Organized Atheism...the NEW Church...

Jump to Last Post 1-13 of 13 discussions (43 posts)
  1. aka-dj profile image65
    aka-djposted 14 years ago

    FYI, there is a convention of atheists in Melbourne Australia in 2 days. Here is a direct quote from their webpage...

    http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/


    "The bigger we can make this convention, the stronger the signal it will send to Australia's religious and political institutions that atheism and secularism are forces to be reckoned with."

    See you in Melbourne!


    Why do I call it a CHURCH? Well, they are organizing themselves in direct opposition, IE the same as, only at the other end of the spectrum.

    This should be fun (dah hmm ) I mean, Interesting.

    Any thoughts/comments?

    1. donotfear profile image82
      donotfearposted 14 years agoin reply to this


      Sounds like a direct challenge to me.

    2. profile image54
      (Q)posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Because you don't know the definition of a church?

    3. Mark Knowles profile image58
      Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hey - thanks for promoting this dj. I will spread the word.

      You are - of course - misusing the word "church," but that is only because you cannot conceive of anyone NOT having a religion and mistakenly call lack of belief in an invisible super being "religion."

      Sold out I see. Lots and lots of people sick and tired of listening to you guys huh? Great.

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        You're welcome. big_smile
        I am surprised you did not know about it. Heck, I expected you would have been a delegate.Maybe even a guest speaker. (for your zealand committment are legendary.) hmm
        "Misusing the word church"? I don't think so. You do know what it really means, ye?

        1. Mark Knowles profile image58
          Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Ah well - this might come as a shock, but it is all my own personal stuff and I am not a  member of any organizations.

          I see where these guys are coming from though and it is about time we stood up to the BS from religions.

          Like I said - you would not understand that my lack of belief is not a "religion," because you cannot understand that some of us do not subscribe to a "religion."

          No "religion" - no "church".

          Oh and the whole difference between  REAL Christians and them other ones. Easy - the moment you quote the bible at me - you are one of them others. wink

          1. aka-dj profile image65
            aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            NOT SO!

    4. BDazzler profile image78
      BDazzlerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Here are my thoughts ... The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


      If the atheists/secualrites oppose anything that is not of the spirit then they are doing us a favor, however much we may dislike it/them or being told we are not living up to our ideals/beliefs. Their motives may not be pure, but they are not necessarily wrong. If, as in Habbakuk, God can use the Chaldeans ...

      However those who actually oppose true love, joy etc. will be utterly doomed to failure ... after all, there can be no true law against true goodness.

      So perhaps our response should be, at least internally, are we, in fact, in actual fellowship with the Spirit (as evidenced by our fruit) or are we maybe fooling ourselves into thinking we are "right" just because we can make "correct" doctrinal statements.

      I assure you that the reason so many people are rejecting God is, at least in part, because there are so many misrepresenting who He is in their lives. If I say I love God, whom I have not seen, and I show hatred for my brother, who I have seen, then I am a liar, and deserve to be called on it.

      I don't expect non-Christians to have Christian values. I do, however expect it of those who call themselves Christians. Jesus said, "Why do you call me Lord, if you don't do what I say?"

      So, it's not truly my concern what the atheists do or say. If I say I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, that has to apply to those I disagree with.

      General rule of thumb ... do what you know is right, don't do what you know is wrong, let God handle the rest.

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Nice to see you BD.
        Long time since weconnected. I have missed you (really)!

        I agree with you on this.
        In fact, I agree, (in part) with the atheists gripe(s). In my own way, I oppose religion, and just about all it stands for. However, this point is ALWAYS missed by our learned(?) atheist hubbers. They still cannot see the diffrence between, "Christ followers", and Christians (as defined by religious, church attending unbelievers) I'm not sure I can ever express what I am actually trying to say. 
        Blindness, I think that describes it, no?

        1. BDazzler profile image78
          BDazzlerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Hey DJ!  Good to see you too!

          If it is, in fact, blindness, then may of those of us who call ourselves Christans do them a disservice by scorning them for it. 

          As I was driving, I stopped at a traffic light.  On the curb a couple of lanes over, I saw a blind woman standing next to a bus stop. A street cleaner (which evidently had the sound of a bus) was stopped in front of her.  She kept tapping her cane on the street cleaner, and of course, no bus door opened. 

          How cruel it would have been for me to ridicule her for not knowing the difference between a street cleaner and a bus.

          The light turned green, and both I and the street cleaner moved forward.

          Ironically, the bus stop was in front of a church.

      2. Marisa Wright profile image86
        Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        I don't understand, can you explain why you feel atheists' motives aren't pure?


        Again, why would you think atheists are opposed to true love, joy etc?  Atheists take joy and pleasure in the world they live in, and in their fellow human beings.

        1. BDazzler profile image78
          BDazzlerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          In both cases I said if ... Meaning that like anyone else I cannot know somebody's true  motives. But even if it's a worst case scenario ... I'm not going to sweat it.

