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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Russell on March 5, 2012 at 11:15pm

this is oddly reminiscent of the jedi's sitting around discussing the dark side etc etc.. anyways...I agree that having the word "church" anywhere near the word "atheism" is fruit hanging far to low for the sheep to nibble on.  I actually think this is a grave threat to our cause if we really have one.  In the same breathe, we do need some kind of unifying body, but how to do that minus the seemingly innevitable human corruption that takes over at some point.  Kinda like how the occupy movement tried to stay away from a centralized power structure or a figurehead.  I would say science, or the truth, or evidence should be the president of the board as it were.  Regaurdless what we do,  as soon as it got big enough to gain momentum then it'd be hellfire and brimstone war on religion blah blah blah just like with this contraception bullshit.  In effect, driving them harder to their religion like a 16 yr girl dating they guy daddy doesn't like.  Nope we need to be covert.  Starting with discovering life on another planet would be SUCH a good place to start.  But um yeah maybe we need to get the operators of this site to send them guys a letter from us explaining our postition and that we need to discuss how to mold their image to better serve the general atheist message. 

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Permalink Reply by Suzanne Olson-Hyde on March 6, 2012 at 11:23pm

I was curious - it was complicated, to me :) trying to get into the web page - they say there are two people running this site - it would be a good place to buy Atheist stuff, but the format would put any Atheist right off buying anything.

The site is deceitful, just from that point of view, it is BS. It is just a site selling Atheists stuff, and overpriced at that.

Calling it a Church and having Reverends - when so many Atheists think it is codswallop, just stupid and downright bad business - I wonder who thought it was a good business idea. When one becomes a Reverend, you then have to buy the list of Reverends. They say the marriage with a reverend is binding - BS.

Good idea, Jimmy, I like the idea of loads of Atheist stuff being bought to spread the word etc., but this site would be putting Atheists off in their droves. These people just haven't thought about it enough. I bought a lot of things from a site in America, evolution fish, Darwin pin etc. it looks like they have the same supplier.

This site needs to be told, it is not working.

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Permalink Reply by randy brooks on March 6, 2012 at 5:06am

I'm sure somewhere someone expects to be paid at some point. Per usual...anything that get's overly organized has that tendency. Why call it a "Church?" Why perform weddings and funerals? These things have their origins in religious dogma. WTF??? You wanna get married??? There are civil ceremonies. Want a funeral??? Have a few drinks next to the grave and play the departed's favorite songs. People must stop joining things just to belong. Trust science and common sense. Our "Church" is our knowing smile and understanding nods. 

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Permalink Reply by Suzanne Olson-Hyde on March 6, 2012 at 6:52am

Took me ten minutes - I am now an Ordained Minister - just to find out what it was about - at first, I thought it was a joke, but they are selling 'stuff' - http://firstchurchofatheism.com/index.php/shop/pack-marriage-certs/

I think it is just another way to market stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Rick on March 6, 2012 at 12:13pm

Perhaps calling the collective a “church” was done so for legal purposes? I don’t claim to be knowledgeable on legal matters, but it seems to me that religious institutions are afforded special protections and privileges in the law. Perhaps this is just someone’s way of working within a system that may have very specific criteria for considering which institutions are allowed which privileges.

Another side to consider is that “churches” seem to wield political influence.  Perhaps they’re trying to tap that angle as well… not to mention that churches are able to take in funds, tax-free.

These are nothing more than speculations of course. I personally don’t like the association of atheism with religion. It sends the wrong message.

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Permalink Reply by Julia Arena Miller on March 6, 2012 at 4:02pm

You may have something there Rick. If they form a church they can have equal protection afforded to other churches under the law. It is still creepy and I don't want to join anything remotely resembling a church.

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Permalink Reply by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on March 6, 2012 at 12:20pm

The purpose of this church is to annoy thinking Atheists.

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Permalink Reply by forrest pugh on March 6, 2012 at 4:15pm

It appears that the sole purpose of "The First Church of Atheism" is to ordain "Atheist Ministers". That's a bit rubbish I think.

Churches or similar institutions have social perks our community could benefit from. I don't give a damn what proper noun you assign it, the purpose of a church is much more intrinsic to basic human needs and desires than the simple-minded dissemination of canonized doctrine.

One of the weaknesses that prevents many of the on-the-fence type cafe Christians I know from taking the leap and simply stating their lack of belief openly is the risk of loosing a place of belonging, and friendship.

Humans are predominantly not solitary creatures by nature... we all need at least a few friends to be happy, healthy, and sane. If potluck on the weekend, and an afternoon visiting with friendly acquaintances fills that need - so be it. There is also the social networking that comes with a built-in community - the bigger the community, the more successful that networking can be.

I wouldn't advocate the model this "Church" is promoting - but I think there IS definitely a niche that some sort of Atheist themed temple could fill.

It really would not be difficult to identify and generate suitable analogues to the fulfillment that a church community provides. Science has FAR more wondrous "miracles" than any half-cooked fairy tale with talking snakes, or lecherous incestuous holy men of God could offer. Scientists, Engineers, and Explorers I would argue deserve a Sainthood far more than any canonized Catholic for their contributions to humanity have had far more effective and positive impacts.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Kane on April 12, 2012 at 7:26pm

I see it as a silly idea, why on earth would you want to join an Atheist Church, I get the idea of going to say a social club of fellow atheist to discuss and debate but a church makes me feel embarrassed that other atheists are doing this, I will be honest I don't know too much about it, but would we have to go like every say... Sunday like a Christian Church?

What no one can deny is that the Atheist community needs a stable infrastructure to build more of 'membership' per say, to fight organised religion and the idea of a deity.

Also this whole idea is good for a satirical movie about an atheist wanting to make fun of religions by making his own Atheist church.

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