Comments on: Atheists and Community http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/07/09/atheists-and-community/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Tim Mills http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/07/09/atheists-and-community/#comment-328295 Tim Mills Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:34:50 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=13540#comment-328295 Our local humanist group meets one Monday evening a month. Having a toddler, evenings are out for us. So we haven't been to the humanist meeting for two years. We humanists and atheists need to learn how to make our communities accessible to families. We've started attending the local Unitarian church. Almost everything about it could be transplanted straight into a humanist community without compromising beliefs or values. Some changes, sure, but fewer than you'd think. Even just meeting Saturday or Sunday during the day rather than (or in addition to) an evening meeting would make a world of difference. Our local humanist group meets one Monday evening a month. Having a toddler, evenings are out for us. So we haven’t been to the humanist meeting for two years.

We humanists and atheists need to learn how to make our communities accessible to families.

We’ve started attending the local Unitarian church. Almost everything about it could be transplanted straight into a humanist community without compromising beliefs or values. Some changes, sure, but fewer than you’d think. Even just meeting Saturday or Sunday during the day rather than (or in addition to) an evening meeting would make a world of difference.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/07/09/atheists-and-community/#comment-327711 Heidi Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:34:47 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=13540#comment-327711 I'm not big on group functions. But then again it might be nice to be among people you know won't try and "save" you. I’m not big on group functions. But then again it might be nice to be among people you know won’t try and “save” you.

]]> By: Ken Karp http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/07/09/atheists-and-community/#comment-327445 Ken Karp Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:13:36 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=13540#comment-327445 One of the traditional strengths of mainstream religions is the attention and care paid to youth in the form of Sunday schools, bar mitzvahs and the like. This is harder to find in the non-theist community, and its lack often keeps borderline non-believing parents with the church or mosque of their origin despite their better judgment. The Washington Ethical Society, which Jesse mentions, is one of a number of non-theistic institutions that provides such support for children, including a rich coming of age program: <a href="http://www.ethicalsociety.org/article.php?id=99" rel="nofollow">COA-MATT</a>. For interested parents, there are 25+ such groups in the <a href="http://aeu.org/index.php?case=members" rel="nofollow">Ethical Culture</a> family, as well as a smattering in the American Humanist Association (AHA). One of the traditional strengths of mainstream religions is the attention and care paid to youth in the form of Sunday schools, bar mitzvahs and the like. This is harder to find in the non-theist community, and its lack often keeps borderline non-believing parents with the church or mosque of their origin despite their better judgment.

The Washington Ethical Society, which Jesse mentions, is one of a number of non-theistic institutions that provides such support for children, including a rich coming of age program: COA-MATT. For interested parents, there are 25+ such groups in the Ethical Culture family, as well as a smattering in the American Humanist Association (AHA).

]]> By: Sebeka http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/07/09/atheists-and-community/#comment-327241 Sebeka Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:26:42 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=13540#comment-327241 A lot of church groups function more like Singles/Young Professional/Weekenders groups -- the church calendar lists all kinds of secular activites and praying isn't involved. I imagine that if you're used to looking at a church calendar when your friends are busy but you still feel like going out with a group, it'd be a challenge at first to figure out how to find (or start) activites on your own. Especially if you've just moved. A lot of church groups function more like Singles/Young Professional/Weekenders groups — the church calendar lists all kinds of secular activites and praying isn’t involved. I imagine that if you’re used to looking at a church calendar when your friends are busy but you still feel like going out with a group, it’d be a challenge at first to figure out how to find (or start) activites on your own. Especially if you’ve just moved.

]]> By: Nora http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/07/09/atheists-and-community/#comment-327227 Nora Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:47:48 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=13540#comment-327227 This post inspires me to perhaps look into an atheist community around here...I just moved to the area and it could be a good way to meet people! This post inspires me to perhaps look into an atheist community around here…I just moved to the area and it could be a good way to meet people!

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