Any atheists who attend church? Do you like the service? Do you participate in communion / eucharist? Indeed, are you a church leader or even pastor / minister / priest? I'm not asking for names; I don't want to "out" anyone. If you have any experiences you'd like to share, please let us know in the comments to this post. Are there things churches could be doing to become more welcoming to those of an atheistic viewpoint? Are there ways atheists should consider changing to "fit in" more with the church, without compromising their view?
Fire away!
I'm a pew-sitting atheist. The services are mostly ok. I especially like singing hymns (to which I responded to your last post on my blog) as I used to be a choir member.
ReplyDeleteI'm in no leadership position, I'm just a pew sitter for now.
I don't think it's part of the religious charter to cater to atheists. They leave their proselytizing to door-to-door ministry or sidewalk pamphleteering. The church is more of a sanctuary against the world.
I suppose the best way for an atheist to "fit in" would be to leave their religious animosity outside the door.
I don't currently attend church, but I'm thinking about it. I did carry on attending church for a year or two after I realized I was basically an atheist, and only stopped because I moved (from England to Canada) and got out of the habit. Despite not being able to accept traditional theism or the concept of a "supernatural," I still gain great inspiration from Christian theology, the Bible, religious worship and the language of "God." I've just learned to reinterpret everything in a non-literal way.
ReplyDeleteMaybe once or twice a month I'll read evening prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, and I'm considering going back to church. Last time I went was Ash Wednesday, and it was a very nourishing, encouraging service.
Thanks folks - those are great points. I'm no longer a church-goer, but have often considered going back. I agree that it's probably not considered part of a church's core product to make atheists feel comfortable, but I wonder whether certain denominations (from the atheist's viewpoint) may be seen as more benign than others?
ReplyDeleteFor instance, I would surmise an atheist might feel happier attending an Anglican church than a Pentecostal one.
Sounds like a topic for a post - thanks again! :-)