Atheist Sunday Assembly branches out in first wave of expansion

[Peikko 1,575]

It started, as a number of the world's great religions have done, with a small group of friends and a persuasive idea: why should atheists miss out on all the good things churches have to offer? What would happen if they set up a "godless congregation" that met to celebrate life, with no hope of the hereafter?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/14/atheist-sunday-assembly-branches-out

Oh no, the Atheists are coming!!!

As to my personal opinion, I agree with this extract from the article:

echoes of the late 19th century, when hundreds of "ethical unions" were founded in response to the growing atheism of the times. The movement, he says, similarly concentrated on good works and community around a recognisably church-like liturgy, but petered out within a generation or two.

"The reason for that was because you need more than an absence to keep you together. You need a firm common purpose. What you can see in these modern-day atheist churches is people united by a felt absence of community. I suspect what brings them together is a real desire for community when in a modern, urbanised individualised city like London you can often feel very alone. That creates a lot of camaraderie, but the challenge then becomes, what actually unites us?"

More than that, I don't miss the 'camaraderie' of a sing song but if I did, I would just go along and sing at a local church. You can enter churches without believing in god and enjoy the atmosphere if that's what you miss, and there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for community service regardless of what you do or do not believe in.

[Peikko 1,575]

In other words, I don't think it's necessary to create an atheist congregation for atheists but if that's what they want.