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Sunday Assembly LA: Yeah... NO!

Summerwind

Summerwind

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So last month I went to Sunday Assembly LA, and y'know what, I'm not going back. It's church. I was appalled at the churchiness of it.
Here are my critiques.
Hymns: Honestly they were folk and pop songs, but still, it was exactly the same presentation as a hymn in a white, laid back church... I think I might have preferred if it had to be a hymn-style the it resemble the raucous AA Baptist style.
Sermons: Well I guess I expected that there'd be some mention of not believing in god, and there was, but then I thought it'd go on to something educational, I mean after all we are people who believe in science, and language, and education. instead they had someone who was.... hmmm I don't remember. He was up there though. He talked a while,... talking down to all of us down below on metal chairs. Anyway, he talked a while.

Now mind you this was about a month ago. So things are fading a bit, but to me the true story of what it was like is in the remnants, the parts you do remember, so these are the things that stuck with me, and the fact that in one month I've already subconsciously chosen to forget a bunch of details is also telling.

So the next thing I remember, and I think I'm mostly chronologically accurate, we were all to turn to the person on our right and hug them????? WTF! I hug when I want as a little gift of myself to someone I care about, I don't f'ing hug strangers, and I wouldn't want younger kids to think it's alright to be hugged by a stranger in any circumstance in this current world. WTF!

Back to a final sort sermon, wherein a comedian (that was hopeful) was up. So since it was just past Christmas, his routine is about his conversations about santa and god with his son. Okay, I'm still with him, but fairly shortly in it becomes evident that he is fine with is young son believing in santa but not god. The punch line to which everyone laughed, except me I guess, was that on his way home from picking his son up from school, his son told him incredulously, "can you believe, (insert boy's name here) thinks god is real and santa isn't".

I pretty much left at that point. Atheists don't believe in gods, or god-a-likes, and what is santa but a winter excess god-a-like?
 
BTW for those about to try to chastise me about santa and my kids. Their xmases were fine, and Santa was explained simply and HONESTLY as the personification of a celebration marking the end of one hopefully successful year and the care and love of the family and friends you shared it with.
 
Wait.... what do you mean santa is not real...?
 
I think the whole thing is just stupid. If you want a social group, go find a social group. Make friends. Stop going to church, it's foolish.
 
Cephus said:
I think the whole thing is just stupid. If you want a social group, go find a social group. Make friends. Stop going to church, it's foolish.
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Well, I figured it might be a way to meet some folks in SoCal. Hoped that my prejudgment that it would be church-like was wrong. It wasn't. I'm glad I know for sure. My problem is that I can't figure out what group(s) I want to be a part of. I've tried Scrabble, and filmmakers, and athiest now, and gone to a few public events, autoxes and rallyxes... alone in crowds syndrome I fear. Anyway I tried, I had heard many here criticize the idea that atheists gathering would be essentially like church, they were right, I figured it was worth mentioning.
 
Summerwind said:
So last month I went to Sunday Assembly LA, and y'know what, I'm not going back. It's church. I was appalled at the churchiness of it.
Here are my critiques.
Hymns: Honestly they were folk and pop songs, but still, it was exactly the same presentation as a hymn in a white, laid back church... I think I might have preferred if it had to be a hymn-style the it resemble the raucous AA Baptist style.
Sermons: Well I guess I expected that there'd be some mention of not believing in god, and there was, but then I thought it'd go on to something educational, I mean after all we are people who believe in science, and language, and education. instead they had someone who was.... hmmm I don't remember. He was up there though. He talked a while,... talking down to all of us down below on metal chairs. Anyway, he talked a while.

Now mind you this was about a month ago. So things are fading a bit, but to me the true story of what it was like is in the remnants, the parts you do remember, so these are the things that stuck with me, and the fact that in one month I've already subconsciously chosen to forget a bunch of details is also telling.

So the next thing I remember, and I think I'm mostly chronologically accurate, we were all to turn to the person on our right and hug them????? WTF! I hug when I want as a little gift of myself to someone I care about, I don't f'ing hug strangers, and I wouldn't want younger kids to think it's alright to be hugged by a stranger in any circumstance in this current world. WTF!

Back to a final sort sermon, wherein a comedian (that was hopeful) was up. So since it was just past Christmas, his routine is about his conversations about santa and god with his son. Okay, I'm still with him, but fairly shortly in it becomes evident that he is fine with is young son believing in santa but not god. The punch line to which everyone laughed, except me I guess, was that on his way home from picking his son up from school, his son told him incredulously, "can you believe, (insert boy's name here) thinks god is real and santa isn't".

I pretty much left at that point. Atheists don't believe in gods, or god-a-likes, and what is santa but a winter excess god-a-like?
Click to expand...

Hmm...an athiest going to what just by its very name is going to be themed in a religious setting and ends up being disappointed that it really is religious in nature and comes back from it with none of the essense of what was no doubt being said............we are surprised by this how? What exactly was your point in posting this? There's nothing to really discuss here unless you wanted to discuss your reaction? Basically there is nothing very "philisophical" in your post as much of it is just your personal experiance with something that anyone with a brain would have expected you to react in exactly the way you did react, particularly since you went in with preconceived notions working at full tilt.
 