          1. BDazzler profile image78
            BDazzlerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I just read this this morning and realized it sounds very abrupt. I posted this from my iPhone last night and it was getting frustrating because it kept suggesting words I didn't mean and so I just cut it short.

            My original comments were primarily directed at Christians who get all worried about atheists in the first place.  And I was actually making the point that most do, in fact, like goodness joy etc. But in those cases of those who do not ... If God does, in fact, exist, He's big enough to handle the question of his own existence, and if He does not ... eh ... I find that notion to be every bit as irrational ... but I can't expect that everyone has had my experiences.

    5. tantrum profile image59
      tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You call it a church, because you want Atheists to argue with you.
      I find it funny ! LOL!

      More of the same !
      that's why I don't come to religious forum more often now.

      There's no point in arguing with people ignorant of what Atheism stands for !
      lol

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Sorry to dissapoint you. I don't really want to argue with anyone.
        But I don't back down just because you/they bring it to me.
        I'd much prefer if you (all antagonists) would just stay out of my threads.

        Ye, Ye, I've all the "we are free to comment wherever we like" tripe more than once.

        mad

        1. tantrum profile image59
          tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          lol lol lol
          Doesn't stop you of being an ignorant on what refers to Atheism.

        2. profile image54
          (Q)posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          So, you start a thread to "antagonize" others and then wish they would stay out of said thread because they are "antagonized"?

          Neck bolts not screwed in tight enough?

    6. Springboard profile image82
      Springboardposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I would have to say that sounds fairly threatening too. I tend to think that religion, or non-religion for that matter, should be thwarted on no one. I just wrote a hub a couple of days ago entitled, "Religion Is Not Necessary," wherein it explores the statement made by Albert Einstein once that a man's ethics should essentially be driven by sympathy, education, and social ties; religion should not need be the basis for that. In the piece I give my take that really what we have when we talk about relgion, atheism, science, whatever, is a conundrum. We can't answer definitively whether God exists or does not, so...we have to keep an open mind. Believe in what we believe is right, but also be willing to concede that what we believe can also be false.

      It is a complex issue to be sure.

    7. Mikel G Roberts profile image75
      Mikel G Robertsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I wrote a hub on it months ago...

    8. goldenpath profile image67
      goldenpathposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Although, I strongly disagree with their points of view, I do celebrate their liberty and agency to choose their own paths in life and their right to congregate.

      I hope you all have as much an uplifting time at your convention as we, Christians, do at ours.  I really mean it.  smile

  2. torimari profile image67
    torimariposted 14 years ago

    I am an atheist, and though this is a 2 day convention I can see where you get it is like a Church. However, it's maybe more appropriately an Atheistic Mass though it might focus on discussion more than the prayer and rituals at say, a Catholic mass.
    Atheism to me is the belief in no divinities. It is having faith that there is no god. Though I don't think this is technically a Church, as mentioned, it definitely is similar.

    I don't see a problem with atheists even having a place to meet and share thoughts, which is like a Church and its Mass-a gathering of faith and sharing it. However, that would be ironic for the atheists who denounce organized religion fully.

  3. skyfire profile image78
    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    anywhere they said they're going to oppose Christianity ? then why this insecure feeling of calling it church ?

  4. profile image0
    Twenty One Daysposted 14 years ago

    ahhh, finally. Gog v Magog. Interesting indeed.


    "we're comin` out, guns blazin`" -Al Pacino, the Devil's Advocate.

  5. skyfire profile image78
    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    lol

  6. profile image0
    Twenty One Daysposted 14 years ago

    just to add a bit more:

    "..I'm here on the ground with my nose in it since the whole thing began. I've nurtured every sensation man's been inspired to have. I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him. In spite of all his imperfections, I'm a fan of man! I'm a humanist. Maybe the last humanist..."

    "Eddie Barzoon: take a good look.
    Because he's the poster child for the next millennium!
    These people, it's no mystery where they come from.

    You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it could split atoms with its desire, you build egos the size of cathedrals, fiberopticly connect the world to every-eager-impulse, grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green gold-played fantasies until every human becomes an aspiring emperor! Becomes his own God!

    Where can you go from there?
    Scrambling from one deal to the next, who's got his eye on the planet? As the air thickens, the water sours, even the bees honey takes on the metallic taste of radioactivity -and it just keeps coming! And it just keeps coming! Faster and faster!

    There's no chance to think, to prepare, it's `buy futures, sell futures' when there is no future!!

    We've got a runaway train, boy!!
    We've got a billion Eddie Barzoon's all jogging into the future. Every one of them reading to fist-f--- God's planet, lick their fingers clean as they reach out with their pristine cybernetic keyboards to total up their billable hours!!..."

    -Al Pacino, the Devils Advocate.
    -what a monologue.

