[presented without title]

deconversionmovement:

Why Atheists Still Need Churches and Consolation

ATHEISM needs to take cues from religion in order to evolve, says populist Swiss philosopher and best-selling author Alain de Botton. A firm atheist, de Botton believes the shared community embodied by religions needs to be reclaimed by non-believers.

UK-based de Botton is in Melbourne to discuss his new book, Religion For Atheists, in which he proposes atheists can learn from the rituals and even the architecture of religion, and proposes ”temples to atheism”.

”I was reported by the British press to be actually setting up a sort of ‘cult for reason’, but it’s just a proposal,” he said yesterday.

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I think he’s a tad progressive for our time.  His perspective is interesting.  At times I find myself agreeing with the man.  Before you lose your lid, you might want to ask me to expound.  I’ll be happy to tell you all what I’m thinking if there’s a demand for it.  This will someday be the case; in a time when Atheists no longer stigmatize all of religion and in a time when the religious aren’t calling Atheism a religion because they’ve decided to build places to commune.  I can imagine discussing the history of Atheism with a large group of people.  I can imagine arguing over whose Atheism is the most effective — comparing Russell to Dawkins and comparing Harris to Stuart Mill.  It will be quite the educational experience and though the internet may provide a platform for such discussion, there’s nothing like community discussion.  Anyway, de Botton’s thinking is too progressive for our time, but I definitely can see it having clout in the future.  However, whether that future is near or distant I cannot tell.