Monday, October 19, 2015

Secular humanism/atheism is a religious belief. (Part III – Atheistic churches, camps and chaplains)


5) Atheistic churches, camps and chaplains 

a) Atheist churches 

Not only are two of the court cases cited earlier, Washington Ethical Society and the Fellowship of Humanity, examples of atheistic/secular groups identifying with religious churches, there are scores of others seeking to equate themselves as churches (in the religious sense). 

Several years ago, a couple of Brits, Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, brought their successful mega-church style of atheistic churches to America.  The “inaugural Sunday Assembly in Los Angeles attracted more than 400 attendees, all bound by their belief in non-belief.”  The hundreds who attended were treated to “more than an hour of rousing music, an inspirational sermon, a reading and some quiet reflection.”  It was like an old-fashioned Baptist revival as the “attendees stomped their feet, clapped their hands and cheered as Jones” entertained the congregants.[i] 



These mega-churches, according to Gillian Flaccus, writing for the Associated Press, are "people bound by their belief in non-belief.  A Christian Post articles described it this way: “The services consist of singing secular songs, inspirational talks, and times of reflection.  Basically, it's religion without God.[ii] 

Coupled with this rise in atheists turning to “church services” for education, edification and evangelism, is the rise in Sunday school for atheists’ children.  “[A]dult nonbelievers are leaning on such secular Sunday schools to help teach their kids values and how to respond to the Christian majority in the United States.[iii]  According the atheist site, Atheist Revolution, this is a desire by atheist parents to impart to atheist children their values; “The children learn about secular values and how to deal with the god-delusional majority, receive support for their disbelief, have their secular values reinforced, and gain a sense of community from spending time with like-minded people.[iv]  Time magazine, writing about this phenomena, subtitled its article, “Sunday School for Atheists - An oxymoron? Nope — nonbelievers need places to teach their kids values too.”[v]  

b) Camps 

Camp Quest is a national organization that’s helped organize secular camps around the country since 1996.”[vi]  It is hosting various camps throughout the regions of the country.  Children have the normal fun things at camp, but serious matters are also taught.  Philosophical discussions are a staple, as the children are taught from an atheistic perspective on such topics as: death, purpose/meaning to life, atheistic creation stories, etc.[vii] [viii]  

c) Chaplains 

For years atheists have been trying to get atheist/humanist chaplains into the military.  Several years ago, The New York Times, wrote an article about this push stating; “groups representing atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large — and largely underground — population of nonbelievers in the military.[ix]  According to Jason Torpy, a former Army captain, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, “Humanism fills the same role for atheists that Christianity does for Christians and Judaism does for Jews … It answers questions of ultimate concern; it directs our values.[x]  Two years ago Jason Heap applied to the U.S. Navy as a humanist chaplain because he “says he wants only to serve his country — and those sailors who don't believe in God and hold what he calls "nontheist" beliefs.”[xi]  He already has an endorsing agency, the Humanist Society, who describes “describes humanism as ‘a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.’"[xii] 

So there is an acknowledgement on the part of some atheist/humanist that atheism/humanism fulfills the same role as traditional religions do – i.e. answering questions of ultimate concerns.  It also acts as a philosophy of life that informs its adherents of the values of its beliefs.   

Conclusion 

It would be redundant to continue, but it is possible to continue in the similar vein.  They, secular humanists, have identified their movement as religious, even employing religious terms.  Our court system officially recognized that "Secular Humanism" and "others" are religious beliefs. They are adopting the religiosity of the traditional religions going so far as to organize churches, start Sunday schools for their children, hosting camps, and seeking to add atheist/humanist chaplains to the rank of the military. 

By the vast amount of opposition to being labeled as having a "religious" worldview shows how much the term is denigrated today in our society. Look at the back-peddling being done by the secular humanists today about being labeled "religious."  With the renewed thrust to remove all things religious from the public square it is not surprising to see the atheist/humanist begin to retreat on their push for inclusion into having their worldview labeled as religious.  It is easy to understand.  After all if all things religious are excluded from the public square the only alternative worldview would be atheism/humanism.  Regardless, of what one would like to identify himself/herself as, one still does have a worldview that determines how one lives and how one would like his/her culture to be.  

The standard line is that Christians are always trying to force their "religion" or morality on the masses. If Christians were not so forceful in demanding their particular "worldview" to be the dominate one in America all would be okay. 

The main point of this post is that we all, without exception, have worldviews that guide our lives. Simply because one does not cling to a theistic religious belief, or worldview, does not mean that they do not hold to a particular religious belief or worldview. We all without exception seek to have our cultures reflect our view of the world. That would include Christians and non-Christians; theists and non-theists; traditional religionists and non-traditional religionists. 
 

 




[i] USA Today, Atheist 'mega-churches' look for nonbelievers, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/10/atheist-mega-churches/3489967
[ii] The Christian Post, Church for Atheists?, http://www.christianpost.com/news/church-for-atheists-109242/
[iii] The Christian Post, Atheists Flock to Secular Sunday School, http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-flock-to-secular-sunday-school-30231/
[iv] Atheist Revolution, Atheist Sunday School, http://www.atheistrev.com/2007/11/atheist-sunday-school.html
[v] Time, Sunday School for Atheists - An oxymoron? Nope — nonbelievers need places to teach their kids values too, http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1686828,00.html
[vi] KCUR 89.3, Atheist And Agnostic Summer Camp Launches In Kansas City, http://kcur.org/post/atheist-and-agnostic-summer-camp-launches-kansas-city
[vii] ABC News, Atheist Summer Camp Is Heaven on Earth for Nonbelievers, http://abcnews.go.com/US/atheist-summer-camp-heaven-earth-nonbelievers/story?id=17067039
[viii] ABC News, Non-Religious Kids Find Refuge in 'Godless' Camp, http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Business/story?id=971881&page=1
[ix] New York Times, Atheists Seek Chaplain Role in the Military, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/us/27atheists.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc
[x] Ibid
[xi] Los Angeles Times, He wants to be the Navy's first humanist chaplain, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-humanist-chaplain-20130818,0,4527762.story
[xii] Ibid

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