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Atheist 'mega-churches' take root across US, world
AP ^ | 11/11/13 | GILLIAN FLACCUS

Posted on 11/11/2013 1:55:11 PM PST by DallasBiff

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It looked like a typical Sunday morning at any mega-church. Several hundred people, including families with small children, packed in for more than an hour of rousing music, an inspirational talk and some quiet reflection. The only thing missing was God.

Nearly three dozen gatherings dubbed "atheist mega-churches" by supporters and detractors have sprung up around the U.S. and Australia — with more to come — after finding success in Great Britain earlier this year. The movement fueled by social media and spearheaded by two prominent British comedians is no joke.

On Sunday, the inaugural Sunday Assembly in Los Angeles attracted several hundred people bound by their belief in non-belief. Similar gatherings in San Diego, Nashville, New York and other U.S. cities have drawn hundreds of atheists seeking the camaraderie of a congregation without religion or ritual.

The founders, British duo Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, are currently on a tongue-in-cheek "40 Dates, 40 Nights" tour around the U.S. and Australia to drum up donations and help launch new Sunday Assemblies. They hope to raise more than $800,000 that will help atheists launch their pop-up congregations around the world. So far, they have raised about $50,000.

They don't bash believers but want to find a new way to meet likeminded people, engage in the community and make their presence more visible in a landscape dominated by faith.

Jones got the first inkling for the idea while leaving a Christmas carol concert six years ago

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atheism; atheismandstate; atheistsupremacists; culturewar; fundamentalatheism; religion; thenogodgod
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Jones got the first inkling for the idea while leaving a Christmas carol concert six years ago.

An atheist non-Christmas carol.

Dude hey you merry gentleman, let nothing you dismay

For our dudest dude was born, was born on this dudest day

George Orwell was a prophet.

1 posted on 11/11/2013 1:55:11 PM PST by DallasBiff
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To: DallasBiff

“Random Chance, Rest Ye Merry Gentlepersons”


2 posted on 11/11/2013 1:56:31 PM PST by Publius
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To: DallasBiff
God?
Wha...?
Who...?

I wouldn't want to an athiest when Judgement Day comes around.
God will be saying to them: who are you?

3 posted on 11/11/2013 1:57:10 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: DallasBiff

That would be an intersting sermon. What do they talk about? Nothing?


4 posted on 11/11/2013 1:57:46 PM PST by dhs12345
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To: DallasBiff

Sounds dumb, one big advantage of being an Atheist is you can sleep late Sunday mornings


5 posted on 11/11/2013 1:58:49 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: DallasBiff; GeronL
They don't bash believers but want to find a new way to meet likeminded people, engage in the community and make their presence more visible in a landscape dominated by faith.

Already exists. It is the modern Democrat party.


6 posted on 11/11/2013 1:58:53 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: DallasBiff

The absurdity of it is astounding.


7 posted on 11/11/2013 1:59:08 PM PST by Iron Munro (When a killer screams 'Allahu Akbar' you don't need to be mystified about a motive.)
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To: cloudmountain

People who get so exercised about a God they insist isn’t there.

They think that “reason” (in the way they conceive it, which is a tight little knot of almost contentless tautologies) is enough for a good life on earth. Like surely bookkeeping will solve your problem with being broke!

Oh an atheist knows God’s there and hates Him. And will stoop to almost any depth to get his or her no-God world.


8 posted on 11/11/2013 2:00:37 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)
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To: DallasBiff

agitprop


9 posted on 11/11/2013 2:01:03 PM PST by VRW Conspirator (Obama is a proven liar, an admitted liar, an unrepentent liar.)
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Atheists are idiots.


10 posted on 11/11/2013 2:01:36 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: DallasBiff

Nature abhors a vacuum.

The non-belief will get filled with something in a ready-made nasty machine.

I’m a Catholic and have a slightly different view of “end times” than the common Protestant belief, but this kind of crap fits both theories.


11 posted on 11/11/2013 2:02:04 PM PST by TheThirdRuffian (RINOS like Romney, McCain, Christie are sure losers. No more!)
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To: qam1

Or a 7th day Adventist could do so :-)


12 posted on 11/11/2013 2:02:08 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)
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To: DallasBiff

When I read a couple Brit comics were involved, I instantly thought of Billy Connolly, as he can be absolutely hilarious, but is a RABID atheist.


13 posted on 11/11/2013 2:02:37 PM PST by Don W (Know what you WANT. Know what you NEED. Know the DIFFERENCE!)
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To: a fool in paradise

That was the dude who went ape shit over Jerusalem being the capital of Israel.


14 posted on 11/11/2013 2:02:51 PM PST by TheThirdRuffian (RINOS like Romney, McCain, Christie are sure losers. No more!)
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To: TheThirdRuffian

Well I believe you and crazy-evangelical I can agree on the Garden. Satan cooked up an illusory scheme and sold it to mankind.


15 posted on 11/11/2013 2:03:09 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)
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To: TheThirdRuffian
The non-belief will get filled with something in a ready-made nasty machine.

All that's missing is the Kool-Aid.

The World's First "Atheist" Church.

16 posted on 11/11/2013 2:04:39 PM PST by dfwgator (Fire Muschamp.)
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To: DallasBiff

Oh good. A country club.

Next comes the pool.


17 posted on 11/11/2013 2:06:28 PM PST by OpusatFR
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To: DallasBiff

if a few hundred in attendance qualifies atheists to say they have a “mega church” affirmative action must have been applied.


18 posted on 11/11/2013 2:07:05 PM PST by Nevadan
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To: DallasBiff

Haha People need church - now if they could just realize they need Jesus to go along with it!

I can imagine this rubbish really taking off - from what I see on Facebook people will buy any pseudo spiritual feel good nonsense as long as it is not Christian or fromal religion. If you’re looking for a great example try looking up video of Eckhart Tolle - he speaks absolute tripe but people worship this crap!

Mel

Mel


19 posted on 11/11/2013 2:08:19 PM PST by melsec (Once a Jolly Swagman camped by a Billabong.)
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To: DallasBiff

And the coolest thing is - YOU GET TO MAKE UP YOUR OWN MORALITY!

No more of this submission to a higher power.
Just think of what you want to do...
then CREATE an arbitrary ethical system which justifies what you want!
Just think...you can be AGAINST it when its done to you, but still JUSTIFY the same act when you do it to others!

And it will help you keep you mind off of your accountability to the LIVING GOD on the Dies Iraes!

Atheism: the ultimate denial.


20 posted on 11/11/2013 2:09:22 PM PST by LucianOfSamasota (Tanstaafl - its not just for breakfast anymore...)
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