Churches/temples helping to bring communities together.

[ADigitalArtist]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

 

[Sunstone]

Sounds like a pretty good idea, actually. I might check out the Universalist Unitarians here in town. They have a beautiful old church, and I've been there for some lectures -- but so long ago, I'd forgotten all about them.

 

[Altfish]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

In our area of the UK churches are shutting down, not even sure where the nearest is. BUT, yes I would attend community events there.
However, clubs and pubs are the real community hubs near us. The pubs organise quizzes, trips and host charity events. Clubs are of every shape and form; fishing, golf, bridge, gardening, etc.
Religion is not needed for community adhesion and in some cases it can be divisive.

 

[Kirran]

I'm thinking of affiliating myself with the local Anglican establishments, actually. I like the organisation, there can often be great vibes, and there's great work going on and good volunteer-networking!

Sikhs do some awesome work in the UK, especially in getting food to the homeless.

 

[InChrist]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

As a Christian, I would be glad if an atheist or anyone else attended such activities since that is one of the purposes the church and Christians are to be the hands and feet of Jesus by blessing others around them.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

In our area of the UK churches are shutting down, not even sure where are nearest is. BUT, yes I would attend community events there.
However, clubs and pubs are the real community hubs near us. The pubs organise quizzes, trips and host charity events. Clubs are of every shape and form; fishing, golf, bridge, gardening, etc.
Religion is not needed for community adhesion and in some cases it can be divisive.

Here in the US we have clubs but they're usually small and very specifically one activity. Like a weight support club or a book club. I am part of one club that plays dungeons and draons though, lol.
Most of my church activity is because they have large gardens and take volunteers.

 

[Nakosis]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

My Grandmother, after she retired. Her whole life was pretty much centered around the church. She volunteered, she took on the responsibility of providing the floral arrangements each Sunday. It gave her purpose and social interaction with other folks in the community.

She became involved with Church Women United and worked to help provide food and clothing for folks in need.

It allowed her to do some good in the world. I saw no sense in trying to argue with her about her beliefs.

 

[Phantasman]

I've remarked before that, though I'm not religious, I end up going to churches many times a week for various community activities. From gleaning (Gleaning - Wikipedia) to blood donations to free classes (on things like gardening or woodworking) to other charity functions.

These sorts of things need not be done through churches and temples but an overwhelming number of them are, and its ability to bring communities together no matter their beliefs is something I continue to admire and make use of.

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?
As an atheist would you attend?
As a theist would you care if atheists were attending?

You're admirable in my opinion. Just because you don't believe in the orthodox system, doesn't mean you don't care (by a measured love) for those who need. Your path seems to super-cede many I have met who consider themselves Christian.

In gnosis, I believe that the heart is what is judged.

Light and Darkness, life and death, right and left, are brothers of one another. They are inseparable. Because of this neither are the good good, nor evil evil, nor is life life, nor death death. For this reason each one will dissolve into its earliest origin. But those who are exalted above the world are indissoluble, eternal.- Gospel of Philip

Just because you are not religious (of a religion) mean that the Spirit isn't working inside of you. You may just be unaware of it.

Just my view.

 

[Father Heathen]

I am part of one club that plays dungeons and draons though, lol.

What do you think the response would be if you proposed something like the adopt-a-highway program to the group?

But regarding the OP, Sikh Langars come to mind.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Anyone have some stories of church/temple functions in their area they like?

Perhaps "church/temple/mosque" would have been better -- so, for example, I find the interfaith outreach of my local Muslim Education Center to be laudable.

 

[Phantasman]

But regarding the OP, Sikh Langars come to mind.

What? No bacon?

 

[Kirran]

The new minister at the Anglican church (Church of Wales) in the village near the ashram I go to has been very keen on interfaith outreach and bringing people together! She got all sorts of different groups together to hold a Holocaust Memorial Day, including I think some different churches, and I think the mosque from the nearby town, and then also the ashram. A big thing for her is engaging with the community and trying to make the church open.

Actually, it was quite similar in the Metropolitan Congregation I used to attend, which was part of the United Reformed Church, in terms of making the church space available to everyone. And that was a well-attended congregation, too!

 

[Father Heathen]

What? No bacon?

The meals are vegetarian so that no one would be excluded due to dietary restrictions.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

What do you think the response would be if you proposed something like the adopt-a-highway program to the group?

But regarding the OP, Sikh Langars come to mind.

Depends on who in the group and how it was being presented, I think. I've brought some people in the group with me on community work before, but I don't think the group organizers would be very receptive to taking it on as a project under their umbrella. Either due to funding and manpower resource limitations or just wanting to preserve that 'we're about this one single thing'. They'd let me advertise for community projects though.

I should find a Sikh temple around here. It's Portland so we're a pretty religiously diverse place.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Perhaps "church/temple/mosque" would have been better -- so, for example, I find the interfaith outreach of my local Muslim Education Center to be laudable.

Very true! We have a place here in Portland for outreach, education and community activities called the Muslim Education Trust. They have an anniversary banquet in May I was thinking about attending.

 

[metis]

So far nobody has minded that I don't stay for services, and my atheism he never come up. The focus stays on the activities and community.

This is the same exact experience I have had at the synagogue that I used to attend and my wife's Catholic churches that I've been attending for over 50 years now. My "theology" is so utterly liberal that I plead "Guilty as charged!" if one calls me an "agnostic" (see bottom of my post).

 

[metis]

Very true! We have a place here in Portland for outreach, education and community activities called the Muslim Education Trust. They have an anniversary banquet in May I was thinking about attending.

My recommendation is to not even hesitate-- go! I've been to several mosques, talked with imams on a variety of issues and without any kind of negative hitch whatsoever.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

My recommendation is to not even hesitate-- go! I've been to several mosques, talked with imams on a variety of issues and without any kind of negative hitch whatsoever.

Oh for sure. My hesitation is more 'Am I already booked solid into May at work?' lol.
Can you offer a short story on your most memorable discussion?

 

[metis]

I should find a Sikh temple around here.

Gotta tell ya a true story.

About 20 years ago, I was invited by one of my Sikh students to go to one of their functions, and since it was on Shabbat, I wore my yarmulke. One of them came up to me and asked if I would say a Jewish grace before dinner, and I said I would, and I did-- in Hebrew and then translated it into English.

But a couple of years before this, my very Catholic wife took a quiz called the "Belief-O-Matic", and her highest association on the test was "Sikhism". During a presentation at the above function, they explained the Sikh faith, and I kept sneaking peaks at her and saw her repeatedly nodding yes.

I tried to get her to convert-- I love the food!!! She didn't, bu now our favorite restaurant is one that is Sikh owned. Samozas anyone?

[drats, I just drooled on my keyboard. ]

 

[Akivah]

Here in the US we have clubs but they're usually small and very specifically one activity. Like a weight support club or a book club. I am part of one club that plays dungeons and draons though, lol.

Awesome! If my synagogue had a D&D group, I'd be there far more often.