A church for non-believers?

[ThreeRingCircus]

DD is in Brownies and we were asked to attend a church service on Sunday to show support (the church gives the use of it's hall to the Brownies and Guides for free.)

I am not religious in any way and do not believe in god but I have always liked churches. The history of the building, the atmosphere, the singing etc.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The singing together, the vicar's sermon was funny and made DD laugh and was all about how tiny actions can add up to big changes so acting with kindness etc. What really struck me was the sense of community, the kindness with which we were welcomed and the good message for DD to hear.

DH is very anti-religion. He wouldn't step foot in a church voluntarily and says it would be hypocritical as we don't believe in god. But we've been talking about the positives about that service and how I actually feel I'd like to go back with DD. Ideally I'd like a community group that met once a week, listened to a talk and sang together.... essentially church without the god element! I don't think such a thing exists?

Do other people attend church despite not believing in god? I would feel a bit of a fraud I think but can't help thinking DD and I really got something out of the experience.

Oh come on, Humanists don’t want the status of religion. What are you on about? You’re in danger of that sneery sense of superiority you deplore in others. Have a nice Sunday.

You will go to a wedding or funeral in a church even though unlike those getting married or the deceased you are not a believer in God. Three times a year with the Brownies almost seems the same, being considerate for those in the pack who are (or whose parents are).

Hope you find what you are looking for OP, makes sense to me.

Sunday Assembly is not a humanist organisation. They don't criticise religion at all. There are religious people amongst the 'congregation'.

Although obviously this will depend on which Sunday Assembly go to. Just like Church!

Presumably because it was set-up by people who used to be CofE, who stopped believing but still wanted the community and experience of Church?

I don't think there's anything stopping someone from setting up a similar thing but following the community and experience of the Synagogue. Or any other religions culture/traditions.

I think it would have been quite problematic if the two ex-CofE people who set it up started 'borrowing' things from religious groups they had absolutely no understanding of. Cultural appropriation I think it would come under.

Church of Mumsnet anyone?
Singing, baking, creche, bit of poetry, a stand up bit entitled "how's your week been"? For those who can promise not to use the "F" word.
I'll do the flower arranging.

That’s exactly the sort of unevidenced, angry sneery response I came to expect of humanists! It’s why I lost respect for them. I gave reasons for my point of view. You just spewed vitriol.

I thought you were opening a discussion by saying I had a surprising view. So I responded in that vein. I should have remembered all those lessons I learnt about humanists a long time ago and not bothered.

How will it be Mumsnet anything without the swearing?!

C’mom now,’ we fucking ploughing the seed and bloody gathered the good grain on the land’

@Youarecruel Jesus wept. You’re too angry for a Sunday morning. I was having a normal attempt at interaction, not spewing vitriol and all the other guff you’re on about with far more anger than it deserves. You have no idea if I’m a humanist or a flat earther. Chill.

I took it as @Youarecruel has previous experience with the Humanists. Very helpful information for me. I don't want to get involved with any captured organisation.

I’m not angry and I think you may be projecting.

If it’s the singing and community aspect that you really enjoyed, have you thought about your local community choir/singing group? Lots of them are just as much about the belonging and community aspect as they are about the singing these days, so it might be worth investigating what’s around in your local area. The one I’m in is very much an extended group of friends who really support one another: we sing, have a laugh, socialise and even go on tour! Oh, with the odd performance too for those who enjoy that sort of thing!

There won’t be any singing, and not much talk during worship. But you’d always be welcome at a Quaker meet.

DD14 attends our local Friends Meeting House, and I often join her. Ours’ is a small, rural meet and the other members are much older and some were raised in the tradition. It’s always such a joy to be around such calm, wise, caring people and we are welcomed with great warmth.

Worship is almost silent, with a short reading from a religious (not always Christian) or philosophical text, but we have some really lively conversations about all sorts of issues afterwards.
https://www.quaker.org.uk/

I fully believe that many who attend church regularly have no faith, or have lost their faith, and instead go for all the reasons you describe.

I suspect the same may be said for the clergy!

I think if you rephrase it that the brownies like to show their support a cpl of times a year it sounds better. It's far more likely to be that than a demand from the church. It's normal for brownies/guides etc to be involved in harvest/Easter/Christmas services.

Personally I go to church although im not too religious. I like the community feel and always feel more at peace and happier when I've attended

Humanists don't want the status of religion? Then why do they send representatives to stand on SACREs (Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education)?