sometime, and not Sunday evening either.
When I was an atheist, I belonged to a humanist organization called The Ethical Culture Society. I found the group to be intellectually stimulating and socially enjoyable, and I made several friends there. If there were a chapter in the city where I now live, I might drop in from time to time. Even though I am no longer an atheist, I think the folks in Ethical Culture would treat me with respect, and I’m sure we’d find things to talk about.
I joined one in, in Phoenix, the early 80’s, it was a chinese firedrill. They usually met on Sundays at one or another coffee shop style restuarant, by prior arrangement. There were usualy 15-20 in attendance.
There was one guy who loved to bend your ear about how communism was misunderstood and what a wonderful way of life it was. There was some ambiguous plan to build an “atheists only” trailer park, which 2 or 3 members kept trying to push, along w/ reminders of how wonderful it would be to be segregated from all those annoying christians.
After several meetings, one of the women, who attended w/ her husband, showed up, unannounced, at my apartment one evening. She made a weak, “in the neighborhood, thought I’d drop by”, excuse. I offered her a drink and, in short order, we were doing the horizontal mambo, after which she left. I dropped out after a couple of months, nothing to hold my interest. The lady(?) visited a time or two, but I eventually discouraged it as she was a bit flaky, even though fairly easy on the eyes.
I don’t know what I expected, but what I found sure was a surprise and a bit of a disappontment.
I sort of did. It’s called Unitarian Universalism. 
Nope. For one, I’ve already got something I do on Sunday mornings.
For two, I’m in lots of social groups already. I don’t know that I want one where the only thing we have in common is that we don’t believe in a god.
There’s several local ones. I was looking into possibly joining up with one but have never bothered yet. There is the local Church of Freethought that was started in Dallas for the main purpose of having the social benefits of a church atmosphere without the religion. I had contacted them when I was trying to find a non-religious officiant for my wedding. That was a hell of a task but I eventually found a Humanist minister who did a pretty good job.
I should have given a link
Uh, duh. Archmichael, I just noticed you’re new to Houston. That’s where I live, and have lived for the past year. Exercise your search-fu and look up my thread titled “Church for Atheists.” We should hang some time.
There already are some clubs in Houston. Here’s a link. Depending on their proclivities, atheists may also get happy at one of the Unitarian Universalist churches.
Yeah really, I think only those who’ve been convicinced they going to heaven for it should be asked to get up on Sunday morning.
And of course us evil non theists always do better under the cover of darkness.
I don’t know…part of me says why do we need a club for a nonblief? What do we nessecerily have in common? On the other hand, in a culture where you’re in the minority you could use some support. I say go for it. Or just go hang out with the Unitarians
I already belong to one. It’s called “England”.
Like iamthewalrus(:3=, I don’t think I’d hang out with people soley based on the fact that we don’t believe in a god.
I find the whole idea kind of absurd. If that’s the only common bond, what’s there to bond over? A lack of faith? I don’t believe in Sasquatch either, but I can’t see that there’s much fun involved in hanging around with a bunch of people simply because they, too, think Sasquatch is a hoax. I might, by sheer accident, have something that I find interesting in common with other members, but it seems to me if that’s what I’m after, I’d join a club devoted to those interests.
I could certainly see the point of an atheist/agnostic support group, I suppose. As for myself, I’m not really that interested in gathering to bitch about being surrounded by people who think poorly of you and wish to force their faith-based values upon you. I could sympathize, but I’m not sure how much any of us would get out of comisseration, since there’s not a terrible lot we can really do about it, tiny and essentially powerless minority that we are. I think I’d just come away from a session feeling depressed.
I’m like Groucho Marx: I don’t want to be part of any club that would have me as a member.
I have atheist friends who belong to a chapter of the Ethical Humanist Society, which is either the same group with a different name, or just the name of their chapter. You don’t actually have to be an atheist to be a member, although I think most of them are. (My best friend, who was one the president of their youth group, said the motto was “we spell god with two o’s.”) I went to a few youth group meetings when I was in high school, but it just wasn’t for me. Part of it was definitely the ‘getting up early on the weekends’ issue, but I also just don’t need that kind of group support. When it comes to ethical and moral issues, some people like to be part of a community, especially if they were raised in one - not that there’s anything wrong with that - and that never really called to me.
Also, the Ethical Culture Society was founded by a man named Felix Adler. I kept thinking of him as Felix Unger, and while he’s long-dead, I didn’t want to be the guy who mixed up this ethical group’s founder with the guy from The Odd Couple.
:eek: 
Can I join? Please??? Please, please, please??? I’m willing to become C of E (who eveyrone knows doesn’t invlove believing in God) if that would help.