businessinsider.com — This looks like a tower in which you'd imprison a princess for 100 years, but it's supposed to be a temple to atheism--or more precisely, a temple to science and nature. These developments may seem quite odd, especially considering non-believers’ sometimes intense rhetoric against faith and religion. But now — there’s another more bizarre project in the works, as a new “atheist temple” is being planned in London, England.
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Now the 6th story on Front Page
rabbitsinblack27 days ago
A..........? No one has thought this out have they? An Atheist is not a religion so why would ....oh just forget it.
gt77726 days ago
It's understandable humans have a tendency to be religious, because we are created to be so! do you see animals going to their temples and pray?
cowicide27 days ago
I agree with Dawkins, this is a waste of money.
murrayc196827 days ago
As an atheist, I feel this temple is such a contradiction in terms (Hey, Christians! See what I did there? Even I AM an atheist, I actually DISAGREE with my homeys. That's what we call in the bizz "INDEPENDENT THOUGHT", meaning, that even though you subscribe to a particular ideal or belief, it's OK to voice your own opinion and have a perspective on the subject instead of just following the flock)
bluenose227 days ago
Aw., Murray get of the bus and stop @ my place and have a puff.
vitriolandangst27 days ago
The problem is, that Atheists aren't even a real group. There is no bake sale, there is no Sunday school, there just IS.
It's like finding dirt and saying it's an "anti-Farm" -- no, it's just land that doesn't have crops. It isn't anti-anything. There are deserts, forests and swamps -- these are not anti-farm either.
Since there is no collective group nor entrance fee to belong -- it's kind of a difficult group to herd. The only thing remarkable here is someone who wasn't suckered into some sort of group think, deciding Atheism needed a temple. Atheism is usually self-selecting for some rationality.
But it's silly to be offended by a religion, or someone being absurd unless they do some harm to society. This should attract some attention, as everybody likes a misconception they are not fooled by; "Did you hear that those atheists have a temple -- can you believe them?" "Typical for atheists, you know. Let's go see what they have their --- I bet there are a bunch of pieces of artwork by that guy who puts crosses in pee."
>> I do believe in God by the way -- and I'm still an atheist. I figure with evolution and technology, He's only a few thousand years away for humanity. Kind of inevitable, actually.
There are other beings that one could be considered "God like" but I don't think they are saving anyone -- it's more like we are just an interesting channel on TV. The ancient Greeks had it right.
gt77726 days ago
Nah Ancient Greek gods are nothing to worship about, they did all kinds of evil s**ts and not worthy of men's worship!
pinkfish41127 days ago
Considering the extreme amount of internal disagreement within most of the world's major religions, I don't think you need to explain what "independent thought" is.
gt77726 days ago
The problem with Atheism is the same as the perception of Christians who don't take the trouble of understanding science.
analogkid127 days ago
We don't need a temple, thank you. That just gives the fundies more ammo to claim that Atheism is a religion. Bad idea.
gt77726 days ago
Is Atheism a religion?
http://creation.mobi/atheism-a-religion
analogkid126 days ago
From "Creation Ministries". 'Nuf said. Religions are based on belief in something -not non-belief in something.
I don't believe in elves. Is that a "religion" too?
angelofchaos9927 days ago
Even atheists like places to be contemplative and quiet.
I mean, BESIDES the library.
craig195827 days ago
OK, after reading a description of his new book, "Religion for Atheists: A non-believer's guide to the uses of religion," this publicity stunt is stating to make more sense. Clever.
madz300026 days ago
Yes, that's what I think it is too. You should see his idiotic TED talk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oe6HUgrRlQ
jeffts27 days ago
An atheist erection is underway in the UK?! Do they not have erections in the UK to make this a news story?
sampson12327 days ago
Wouldn't a secular temple just be a community center? Why not just call it that?
