Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Farren · 03-17-2003, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seeker630
I belong to a UUA congregation and I'm an atheist. It gives me a group to interact with that provides the good, beneficial things associated with a church like a sense of community, social activism, participation in charities and so forth. It is a good social group and I like it so far. There is no dogma or doctrine and you don't have to believe in anything supernatural. You only have to keep in mind that some of them do. My group is close to half agnostic or atheist, with a couple of Wiccans and other pagans, some secular Jews and a lot of Deists. They are a very accepting group. I have been active in the anti-war movement here because they are associated with the local peace movement.

But as the other poster has said--the composition of a UUA church can vary quite a bit from one place to another. I have been told that some are more pro-theistic or even Christian leaning than others. My bunch are definitely pro-humanistc in their outlook.

Where do I sign up?

Aquila ka Hecate · 03-17-2003, 09:56 PM

Farren,
Where are you?

Do you know about
The Joburg Atheists' Meetup?

We have a whole 4 people signed up!

Frankly, I got tired of "herding cats" and signed up on the Witches' Meetup...they pull a goodly number and a few of them are very nice people indeed.

Terri

Seeker630 · 03-18-2003, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Farren
Where do I sign up?

Just go to UUA.org and look for the link that you can use to look up a congregation near you by using your zip code. After you find one just go there when they have a service or some other function and sit in on it. It doesn't cost anything and no one will pressure you to join. I would suggest you go at least 3 or 4 times before you really decide to join.

It's still an experiment for me but so far I like it. I get to interact with lots of others who think like me about a wide variety of issues. I think some of their hymns are shlocky but hey you can't have everything, and I don't sing anyway. They are also openly accepting of gays, and have some gay ministers at other locations around the country. The misister at the church in Sarasota is openly gay.

You won't find many conservatives in a UUA congrgation as a rule.

{edited by Toto to add link}

Farren · 03-19-2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquila ka Hecate
Farren,
Where are you?

Do you know about
The Joburg Atheists' Meetup?

We have a whole 4 people signed up!

Frankly, I got tired of "herding cats" and signed up on the Witches' Meetup...they pull a goodly number and a few of them are very nice people indeed.

Terri

HEY

I'm in joburg

I'll check it out (Pagans are waaaay too fluffy for me though)

_|ason · 03-19-2003, 10:09 AM

Creepy... they even have a "Satanism meetup day"!

King Rat · 03-19-2003, 10:55 AM

So, you are missing the social structure of religion? I have a friend who just deconverted and is going through the same difficulty.

Poker night is the first friday of the month.

Farren · 03-19-2003, 11:02 AM

Welll,

I'm quite misanthropic at the mo so no, not missing social structure at all. I've had my fill from 7 years of HECTIC community life in bohemia. buuuut I keep thinking about the fact that xians are out their feeding street kids and brainwashing them and all people like me do is sit behind our keyboards moaning and groaning

I had to put the smilleee in cos I just found out where to get them

King Rat · 03-19-2003, 01:47 PM

Quote:

buuuut I keep thinking about the fact that xians are out their feeding street kids and brainwashing them and all people like me do is sit behind our keyboards moaning and groaning

Ah, gotcha.

There are plenty of secular charities and organizations, but you've got to hang with other folks to participate. So, if you are currently misanthropic in color, this would be a sticky wicket.

Or you could try practicing my own unique brand of Trickle-Down-Enlightenment

Farren · 03-19-2003, 01:53 PM

Trickle-down? Does that involve water sports?

And btw are you perhaps named after China Mieville's King Rat?

King Rat · 03-19-2003, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Trickle-down? Does that involve water sports?

Ha! Nah, it just means that I'm more concerned with trying to get myself figured out, then maybe I can spread it around. I imagine it'll take oh, I dunno, a lifetime...

Quote:

And btw are you perhaps named after China Mieville's King Rat?

Guilty as charged. I was thinking of calling myself Perdido, but I thought is sounded a bit too wimpy.

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03-17-2003, 09:56 PM	#12
Aquila ka Hecate Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Luna City Posts: 379	Farren, Where are you? Do you know about The Joburg Atheists' Meetup? We have a whole 4 people signed up! Frankly, I got tired of "herding cats" and signed up on the Witches' Meetup...they pull a goodly number and a few of them are very nice people indeed. Terri

03-19-2003, 10:09 AM	#15
_\|ason Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 14	Creepy... they even have a "Satanism meetup day"!

03-19-2003, 10:55 AM	#16
King Rat Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 6,855	So, you are missing the social structure of religion? I have a friend who just deconverted and is going through the same difficulty. Poker night is the first friday of the month.

03-19-2003, 11:02 AM	#17
Farren Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: South Africa Posts: 2,194	Welll, I'm quite misanthropic at the mo so no, not missing social structure at all. I've had my fill from 7 years of HECTIC community life in bohemia. buuuut I keep thinking about the fact that xians are out their feeding street kids and brainwashing them and all people like me do is sit behind our keyboards moaning and groaning I had to put the smilleee in cos I just found out where to get them

03-19-2003, 01:53 PM	#19
Farren Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: South Africa Posts: 2,194	Trickle-down? Does that involve water sports? And btw are you perhaps named after China Mieville's King Rat?

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