Can atheists visit your place of worship, if you are religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Possibilities:
1. pleasant childhood memories
2. they like to get dressed up and go out on Sundays
3. they like the sermons, which are not particularly religious.
4. They like the music
5. believing isn't important to them or many of the other people there.
6. they think/hope that someday they will believe.
7. They like the community - activities, childcare, dinners, etc.
8. They think they should - for the children.

I'd add -- they might value the people in the community, not just the activities. Or the having of a community. They might also use the church as a conduit for their volunteer work, and attend out of solidarity. They might be married to someone who does believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Possibilities:
1. pleasant childhood memories
2. they like to get dressed up and go out on Sundays
3. they like the sermons, which are not particularly religious.
4. They like the music
5. believing isn't important to them or many of the other people there.
6. they think/hope that someday they will believe.
7. They like the community - activities, childcare, dinners, etc.
8. They think they should - for the children.

I’m going to add a plus one on the community. If it weren’t for church, my DH would have no friends.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and you can serve on the Board and teach RE. Unitarian-Universalist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Possibilities:
1. pleasant childhood memories
2. they like to get dressed up and go out on Sundays
3. they like the sermons, which are not particularly religious.
4. They like the music
5. believing isn't important to them or many of the other people there.
6. they think/hope that someday they will believe.
7. They like the community - activities, childcare, dinners, etc.
8. They think they should - for the children.

Well said. I’m a catholic now atheist and I adored the episcopal events at my child’s preschool. Fun sermons for kids, stories of love and compassion. Also, the religious marking out of the year, which we atheists can lose but is still a seasonal comfort.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

Atheism does not conflict with Hindu Dharma.

[Anonymous]

How are you going to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you going to know?

the horns

[Anonymous]

Yes. Of course it is reasonable when visiting a smaller community to introduce yourself to the ushers. Times are dangerous for some communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Possibilities:
1. pleasant childhood memories
2. they like to get dressed up and go out on Sundays
3. they like the sermons, which are not particularly religious.
4. They like the music
5. believing isn't important to them or many of the other people there.
6. they think/hope that someday they will believe.
7. They like the community - activities, childcare, dinners, etc.
8. They think they should - for the children.

I’m going to add a plus one on the community. If it weren’t for church, my DH would have no friends.

My dad was an atheist in a farming community, and he regarded church as an essential social glue--he explained this to me. He attended church regularly. Also, although he was an atheist, his parents were very religious, especially his dad (Scandinavian Lutherans)--his grandfather was one of the people who originally founded the local congregation, and his parents' house was full of religious books in Swedish as well as books about the history of Lutheran colleges and churches in Minnesota

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Of course it is reasonable when visiting a smaller community to introduce yourself to the ushers. Times are dangerous for some communities.

Huh? You say "hi, I'm an atheist" to the ushers???

[Anonymous]

This thread is why I think the “a prospective church said we had to pay money to attend services” thread is troll. Very few if any church tribes anyone away and puts conditions on church attendance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Of course it is reasonable when visiting a smaller community to introduce yourself to the ushers. Times are dangerous for some communities.

Huh? You say "hi, I'm an atheist" to the ushers???

When greeted, a person might say something like "I'm not much of a believer" which is welcomed in many churches. They may not care and/or they may see it as an opportunity to bring you back into the fold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is why I think the “a prospective church said we had to pay money to attend services” thread is troll. Very few if any church tribes anyone away and puts conditions on church attendance.

If you become a regular and join committees or put your kids in Sunday school, you can expect to be approached to contribute monetarily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Possibilities:
1. pleasant childhood memories
2. they like to get dressed up and go out on Sundays
3. they like the sermons, which are not particularly religious.
4. They like the music
5. believing isn't important to them or many of the other people there.
6. they think/hope that someday they will believe.
7. They like the community - activities, childcare, dinners, etc.
8. They think they should - for the children.

I’m going to add a plus one on the community. If it weren’t for church, my DH would have no friends.

My dad was an atheist in a farming community, and he regarded church as an essential social glue--he explained this to me. He attended church regularly. Also, although he was an atheist, his parents were very religious, especially his dad (Scandinavian Lutherans)--his grandfather was one of the people who originally founded the local congregation, and his parents' house was full of religious books in Swedish as well as books about the history of Lutheran colleges and churches in Minnesota

The church probably was essential social glue in your father's day and may still be in some rural communities, but is less so now.

[Anonymous]

The Episcopal church I tried had a sign on the door that says "belief is not a condition to belong". They say at the beginning of the service that everyone is welcome to communion. I just listened. Nobody asked me anything other than my name.