Irish atheists still attending religious services

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If you don’t approve of the church then don’t take part in its rituals
Posted by John Aultman on June 10, 2014 at 10:08am in Introductions
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I often wonder how many atheist sit in church each Sunday going to the motions of singing hymns, receiving communion and praying to a god they don't believe exists.
Opinion: Each spring, thousands of non-believers allow their pre-pubescent daughters to don wedding dresses for their first communion. By Donald Clark
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/if-you-don-t-approve-...







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Replies to This Discussion
 Permalink Reply by Michael Penn 3 hours ago

Ah, yes. Crutch. My theist friend told me this morning that all my problems would end if I just came back to Crutch. When am I going to come back to Crutch? My friend talks to Jebus all the time even when he is not in Crutch.
I think I have made my point here.
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 Permalink Reply by Patricia 2 hours ago

I heard of one fellow who went to church with his family every week because he liked the music & the fellowship. To me, that's hypocritical to himself, & everyone else. There are many ways of playing music cd's, & visiting with people other than a damn church! What a waste of a person's precious time!
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 Permalink Reply by Grinning Cat 15 minutes ago

There's a lot to be said for participating in music. There are community choirs that aren't connected to a house of worship. (Though perhaps not in many smaller towns!)
Similarly, larger communities might have secular "unchurches" such as Ethical Culture, or perhaps a UU congregation that doesn't assume theism.
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http://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/if-you-don-t-approve-of-the-church-then-don-t-take-part-in-its?commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A2433687&xg_source=activity

























Dear Readers,


Hmmm? Well, music and social interaction is something that is positive about religious houses of worship. Ethical Culture is fine, if your into nontheistic religions, as for a Unitarian-Universalist congregation that "doesn't assume theism", that is a bit more difficult to find.  Unitarian Universalism has a Jewish and Christian heritage.  Even UU congregations that are more nontheistic have theistic members. I don't agree with Grinning Cat about categorizing Ethical Culture or Unitarian Universalism as "secular unchurches". The Ethical Culture and Unitarian Universalists are not secular institutions and they are not "unchurches", their congregational buildings are churches, but they both welcome secular persons into membership.  EC and the UU's aren't appealing to everyone but if some atheists want to belong to one of these groups, then more power to them.




Sincerely,


B.W.