Kal'Stang said:
Hmm...an athiest going to what just by its very name is going to be themed in a religious setting and ends up being disappointed that it really is religious in nature and comes back from it with none of the essense of what was no doubt being said............we are surprised by this how? What exactly was your point in posting this? There's nothing to really discuss here unless you wanted to discuss your reaction? Basically there is nothing very "philisophical" in your post as much of it is just your personal experiance with something that anyone with a brain would have expected you to react in exactly the way you did react, particularly since you went in with preconceived notions working at full tilt.
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Exactly. It was as some suspected it would be, and it was a disappointment that they are copying organizations they criticize and encourage equally ridiculous "beliefs" at least for children. Many here say that we of atheism or of liberalism or progressivism never publicly admit or share things negative about those on our "side". This is simply an acknowledgement that those that criticized the idea of Sunday Assembly LA as being exactly the same dynamics as any other church were correct. I'm sorry you don't like OPs that say, "hey I tried it out and you guys were right." But then again you thrive on bickering, so I'm not surprised.
 
Summerwind said:
Exactly. It was as some suspected it would be, and it was a disappointment that they are copying organizations they criticize and encourage equally ridiculous "beliefs" at least for children. Many here say that we of atheism or of liberalism or progressivism never publicly admit or share things negative about those on our "side". This is simply an acknowledgement that those that criticized the idea of Sunday Assembly LA as being exactly the same dynamics as any other church were correct. I'm sorry you don't like OPs that say, "hey I tried it out and you guys were right." But then again you thrive on bickering, so I'm not surprised.
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1: See, this is where you mess up. I happily criticize any and all religions. I am against organized religion period. Believeing in a God does not require one to follow a religion. It just requires one to have belief in God. Your OP however leaves no opening worthy of a chance at real criticism. Unless of course you're an extremist. In which case you'll say something negative just for the sake of it.

2: The only problem I have with the OP is that it is in the Philosophical discussion forum. A forum that is dedicated to discussion of philosophical topics. There is nothing philosophical about the OP. Its simply a statement of your opinions on a particular experiance you had.

3: You didn't actually give it an honest try. As I said before you went in with preconceived notions working at full tilt. Your OP makes it quite obvious that you never once tried to suspend those notions.
 
Kal'Stang said:
1: See, this is where you mess up. I happily criticize any and all religions. I am against organized religion period. Believeing in a God does not require one to follow a religion. It just requires one to have belief in God. Your OP however leaves no opening worthy of a chance at real criticism. Unless of course you're an extremist. In which case you'll say something negative just for the sake of it.

2: The only problem I have with the OP is that it is in the Philosophical discussion forum. A forum that is dedicated to discussion of philosophical topics. There is nothing philosophical about the OP. Its simply a statement of your opinions on a particular experiance you had.

3: You didn't actually give it an honest try. As I said before you went in with preconceived notions working at full tilt. Your OP makes it quite obvious that you never once tried to suspend those notions.
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1. So do I happily criticize all religions. No more to say.
2. It is the only allowable place for Atheist discussion, talk the PTB about this.
3. If I have to TRY to give an assessment more favorable, than it isn't the place for me. I've been looking for groups to socialize here in SoCal, I thought I'd try this one. In a discussion here a few months back this was discussed, though I didn't participate and decided to experience first and comment later. My ire was much greater about the matter the day and day(s) immediately after, righteous ire even, hence why I waited a while to comment on my experience. If that doesn't suit you, then so be it.
 
Summerwind said:
2. It is the only allowable place for Atheist discussion, talk the PTB about this.
Click to expand...

You could have easily put it in the Off Topic Discussions area. You're OP was not about atheism or even really religion itself. It was about an experiance you had.

Summerwind said:
3. If I have to TRY to give an assessment more favorable, than it isn't the place for me. I've been looking for groups to socialize here in SoCal, I thought I'd try this one. In a discussion here a few months back this was discussed, though I didn't participate and decided to experience first and comment later. My ire was much greater about the matter the day and day(s) immediately after, righteous ire even, hence why I waited a while to comment on my experience. If that doesn't suit you, then so be it.
Click to expand...

I never said you had to give a favorable assessment. Or even try to. All that you had to do was suspend your preconceived notions and go in there with an open mind. But you didn't. You went in with a closed mind. For instance...that hug the person next to you thing that you mention? You do know it had absolutely nothing to do with the hug itself right?
 
Kal'Stang said:
You could have easily put it in the Off Topic Discussions area. You're OP was not about atheism or even really religion itself. It was about an experiance you had.



I never said you had to give a favorable assessment. Or even try to. All that you had to do was suspend your preconceived notions and go in there with an open mind. But you didn't. You went in with a closed mind. For instance...that hug the person next to you thing that you mention? You do know it had absolutely nothing to do with the hug itself right?
Click to expand...
AW, I see you're grouchy tonight. Bless your heart.
 
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