Losing the religion, but keeping the culture

[jay.tarnoff]

On this weeks podcast, the SGU released its first interview from TAM7, which was with D.J. Grothe.

One specific point Dr. Novella brought up was the benefit on the culture and community provided by religion. I know that the skeptical and as an extension secular humanist, bright, agnostic/atheist, etc. community has kicked around the need to create a similar sense of belonging.

I have often heard of individuals commenting that they are an "atheistic-[insert religion]." As an example, Dr. Robert Price (author of such books as The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man and Deconstructing Jesus) has often referred to himself as an "atheistic Christian" on his podcast "TheBibleGeek".

I know the skeptical movement has produced many local, national, and international communities, but how does it create a similar sense of belonging on an interpersonal level? I know we are currently a minority, but is there a way to create a similar sense of community?

[godless dave]

I already have all the community I need, but then I'm not really a people person. As far as culture, isn't there already plenty of secular culture?

[jay.tarnoff]

Originally Posted by godless dave

I already have all the community I need, but then I'm not really a people person. As far as culture, isn't there already plenty of secular culture?

Maybe, but as referenced above, others have shown 1) the desires for and 2) the benefit of an increase in the community aspect.

I didn't state it before, but Steven Novella commented on how the sense of community correlates with a longer life expectancy, etc. I am not sure of the specific study he referenced, but I understand the general human need for a sense of community.

[Bikewer]

Well, there's always bowling leagues....

More seriously...The late Dr. Asimov was an avowed atheist, but still participated in Jewish rituals for this very reason.

However, I have a hard time imagining going to Catholic mass just to hang out with my old buds. Though to hear tell, this is much of what goes on in increasingly-atheist Europe; religion has become rather pro forma, a social occasion if you will.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

My wife is the atheists' atheist, but participates regularly in gospel sings, choruses performing religious music, and so forth. It's the music and the friends, stupid.

~~ Paul

[bjornart]

This is what the society of moss eaters is all about. Take all the religious culture you want/miss, and replace god/soul/mystery with moss.

So far I'm the only serious member though, so there's not much of a community feel.

[Akhenaten]

Originally Posted by jay.tarnoff

On this weeks podcast, the SGU released its first interview from TAM7, which was with D.J. Grothe.

One specific point Dr. Novella brought up was the benefit on the culture and community provided by religion. I know that the skeptical and as an extension secular humanist, bright, agnostic/atheist, etc. community has kicked around the need to create a similar sense of belonging.

I have often heard of individuals commenting that they are an "atheistic-[insert religion]." As an example, Dr. Robert Price (author of such books as The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man and Deconstructing Jesus) has often referred to himself as an "atheistic Christian" on his podcast "TheBibleGeek".

I know the skeptical movement has produced many local, national, and international communities, but how does it create a similar sense of belonging on an interpersonal level? I know we are currently a minority, but is there a way to create a similar sense of community?

This is something that's kept my atheism from becoming a bit more strident than it is. I understand what it means to be called a christian atheist, and I don't think I object too much.

Just to speculate, perhaps as skepticism and critical thinking grow both in numbers and maturity, open-access universities and other institutes of learning will start to outnumber places of worship, and take their place as centres of community.

That would be nice.


Cheers,

Dave

[Aitch]

Originally Posted by Bikewer

Well, there's always bowling leagues....

Provided it is the one true bowling - Crown Green - and not the evil, heretical ten-pin sect.

[Tormac]

Originally Posted by bjornart

This is what the society of moss eaters is all about. Take all the religious culture you want/miss, and replace god/soul/mystery with moss.

So far I'm the only serious member though, so there's not much of a community feel.

I bet if you made it the society of chocolate eaters, or maybe the society of bourbon drinkers, you're membership would increase dramatically.

[Nankay]

I understand this. There is not much around here beyond sports that is not church sponsored in some way and if you want to be involved, you just have to deal with it. Habitat For Humanity opens with a prayer, the local food bank is run by all the churches of the town. My daughter belongs to a Methodist youth group so she could be involved with their efforts with the homeless in a nearby city and participate in their bell choir, along with fun stuff like sleepovers at the zoo and ski trips. There's always the biggie of Christmas to consider. For me,as an atheist, that is truly an example of a cultural celebration for us and not a religious one. I guess the same could be said for our family's nuttiness at Halloween as well.

[jay.tarnoff]

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

This is something that's kept my atheism from becoming a bit more strident than it is. I understand what it means to be called a christian atheist, and I don't think I object too much.

Just to speculate, perhaps as skepticism and critical thinking grow both in numbers and maturity, open-access universities and other institutes of learning will start to outnumber places of worship, and take their place as centres of community.

That would be nice.


Cheers,

Dave

That would be nice.

[Ryokan]

Quote:

Losing the religion, but keeping the culture

Sounds like the definition of Norway, where 70% of the population identify as non-religious, only 3% attend church more than once per month - yet 80% are members of the state church so that they can get married and baptize their children there.

(Numbers taken from Wikipedia, but it describes it perfectly.)

[godless dave]

Maybe it's because of where I live, but it seems to me like there are already plenty of secular ways to find a sense of community. Bowling leagues, homebrew clubs, sewing clubs, garden clubs, service organizations, the list goes on and on. I agree for many people who leave church this is a hole they need to fill, but I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel to fill it.

[Nankay]

godless dave I think the difference is location location location. I live in a small town and our options are fewer. My husband's family are what I call "potluck Presbyterians"--they're in it for (mostly) the social aspect. It is something my husband was raised with and misses very much.

[bjornart]

Originally Posted by Tormac

I bet if you made it the society of chocolate eaters, or maybe the society of bourbon drinkers, you're membership would increase dramatically.

I get around that through transubstantiation. For rituals involving actual eating of moss you can substitute whatever you want. I prefer m&ms. You can get them in green, and they're stamped with an m, for moss.

Imagine, holy communion with m&m's.

[epepke]

I've been somewhat obsessed with this since Clark Adams killed himself. Considering how many people's lives he touched, the response to his death has been quite underwhelming. I don't think that atheists and skeptics are very good at establishing community, and some appear to be openly hostile toward it.

The best example of "secular religion" I've seen was a Humanist Jewish Passover Seder in Birmingham, Alabama. No god talk at all, but a lot of talk about community and freedom.

[Mister Agenda]

I didn't know Clark Adams ended his life, I was just on FRDB the other day, wasn't he one of the founders?

[godless dave]

Originally Posted by Mister Agenda

I didn't know Clark Adams ended his life, I was just on FRDB the other day, wasn't he one of the founders?

He was a founder of IIDB. He committed suicide a few months before the IIDB admin meltdown. Some consider his suicide an early link in the chain of events that led to the meltdown, which ultimately led to FRDB being created.

[Darth Rotor]

Originally Posted by jay.tarnoff

On this weeks podcast, the SGU released its first interview from TAM7, which was with D.J. Grothe.

One specific point Dr. Novella brought up was the benefit on the culture and community provided by religion. I know that the skeptical and as an extension secular humanist, bright, agnostic/atheist, etc. community has kicked around the need to create a similar sense of belonging.

I have often heard of individuals commenting that they are an "atheistic-[insert religion]." As an example, Dr. Robert Price (author of such books as The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man and Deconstructing Jesus) has often referred to himself as an "atheistic Christian" on his podcast "TheBibleGeek".

I know the skeptical movement has produced many local, national, and international communities, but how does it create a similar sense of belonging on an interpersonal level? I know we are currently a minority, but is there a way to create a similar sense of community?

Trying to lose the cat and keep the kitten, eh?