In the last 30 years, atheism and secularism have been booming in America. As many as one in four members of the Millennial generation now say they have no religion. Given the vast size of the Millennials—78 million people, slightly more than the Baby Boomers—that adds up to almost 20 million freethinking Americans. And from all indications, the up-and-coming generations are even more secular.
As the broader atheist community becomes larger and better organized, secularists and freethinkers have shown increasing interest in gathering together with likeminded people. Atheist community isn’t a brand-new phenomenon; there have long been local meetups as well as regional and national conventions, like Skepticon, the giant free conference that takes place every year in Springfield, Missouri, or the Reason Rally, the nationwide gathering of atheists and humanists on the National Mall in March 2012. But many of these conferences are focused on activism and political mobilization, and as necessary as those are, they don’t appeal to everyone.
That’s why, in just the last few months and years, we’re witnessing a new wave of secular communities—atheist churches, if you insist—whose focus is on doing good, living well and appreciating the wonder and beauty of the world without recourse to archaic mythology.
The most prominent of these is the Sunday Assembly. Founded in north London in January 2013 by two standup comedians, Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones, the Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation—all the best parts of church but without the religion, in the words of its founders, whose motto is “Live better. Help often. Wonder more.” It was almost immediately a rousing success, attracting hundreds of people, and has spread to other British cities, including Brighton, Bristol and Oxford. Full story...
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As the broader atheist community becomes larger and better organized, secularists and freethinkers have shown increasing interest in gathering together with likeminded people. Atheist community isn’t a brand-new phenomenon; there have long been local meetups as well as regional and national conventions, like Skepticon, the giant free conference that takes place every year in Springfield, Missouri, or the Reason Rally, the nationwide gathering of atheists and humanists on the National Mall in March 2012. But many of these conferences are focused on activism and political mobilization, and as necessary as those are, they don’t appeal to everyone.
That’s why, in just the last few months and years, we’re witnessing a new wave of secular communities—atheist churches, if you insist—whose focus is on doing good, living well and appreciating the wonder and beauty of the world without recourse to archaic mythology.
The most prominent of these is the Sunday Assembly. Founded in north London in January 2013 by two standup comedians, Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones, the Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation—all the best parts of church but without the religion, in the words of its founders, whose motto is “Live better. Help often. Wonder more.” It was almost immediately a rousing success, attracting hundreds of people, and has spread to other British cities, including Brighton, Bristol and Oxford. Full story...
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- Stephen Hawking: 'There is no heaven; it's a fairy story'
- Einstein: religion is "childish superstitions".
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