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Anonymous wrote:I’m no longer religious, but I was Mormon and the answer is that it depends. Almost all religious activities happen at regular chapels and everybody is welcome there. A few religious ceremonies take place in temples (those more ostentatious buildings) and atheists are not allowed there; in fact many believing and active members are not allowed there.

But if you keep your atheism to yourself, you can participate freely -- right?

Different poster here. I'm not Mormon, but I know some people who are LDS, and the answer is no. You can only go into the temple if you are in good standing with the church.

Yes, in some religions there are spaces within certain places of worship that are restricted. But someone who is not Mormon can absolutely visit Mormon places of worship. Those Mormon missionaries you probably see in your neighborhood would be happy to bring you to their chapel (not the temple) to learn about their faith. That's pretty much their job. And the Mormon Temple in Kensington has a visitor center and a giant light display every winter that's sole purpose is to bring people, including atheists, in to learn about their faith.

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Anonymous wrote: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.

I think this is a huge strength for Episcopalians, the welcoming atmosphere without the preachy rigid and false emphasis on dogma or creed found in other denominations.

Keep in mind their denomination just split in the US over dogma.

I’m Catholic and feel mostly at home attending Episcopalian services if I visit friends, but Baptist just doesn’t work for me. I need ritual and laws I guess.

The Methodists recently split - but not the Episcopalians, I don't think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I think this is a huge strength for Episcopalians, the welcoming atmosphere without the preachy rigid and false emphasis on dogma or creed found in other denominations.

Keep in mind their denomination just split in the US over dogma.

I’m Catholic and feel mostly at home attending Episcopalian services if I visit friends, but Baptist just doesn’t work for me. I need ritual and laws I guess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I think this is a huge strength for Episcopalians, the welcoming atmosphere without the preachy rigid and false emphasis on dogma or creed found in other denominations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Sounds like you didn't join, though -- was that sign a factor?

Anonymous wrote: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.

Anonymous wrote:Southern Baptists would love for atheists (or anyone else) to visit their churches. Their hope would be that an atheist, or anyone else who hasn’t accepted Jesus as their Savior, would eventually find salvation.

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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.

which is not the same as visiting

different denominations (and congregations) in Christian churches have different ideas about profession of belief as a condition for formal membership, and a minister may have his or her own ideas about that without saying things about an individual's belief to church membership

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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?

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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 wrote:

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 wrote: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.