Welcome atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, questioning, and believers — whatever you like to call yourselves, you are welcome here! At the Seattle Atheist Church, we call ourselves an atheist church because you will never hear anything supernatural promoted from the podium. We believe in good, because good works in non-mysterious ways.
Join us for our Sunday Service every week, broadcast from Seattle — accessible anywhere in the world.
Upcoming Events
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Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, October 13th, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.
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Service
Online Service: GMS's "Church Services Are Designed to Influence You. How?"
12–1:30pm PT on Sunday, October 13th, 2024This week is our next installment of Atheist YouTube! We'll be watching the video "Church Services Are Designed to Influence You. Here’s How" from the channel Genetically Modified Skeptic.
Here's the description they gave for this video:
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With an intuitive understanding of human psychology, churches design their services to manipulate your emotions. This is how they do it.This video is based on my experience with protestant churches in the US, but the ritual-first format can be found in Mormon, Catholic, and Orthodox churches as well. Worship services are quite effective tools of emotional and psychological manipulation, leveraging group think and emotional priming to their benefit. For many former evangelicals (and others who have deconstructed), these services created a sense of guilt, shame, or worthlessness that kept them in church long after they knew it was time to leave. For Christians, they can simulate God’s presence convincingly. Christian rituals like these are so normalized in the US that their technique of influence isn’t thought of as manipulative or even unusual, and that needs to change. It's time to deconstruct church.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------After the talk, we'll have a group discussion to explore the ideas presented, and to share related thoughts, resources, and personal experiences.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89452487965 -
Activity
In-Person Secular Social
4–6pm PT on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 at Chuck's Hop Shop Central District
Please join us for our in-person Secular Social!
We will be meeting at Chucks Hop Shop in the Central District. Lots of amazing beers and ciders to try, as well as non-alcoholic options. This venue is kid and dog friendly. Limited food is available inside, but they usually have a food truck on site and they welcome outside food, so feel free to patronize any of the nearby restaurants (Tacos Chukis!) or the PCC hot food deli.
There is only street parking, so if you are able to take public transit that is advisable (buses 48 and 2 stop nearby).
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
https://www.chuckshopshop.com/central-district -
Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, October 20th, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.
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Service
Online Service: The Virtue of Temperance
12–1:30pm PT on Sunday, October 20th, 2024Temperance sounds like a really old-fashioned concept; what does it mean, and how is it relevant today? The Virtue of Temperance includes the Character Strengths of Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, and Self-Regulation. I'll explain what these consist of and why they are important to mental health and a satisfying life.
Temperance is our theme for December and January. Our Wheel of the Year is founded in the Character Strengths and Virtues derived by positive psychology. This book will draw largely on the book Character Strengths and Virtues by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman.
This week's speaker will be Eva-Lise Carlstrom.
After the talk, we'll have a group discussion to explore the ideas presented, and to share related thoughts, resources, and personal experiences.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87906781177 -
Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, October 27th, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.
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Service
Online Service: Slate Star Codex: Meditations on Moloch
12–1:30pm PT on Sunday, October 27th, 2024Drawn from a fascinating post from Scott Alexander on the Slate Star Codex blog, which starts off with a famous poem by Allen Ginsberg about "Moloch".
Moloch is introduced as the answer to a question – C. S. Lewis’ question in Hierarchy Of Philosophers – "what does it?" Earth could be fair, and all men glad and wise. Instead we have prisons, smokestacks, asylums. What sphinx of cement and aluminum breaks open their skulls and eats up their imagination? And Ginsberg answers: Moloch does it.
The implicit question is – if everyone hates the current system, who perpetuates it? And Ginsberg answers: “Moloch”. It’s powerful not because it’s correct – nobody literally thinks an ancient Carthaginian demon causes everything – but because thinking of the system as an agent throws into relief the degree to which the system isn’t an agent.
Let's spend a little time exploring this concept and see how it might help us make sense of this world we live in.
This week's speaker will be Jack.
After the talk, we'll have a group discussion to explore the ideas presented, and to share related thoughts, resources, and personal experiences.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83863995530 -
Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.
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Service
Online Service: Practical applications of systems of domination.
12–1:30pm PT on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024Ancient Egypt's pyramids are the shape of the system of domination with the Pharoh at the top and slaves at the bottom. This talk will discuss the historical forms and how they relate to our modern political and geographic reality.
This week's speaker will be Thor Olson.
After the talk, we'll have a group discussion to explore the ideas presented, and to share related thoughts, resources, and personal experiences.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83927807081 -
Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, November 10th, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.
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Service
Online Service: Genetically Modified Skeptic's "8 Types of Atheists" (Part 2)
12–1:30pm PT on Sunday, November 10th, 2024"'Atheism isn’t an identity' some say. In American culture, though, I believe it can be," says YouTuber Genetically Modified Skeptic. Let's watch the remaining ~half of his video "The 8 Types of Atheists in American Culture" together and discuss it afterwards.
Last July we watched the the first 4 types he covers, which were Ex-Jehovah’s Witness, Ex-Fundamentalist, Ex-Muslim, Ex-Evangelical / Exvangelical.
Today we'll watch the last 4 types: Ex-Mormon, Atheistic Pagan / Atheopagan, Sentientist / Ethical Vegan, and Atheistic Satanist (The Satanic Temple).
After the video, we'll have a group discussion to explore the ideas presented, and to share related thoughts, resources, and personal experiences.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84566921268 -
Activity
In-Person Secular Social
4–6pm PT on Saturday, November 16th, 2024 at Chuck's Hop Shop Central District
Please join us for our in-person Secular Social!
We will be meeting at Chucks Hop Shop in the Central District. Lots of amazing beers and ciders to try, as well as non-alcoholic options. This venue is kid and dog friendly. Limited food is available inside, but they usually have a food truck on site and they welcome outside food, so feel free to patronize any of the nearby restaurants (Tacos Chukis!) or the PCC hot food deli.
There is only street parking, so if you are able to take public transit that is advisable (buses 48 and 2 stop nearby).
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
https://www.chuckshopshop.com/central-district -
Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, November 17th, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.
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Service
Online Service: So It's The Holiday Season and Your Family Might Suck; Now What?
12–1:30pm PT on Sunday, November 17th, 2024We all come from some sort of background, and carry with us associated expectations and experiences and feelings. What those are and whether they are positive, negative, or a mixture, often comes to the forefront during the Holiday Season.
What do we do when our whole society is saying "come together with your family and be merry!" and your family isn't safe or comfortable or easy? What do we do when our feelings about our families are complex? Is it ok to not want to be with your family on a holiday? Let's discuss ways we can we reclaim coziness and a feeling of coming together with found family and community, no matter how complex our situation.
This week's speaker will be Ashe Phoenix.
After the talk, we'll have a group discussion to explore the ideas presented, and to share related thoughts, resources, and personal experiences.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86161591110 -
Reading Group
Sunday Morning Stoicism
10–11:30am PT on Sunday, November 24th, 2024
Let's get together before church and discuss this week's passages from The Daily Stoic! Each day of the year has a corresponding "devotional reading" (so to speak). Each week we discuss the readings since our previous meeting, from the previous Monday through the Sunday of the meeting, and share what resonated with us, what we found profound, and what insights we can apply to what's going on in our lives.
Each reading is about 3 minutes long. They're all self-contained, so you don't need to worry about catching up - feel free to jump in on any week's session!
This is an online event hosted on Zoom. You can register for it here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqf-2spzwoHNYJkpUJHobrD14SqEGfky0YThis is one of those events where more people show up than RSVP on Meetup, so don't be discouraged from attending just because of a low RSVP count.