‘Atheist churches’ filling their pews, but is atheism a religion?

BOONEVILLE, KY - APRIL 22: Parishioners gather as Sugar Camp Baptist Church pastor Tim Charlton preaches in Owsley County on April 22, 2012 in Booneville, Kentucky. Daniel Boone once camped in the Appalachian mountain hamlet of Owsley County which remains mostly populated by descendants of settlers to this day. The 2010 U.S. Census listed Owsley County as having the lowest median household income in the country outside of Puerto Rico, with 41.5% of residents living below the poverty line. Familial and community bonds run deep, with a populace that shares a collective historical and cultural legacy uncommon in most parts of the country. However, the community of around 5,000 struggles with a lack of jobs due to the decline in coal, tobacco and lumber industries along with health issues including drug addiction without effective treatment (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

An increasingly popular London-based atheist church announced recently that it will be going on a “global missionary tour” over the next couple months as cities across the nation have apparently been requesting information on how they can set up their own branches.

An increasingly popular London-based atheist church announced recently that it will be going on a “global missionary tour” over the next couple months as cities across the nation have apparently been requesting information on how they can set up their own branches.

The founders of “The Sunday Assembly”--Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones--are two comedians who say there’s more to church than just believing in God, including bettering your life and feeling a sense of community.

There’s been some negative feedback from atheists who say atheism shouldn’t be portrayed as a religion in any way.

Does this church go against what atheism stands for or is it reasonable for people to want the sense of community church can offer without it having ties to God? What do people who do believe in God think of atheist churches? Does having a community like this and calling it a church take away some of the negativity some associate with being atheist?

Guests:

Sanderson Jones, co-founder of Sunday Assembly; London-based comedian

Ryan T. Cragun, Ph.D., associate professor of Sociology at the University of Tampa, FL who specializes in religious studies; research associate at The Center for Atheist Research

The Sunday Assembly is going on tour and will be in Los Angeles on November 10th. For more information, click here.