TheDon2427 days ago
community center now and days is slang for mosque :)
murrayc196827 days ago
We prefer the term "museum" (and the laboratory is our Vatican, and the "origin of species" by Darwin is our "bible")
madz300026 days ago
Alain de Botton is a narrow minded, self-promoting, attention seeking fool. We already have science, literature and music at which to marvel. We have libraries, museums, theaters, the large hadron collider and technology that was only possible because of science.
gt77726 days ago
You don't agree there is a spiritual component in music? And that would have defeated Atheist beliefs!
madz300026 days ago
Saying "atheist beliefs" doesn't even make sense. The word "atheist" just means no belief in god/s, it's like saying your left handed or have brown eyes. There isn't a set of doctrines within atheism like there is for religion. So the atheist can be "spiritual" if they choose. However I reject the use of that word because it is so loaded with nonsense and very subjective.
I can feel very emotional when listening to music but I wouldn't call that spiritual I would call it emotions brought about by chemical reactions within my brain because that's what it actually is. People can call it spiritual if they want but that doesn't mean anything in reality.
starmanjones27 days ago
who thought that up. i had a friend that used to drive me by these multi-million dollar churches. i think he thought i would be so impressed that i'd be converted. i'm pretty sure thats how they got him. i told him all i see is a building that stands empty 6 days a week and the thousands of kids it could be feeding.
are we sure this isn't from the onion?
gt77726 days ago
Nah I don't think Atheist temples will be impressive. If you have believed in nothing, where do you get the inspirations to build impressive churches like the ones we see in Europe?
maxwestart27 days ago
Isn't that a contradiction?
vitriolandangst27 days ago
Only someone who was awake would make this sort of accusation.
Closed Account27 days ago
really? a waste of space.
bluenose227 days ago
As an Atheist , I don't need nor want any temple.
Closed Account27 days ago
that what im saying...if they're athiest they dont need a temple....at least from what ive read about them anyways.
bluenose227 days ago
After reading the story, this guy seems like a soda bottle.Empty from the neck up.
elimgarak27 days ago
I don't want a temple either. But I do think that a museum/monument to science is a good thing. I think the biggest problem with this is the name, probably assigned by the reporter.
niceguyvan27 days ago
"To suggest that a temple dedicated to atheism is even vaguely equivalent to a monument to science is idiotic"
No, it's absolutely correct. To suggest otherwise is idiotic.
vitriolandangst27 days ago
As an atheist, I've already got an erection and I don't need Viagra.
... um, what were we talking about again?
Oh yeah, we don't need public displays to reinforce gravity -- but we do need good things to look at. Maybe it's meant as an Ironic temple.
assassyn36026 days ago
I am an atheist. I have an erection all the time.
gt77726 days ago
Even Christians have erections too! LOL!
artemz27 days ago
...believe how to disbelieve
travelsonic27 days ago
"Atheist Erection Underway in UK "
How much Viagra did it take? *rim shot*
elimgarak27 days ago
I don't see anything wrong with this - besides the name itself. It's not a "temple" for "worship".
But people put up monuments and museums to all sorts of things that have nothing to do with religion. This sounds just like it. I am down to having a monument to science and rationality - that's actually pretty awesome.
craig195827 days ago
Well, $1.5million is a lot of money to spend on irony. The problem is that 80% of the world still won't get the joke.
gt77726 days ago
Imagine how much of those money could have help the poor and the weak instead on wasting on one joke?
craig195826 days ago
Yup, just like every church, temple, and mosque on earth. At least this is intended to be ironic.
crom9927 days ago
Wow, BI misspelled "atheism" in the headline. In the age of spell-check, that's an egregious sin for a publication.
And Dawkins is right, of course. Atheists have no use for temples. That money could be put to better use elsewhere.
gt77726 days ago
Will this be the beginning of denominations in the Atheist Church?
ageofmastery27 days ago
Figures Alan would be obsessed with an erection...
trivialanomaly26 days ago
A place where they can not go to not worship and to not pray.. I guess??
niceguyvan27 days ago
A library?
gt77726 days ago
Yeah! That is where you can find the Holy Bible!
drumcyborg27 days ago
...as atheism struggles to be recognized as a real religion they position themselves right into the very same box they tried to get out of.
gt77726 days ago
Why worship the created? Like Atheism? Worship the all powerful Creator! Aka God!
drumcyborg26 days ago
If God wanted us humans to worship him we would have been born with an altar and tithing plate fused to our bodies.
I am made in His image and I bow to no one.