glennt wrote:

---

Vic41 wrote:

---

It will be interesting to see how this evolves or otherwise, saw it on the ABC news;

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-09/church-for-atheists-comes-to-australia/5080996

I don't think you could call it a religion as they don't worship a God, but I am sure that both the godless and god bothers alike will follow their activities to see what they are up to.

Please view this as an item of interest rather than a religious debate as we know that religion is a "no no" on the forum, but not sure this is what you would call religion but something we should be aware of.

Any complaints about the thread, rather than argue or get heated about this on the open forum, suggest contact the Webmaster by pm instead, I do not intend this post to become a debate about religion or God per se'.

I have never heard of this mob before and I'm sure most others haven't either whichever way they lean or believe.

 

Thanks VIC41 for your unbiased post, very interesting

-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 10th of September 2014 01:05:42 PM

---

 

---

glennt wrote:

---

Darwin's theory of evolution is not atheism, its a theory!!!

---

 Certainly it is a theory but I also believe it is atheism as it does not acknowledge any form of deity.

PS:- Edited for a typo.

glennt wrote:

---

     O K...       Thats cool......

-- Edited by glennt on Wednesday 10th of September 2014 03:16:48 PM

---

 Thanks Pal.

It seems to me to be another form of Humanism which is very similar by all accounts, although one seems more social.

See;  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism 

I am not trying to promote one or the other, just trying to make a comparison.

Likewise I am not trying to promote either over religion or whatever others believe in, just trying to be open minded about things going on in our society without favouring one over the other.

 PS: Our posts crossed over Dorian, another belief as you said.  

Hey Billeeeeeee (7e's) you sound very excited  

Wombat told me you were a very UNexcited person but I didn't believe him   Nope no way, not for one minute. 

"This Mob ".....

hako wrote:

---

Good Post Vic.
I reckon it's a great idea - I'm a non-believer but I know there is more to going to church on a Sunday than just for the religion. To quote from the article:
"There are heaps of people who don't believe and just want to be good people and part of a community"

From what I've read about it, there is no atheist agenda forming any part of it. Maybe it's just people who want to do unto others etc.
Then again, how is that different from other mobs like Apex, Lions or lodges.....or even the local bowls club - they all try to do good in the community.
Good Luck.

---

I since had another read of their Q & A Denis, looks like when they first started they split with some of the people in it who wanted to follow an Atheist line and the founders renamed it Sunday Assembly without being dogmatic.   

From what they have said everybody is welcome irrespective of their beliefs and it seems more like a general social and discussion group on all topics but not atheism.

Could be a good group for those wanting a social group with no set dogma's etc.

I will watch how this pans out in Oz over time.

Their Motto:  "Live Better - Help Often - Wonder More"

I think I'll adopt a "wait and see" approach Dorian, probably different countries and different branches will have different ideas on how they run, events etc.

Reminds me a bit of University of the Third Age.  http://www.u3auwa.org/ 

Or Meet Up Groups.  http://www.meetup.com/ 

Which seem very similar.

Maybe some ex church goers miss the social aspect of going to church and just want a meet up group to socialise on Sundays

I thought it a bit strange too wanting to be a "congregation", however their are many groups of different types that want to meet on a Sunday as many work during the week and Saturday so Sunday is when most people are free.  

I wouldn't go as far as to call them radicals, just different.  I see on their website they invite people of all kinds and from all types of beliefs or religions.   According to their website they had a split from die hard atheists so if there is such a thing they seem more like a moderate atheist group.  I think one biblical quote comes into play here, "judge not lest you be judged" or words to that effect for those who do believe in the bible.

Being agnostic too seems to have a few variations too according to Wikepedia;

"Types of agnosticism

A person calling oneself 'agnostic' is stating that he or she has no opinion on the existence of God, as there is no definitive evidence for or against. Agnosticism has, however, more recently been subdivided into several categories. Variations include:

Agnostic atheism

The view of those who do not believe in the existence of any deity, but do not claim to know if a deity does or does not exist.^[21][22][23]

Agnostic theism

The view of those who do not claim to know of the existence of any deity, but still believe in such an existence.^[21]

Apathetic or pragmatic agnosticism

The view that there is no proof of either the existence or nonexistence of any deity, but since any deity that may exist appears unconcerned for the universe or the welfare of its inhabitants, the question is largely academic. Therefore, their existence has little to no impact on personal human affairs and should be of little theological interest.^[24][25]

Strong agnosticism (also called "hard", "closed", "strict", or "permanent agnosticism")

The view that the question of the existence or nonexistence of a deity or deities, and the nature of ultimate reality is unknowable by reason of our natural inability to verify any experience with anything but another subjective experience. A strong agnostic would say, "I cannot know whether a deity exists or not, and neither can you."^[26][27][28]

Weak agnosticism (also called "soft", "open", "empirical", or "temporal agnosticism")

The view that the existence or nonexistence of any deities is currently unknown but is not necessarily unknowable; therefore, one will withhold judgment until evidence, if any, becomes available. A weak agnostic would say, "I don't know whether any deities exist or not, but maybe one day, if there is evidence, we can find something out."^{[26][27][28]"}

Dougwe wrote:

---

Do these people have thongs on their feet Vic. Could be suss if they do. They might take them off before entering the building too so make sure they don't put them anywhere near a tree mate 

 

Who said that??? 

 

WOOOOOMBAT! 

---

If the twins are going to their "service" whatever they call it then I'm going too, but only if they don't put clothes on  

PS:  You can call me anything if it will get me through the door   

It's good to see a Church open that caters for my religion, but I'm still not going to attend !!! 

Lesley F wrote:

---

I attend a Spiritualists Church - it's a psychic church - philosophy very similar to Buddhism.  I'm a professionally trained tarot card reader - so I'm throwing the cat among the pigeons.

We all have free will - my thoughts are - only believe what you can verify and feels right for you - there's no right or wrong.

Have fun all you lucky travellers!!

 

 

---

 I am also a Spiritualist.  Was involved in the Healing.