Do We Really Need Humanist Churches?

Glass City Humanist

Mar 19 2024 • 33 mins

A recent survey of people and their religion saw an increase in the number of people who picked 'no preference'. These 'nones' make up over 20% of the population yet only 1 in 5 chooses to label themselves an atheist/agnostic/humanist. What can we do to help increase the number of Humanists?

One solution advocated by some in the Humanist movement is to have Humanist congregations - Humanist churches. It is believed that people are looking for rituals, meeting on Sundays, singing hymns, and other outreaches that some believe only non-dogmatic versions of church can provide.

Glass City Humanist host Douglas Berger, who has almost 30 years experience with the Humanist movement, disagrees. While some people are looking for the church experience without the supernatural dogma, many others aren't and a vibrant Humanist movement needs to cater to the needs of many different people in different ways. Douglas believes going to church on Sunday is not only an old model it's also dying even in the sectarian religious communities. Humanists should be more open to other opportunities to grow our numbers instead of being tethered to a building.

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