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Atheist Church? Why Not Atheist Temple?

I saw what appeared to be a survey asking what people thought about atheist churches on the main screen a while back. That puzzled me. If the question was about having facilities to help indoctrinate secular values into youth, I would think that atheists would have the sense to not indicate a particular religion when doing so. Atheists can be former Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc. and even born and raised atheists. I support the notion of advocating secular values, but I would like to use a term like temple. I know, some people would say that temple indicates Judaism, but there are many cultures that make "temples". There are Buddhist temples, Jewish temples, Greco-Roman temples and temples of doom. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by El Solo Lobo on June 27, 2010 at 12:14am

I agree with the ideas, Fred. Some atheists do have the same kinds of social needs that many Christians find in church. As a general rule, and a helluvan irony, I think most atheists take "God and religion" more seriously than most Christians do. For many of them it's about the social connections and they just accept and go along with the religious part. There is no rational reason that a group of freethinkers (including atheists, humanists, etc.) could not have their own church. I think Brother Richard is considering the idea of starting one in the Atlanta area. What would we do? Same thing Christians do at theirs minus the supernatural parts. Hear a talk, maybe a skit, have some music, and simply socialise with (mostly) like minded folk. I understand some atheists are totallly individualistic and have no need of such things. Same for many Christians. But why should there not be places for those who would enjoy the bit of structure and socialising?

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Phillips on June 27, 2010 at 6:21am

I think that having central locations is important for finding people. Many of the monthly meetups happen at different places at different times. At least having the same place at different times we could have more meetings. This reminds me of how one usually does not need to have any one piece of a culture to belong to it, but one needs to have at least one piece of that culture to be connected to it.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Phillips on June 27, 2010 at 6:26am

Monthly meetings are difficult. I live about two hours from the closest monthly meetup. I don't expect it to grow too much. I know of a handfull of other atheists in my own community, and we could split off our own group, but people do have lives, which makes things a bit problematic. We aren't devoted to saving our souls by going to meetups. We are liberals and conservatives, libertarians and anarchists, Those who believe in Rawlesian justice and Nietzshian will to power. Perhaps the best bet is to rally around the freedom to express one's self. I like your speed dating notion. I would love to talk to other people who have had experiences like my own and possibly have similar interests. This is very difficult at the moment.

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Permalink Reply by Secular Forces 2013 on June 26, 2010 at 4:59pm

Hall de Reason mang!

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Permalink Reply by Gary Burk on June 27, 2010 at 6:36am

Churches, Temples, and mosques are all gathering places dedicated to the worship of deities.
Using any of those terms suggests a similarity with that goal and seems uncomfortable to me. Further, it seems that our basic tribal sensitivities survive our secularization, as is evidenced by this discussion topic itself. For example, an atheist who is a converted Jew may still feel annoyed at the atheist center being called a church.
IMO, the generic term we're looking for is "a school". We could simply call it the AN School, or if we're feeling more ambitious, the College of AN, or for that matter, the AN University.

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Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on June 27, 2010 at 9:35am

Prior to retirement, I never said I was an Atheist. Agnostic, yes. For 22 years now I say flat -out, I'm an Atheist. This has made me many friends & some enemies. I cherish both. My own 'kids' aren't Atheists. They accept that I am & I accept that they aren't. And we love each other. I'm as active in this as my 84 years allows me. On my good days I still enjoy life, on bad days, I look FORWARD to my 'departure'. The best sleep I ever got.

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Permalink Reply by El Solo Lobo on June 27, 2010 at 9:40am

Interesting, William. I'm only 52 and I'm a huge fan of immortality and transhumanism, but I can understand your somtimes looking forward to the stoppage...I feel myself sometimes.

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Permalink Reply by El Solo Lobo on June 27, 2010 at 9:37am

I very much disagree with Sam on that...I don't think hiding is at all beneficial. Sure it sounds silly to have a group of people whose major point of commonality is not believing in gods...but it's only necessary because the majority of the population are under such delusions...and many seek to deprive the rest of us of rights because of those delusions.

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Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on June 27, 2010 at 9:50am

About 12 years ago I joined a small group of ex-christians. We subsequently named ourselves PAN (Pa.NonBelievers) Now we have over 300 members, with monthly meetings, followed by a social event for those who want it. Also a monthly publication. Also we have solstice picnics & parties. What's in a name anyway ? ( rhetorical question - ignore it.)

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Permalink Reply by JOEL FERNANDES on June 27, 2010 at 11:33am

We should have atheist centers. There is one in Vijayawada(India). Google Atheist Centre to know more.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Manor on June 27, 2010 at 11:53am

how about refuge? temple implies religion

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Phillips on June 28, 2010 at 1:09am

Yeah, I like refuge, but much more than religion, the word temple inspires awe. A temple is a grand structure with a grand purpose. There is no reason for people to think that without religion, there is no awe or awesomeness in our lives.