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I miss church. I really do. I miss the singing. I miss the fellowship. I miss having such a common sense of purpose. I've tried to fill that void with other things but nothing really scratches that itch. I've thought about finding a progressive congregation but that's even harder for me because you have to ignore so much of the Bible to believe in it and still have progressive values. I'm not sure the Unitarians would be a good fit for me either. I just wish I could find something with a built in community like you have at church.

Tabor 4 Feb 24
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83 comments (51 - 75)

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1

I really hav no purupose for church anymore. I actually got sick to the stomach the last time I went to church from watching all the religious crap that happened there at the church I grew up in. Seeing those people live their lives by worsping nothing was too mich. Many of those people made public decisions due to their reigion that affected other people like me. It was sickening. That being said Unitarian Universalist accept agnostics and atheist so that may be an option.

1

I can love some African American call and respond song from time to time.

It has nothing to do with my disbelief. It is beautiful

In Savannah the the oldest black church has places in the basement where they hid escaping slaves.

Did you see the Harriet Tubman movie?

@darkstar24 Not yet.

@BufftonBeotch I loved it, I thought they did a good job in conveying what a warrior she was. But I am a soft touch when it comes to injustice.

1

bowling with the right ppl?

1

imo that is why it is really deemed a love feast in Scripture, and not "worship" per se as we define that today. Anyway what i am hearing is that it is maybe time for you to realize that "Church" is where you are, a living stone
it's now a responsibility iow, maybe even to attend cult of sol "churches" and out the pov...ha assuming you have seen the light there

barring that or in addition to it i would say that for someone who is ready to hear, wherever you are at can be made to be a love feast, ok, mom makes xmas right, so I said "you are elohim" just go do that
light up faces 🙂

but leaving the camp can be hard, yeh

"everybody's here with me;
got no camera to see"
follow that maybe

1

Go to a bar

1

Here in Dallas, we have the Fellowship of Freethinkers. An athiest group. They organise volunteer events to help the community, homeless, aids home dinner, lake and highway cleanups, etc. They have game nights,pub nights, dinners, trivia nights. Star clubs and philosophy club. Also a monthly potluck with invited speakers and planned activities for the kids. Look for something like that in your community.Or, put it together.

That is very cool, wonder if they have something like that in my neck of the woods.

@darkstar24 Me, too! Time to google it, LOL!
I don't know if this town has such groups; I didn't realize until I moved here, that Albuquerque is a small, religious town.

When my ex and I used to drive down here from where we lived in Durango, CO, 1979-83, it seemed like such a huge city, compared to tiny Durango. But I moved back east to live on my family farm near Morehead, KY, and became used to large cities like Louisville.

@darkstar24 I just googled it and there are several active LGBTQ atheist meet up groups, some that meet near me for coffee, hiking, etc. Of course, I'm just "looking through the window" longingly at the moment, but I'm getting stronger, so hope to make it to an activity at some point.

you should go.

1

Meetup.com is great.

Otherwise a Unitarian church is another option.

the only two i ever attended the kids in them were unusually mature imo 🙂

1

For us non-believers, it's pretty much Unitarian or nothing if what you desire is a formal church to attend. Myself, I used to attend Unitarian churches regularly, but in the last decade or so, I have found both of the local ones to be fairly uninspiring in both the music, sermons, and the rest of the church services. So nowadays, the main purpose they serve for me is having a place to hold my memorial service whenever that time may come....

1

Why not start your own? Of course, the music will have to be developed or borrowed. Arizona is the right place for it.

1

I have had your same experience leaving a routine of community and fellowship. But, it gets easier...however, it will still cross my mind ever so often, after many years!

1

A lot of people who like the Church without all the God join the Unitarian Universalists. I have been to a couple of services and enjoyed the uplifting atmosphere, but that doesn't really fill any need I have, and I really prefer sleeping in and being lazy on Sunday.

Deb57 Level 8 Feb 24, 2020
1

I would recommend the Unitarian Universalists. They have the fellowship, singing, a sense of purpose, etc. Also, they accept agnostics, atheists and LGBTQs without blinking an eye. Please, give it a shot. You can find the congregation nearest you at their website: [uua.org]. They were really helpful to me when I needed a transition between church life and atheism.

1

Try the unitarian , no magic, but it should fill your hole. You lose nothing by trying.

0

Try searching for a Sunday Assembly group near you. The one in Gainesville meets one Sunday per month. It's a "church" as you remember it without god. You can be religious, atheist, or agnostic - doesn't matter.

0

Try joining a Dance Community/Club. We dance, sing, holiday dine, and generally have a great time together. Whats more we keep fit, healthy and happy. Youngest member is just under 18 and the oldest is nearly 80. The strange thing is about half of the nearly 350 members are Athiests but no one cares about that, we just care about each other and dancing 🙂

0

Go on meetup.com. There is an atheist/agnostic group that meets at least once a week. And they have other events during the year.

Where and when ???

@NickParente Wherever you are, Nick.

0

Go volunteer at the local shelter. You may meet crazy people but aren't we all?

IT has been just me my PITMIX for the last 6 yrs . very peaceful . I DONATE to my shelter but hesitate to spend a lot time there for fear of falling in love with other dogs !!!

0

there's no getting away from the fact that we need to belong to a tribe.
we're social animals. it's genetic.

I think your right. I wish I was welcome in a tribe somewhere.

@Desertcactus , the only tribe i really belong to is the golf tribe.

0

Broaden your horizon & get involved with a humanist group. Wonder & awe is yours to find.

0

It is a challenge to find a community as purposeful, educational and supportive without the religion.

0

Get involved in the local freethinking community. Start a conversation. Tuscon is a big place. I bet you are not the only one who misses these things. So..start a Sunday Assembly Tuscon. One thing about events...you have to have them often, and they have to be consistant. It takes time for attendance to grow.

0

Find a Unitarian Universalist church. They can fill that void for ya.

0

A very quick google search turned up at least 4 UU churches in the Tuscon area. I have attended several in and near my Portland area, and they can have marked differences. Some look like churches, some like conference rooms, some have clergy, some are lay-led, some have strong music programs, some have one guy with a guitar, etc.

After being away for a couple years I wandered into my old fav last weekend (big "church" with great music), and it was a dear experience. The thing about UU is that you know you are there with agnostics, xians, jews, muslim, atheist, anyone and everyone! Yes, some of the songs and verbiage mention diety and associated thoughts, but you are free to interpret and modify those references as you wish. It's kind of a get-over-yourself approach, and I like that.

Maybe worth exploring?

0

the religious tribe has more fun & a sense of belonging than the atheist tribe.. sad but true.

Nah, just a bunch of people who make you FEEL alone.

0

Build it and they will come.

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