  7. profile image0
    sneakorocksolidposted 14 years ago

    Oh! Look Mommy the mornons escaped again.sad

  8. Jane@CM profile image60
    Jane@CMposted 14 years ago

    Why would you call it a "church" it clearly says convention. Hmmm.

  9. thisisoli profile image73
    thisisoliposted 14 years ago

    I don't think this will lead anywhere, it's not exactly a church, would you call any other scientific gathering a 'church'?

    1. BDazzler profile image78
      BDazzlerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Technically, perhaps, as the word translated "church" into English, is from  the Greek word ecclesia meaning "assembly," ...

      But it's probably not accurate in modern useage. The English "church" is from the Anglo/Saxon "kirk" which originally meant "belonging to a lord" and then grew to mean "belonging to 'The Lord'" and was applied to buildings in which Christian assemblies met.

      By the time the bible was translated to English, the word "church" and "assembly" where more or less the same.

      I, however, probably would not use the word "church" as it blurs the intent of both the religious and non-religious assemblies.

      I would also call this more of a political/common interest gathering rather than a "scientific" one, but maybe that's just me.

    2. profile image0
      sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Scientific! Now thats funny!big_smile

      1. thisisoli profile image73
        thisisoliposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Try learning and contributing rather than insulting and showing your ignorance.

  10. SandyMcCollum profile image64
    SandyMcCollumposted 14 years ago

    I think the use of the word church is/can be correct, but there is no deity to worship in this one. You don't have to worship Jehovah to be in a church. You don't even have to worship to be in a church. You could be in a mass of ppl gathered with like minds, and you're in a church. That is, IF we went by the old language definitions. Nowadays, a church is nearly always associated with religion and a deity and would be interpreted as such today.

  11. earnestshub profile image80
    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    I don't believe in fairies. So that is a religion? lol

    1. aka-dj profile image65
      aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      What kind of post is this?
      Do you just like the sound of your own voice?
      Sorry, this is the net, "Do you like to see your face and comments on every page?"
      hmm   hmm   hmm

      1. earnestshub profile image80
        earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        The comment was clear enough. Not believing your tripe is not a religion. You run hubpages now do you?

        1. aka-dj profile image65
          aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          "I  don't believe in fairies. So that is a religion?"

          So, just HOW is this relevant to the OP?

          Did I mention fairies ANYWHERE?  hmm

          All I'm saying is, if you are going to post, at LEAST keep to the topic.

          If you want to talk about fairies, go start your own thread on them, (please).
          I assur you, I will stay out of the thread 'cause I know nothing about them. cool

          1. tantrum profile image59
            tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            and you shpuld dstay out of Atheism as well, as you don't know nothing ! lol lol lol

          2. getitrite profile image72
            getitriteposted 14 years agoin reply to this



            You don't need to mention the word fairy, but that is what you are talking of when you speak of this God.  God is synonymous with fairies, Santa, unicorns, Rumpelstiltskin, etc.

            So, yes, when talking about believing in nonsense, God and fairies are the same.  They don't exist.

    2. Marisa Wright profile image86
      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      aka-dj, it's a perfectly serious post.  You're saying that if a group of people don't believe in God, they form a religion called atheism.

      What do you call a group of people who don't believe in fairies?  Or a group of people who don't believe in unicorns?

      Religious people can't grasp the concept that some people can live very happily without feeling the need to have faith in something.  Atheism is the absence of religious faith and it doesn't have to be replaced by anything.

      Any group of like-minded people will enjoy getting together to debate now and then - if it was a belly dancers' conference, would you say belly dancing was a church?

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        I think your answer lies in the direct quote I put in the OP. big_smile

  12. profile image0
    SirDentposted 14 years ago

    Church
    CHURCH, n.

    1. A house consecrated to the worship of God, among Christians; the Lords house. This seems to be the original meaning of the word. The Greek, to call out or call together, denotes an assembly or collection. But, Lord, a term applied by the early Christians to Jesus Christ; and the house in which they worshipped was named from the title. So church goods, bona ecclesiastica; the Lords day, dies dominica.


    I would venture to say they are congregating, not necessarily a church because of the definition of church above.

  13. earnestshub profile image80
    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    What would you call an invisible impossible entity who is apparently only known to those with a full belly?
    How can your fairy be omni everything, yet allow little children to die a horrible death before they even have time to learn about it? Even mere men try to feed the poor and underprivileged, should be a breeze for a god.

    It is bizarre to hold these beliefs in a modern age where we actually know things.
    Oh that's right .. free will! laughable.
    Just make sure you don't read anything written in this century.

    To consider a lack of belief as a religion is not logical in any way.

    1. aka-dj profile image65
      aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You STILL haven't spoken TO the OP.

      I know it  is hard. I learned  English as a second language, but I can still recognize a post that is OFF topic.

      Please (please), stay on track. smile

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)