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Church of Science

 Social gathering for intellectuals
  (+21, -8)(+21, -8)
(+21, -8) 		  [vote for,
against]

Have a weekly gathering, much like a religious church, wherein one of the members gives a short talk, call it a sermon, about something from a science journal. In addition, there would be a weekly collection that would be donated to a deserving charity in the field of science (cancer research, etc.).

Church is nice for the social and community building aspects, but as an atheist, the actual service is something of a waste of time. I'd like to be able to participate (and gain from) an organization like a church, just without the religion and I think the Church of Science fills the gap nicely.

—dinomite, Dec 24 2005

Scientastics another solution [JesusHChrist, Dec 27 2005, last modified Dec 28 2005]

Royal Institution of Great Britain http://www.rigb.org/
Science for the public [hazel, Dec 30 2005]

Cafe Scientifique http://www.cafescientifique.org/
Coffee, muffins and quantum physics [hazel, Dec 30 2005]

The Humanist Society http://www.humanist-society.org/
Explicitly trying to be a nontheistic church. "Celebrants" are their version of priests. [jutta, Jan 21 2006]

Halfbakery: Canonise Charles Darwin Canonise Charles Darwin
A rephrasing of what (I think) might be the same sentiment. [zen_tom, Sep 07 2009]

The "Brights" http://en.wikipedia...ki/Brights_movement
The pro-reason anti-religion [wbeaty, Sep 11 2009]

The Ethical Society of St. Louis http://www.ethicalstl.org/
"A welcoming home for Humanists." [Jim Bob of Merriam Park, Sep 14 2009]

[link]






       Scientology!?
—MikeOxbig, Dec 24 2005
   

       Most definently *not* scientology, nor christian scientists. Those people are just whackos.
—dinomite, Dec 26 2005
   

       There have been groups meeting to discuss science like this since they first recognized science as something distinct from witchcraft and alchemy. Nothing new here.   

       And if you don't like the religion, join the Elks or something.
—DrCurry, Dec 26 2005
   

       This is enough to make one repudiate science and go live as a hermit.
—reensure, Dec 27 2005
   

       Seems valid to me. As a church it operates with tax benefits, too, at least in the US.   

       Perhaps you can have services that host lectures on scientific topics.
—bristolz, Dec 27 2005
   

       +   

       I feel a seperate group will leave this church and start their own: Filosophy church. I'm torn in two which to attend.
—zeno, Dec 27 2005
   

       You need to declare a bible, or pen a manifesto at the very least. Don't forget to send a couple robots to my house around dinner time. I think those are required to qualify for the tax break.
—Wyrick, Dec 27 2005
   

       Probably you ought to name it the Church of Half-Bakery, in honor of this wonderful website, and for the fact that the very appeal of science is that it is in fact always half-baked and never complete. I hate the convenience of "meaningful answers" about life. Science is just the opposite; it makes you have to think about stuff and get a headache! Perhaps this is why it never sold well as a "religion".   

       Still, "Church of Science" has a nice paradoxical/oxymoronic sound to it.
—Size_Mick, Dec 28 2005
   

       only good if it has a Pope (can it be me?), bishops, inquisition etc. and confession box where you go to admit in secrecy that you really don't believe in the General Theory of Relativity - "Go away my child and recite your gravitational equations 200 hundred times" Disbelievers are excommunicated and set to work as valets, parking suvs in the gigantic church car lots of born again Christians.
—xenzag, Dec 28 2005
   

       I thought for sure some AAAS member would say their group meets weekly. I'll bet some do.   

       Funnyness, [xen]. :)
—Shz, Dec 28 2005
   

       Is this the same thing as Mensa?
—bungston, Dec 28 2005
   

       This idea could change the world for the better + and I’m all for it + but as soon as you start to ritualize science, the real scientists will probably stay home and watch the discovery channel instead of attending.   

       The problem is that scientists by nature are an open-minded bunch, but they usually have niche interests. They’d love to show up for a serminar on their topic of interest, but I can’t see a computer scientist wanting to hear about fungi.   

       How about getting kids interested in science to the point where they take it on with a religious fervor? They’d want to spread the word, donate, and help others, all in the name of objective knowledge, and all without a trip to the church.
—TIB, Dec 29 2005
   

       So if I think I understand this correctly, you are suggesting that you have all of the aspects of church like the singing of songs, the introductions, the offering, dressing up, feeling obligated to be friendly, etc.. but rather than a sermon involving bible scriptures, you would prefer to have a sermon on the periodic table.   

       This is great in theory, however, its the religious aspects of church that make all of those other facets possible.
—Jscotty, Dec 29 2005
   

       I don't know about that [JScotty] - a decently argued service on game theory, or a treatise on evolutionary evidence for the emergence of altruistic behaviours might get the punters thinking.   

       And if we're looking for a Pope, shouldn't it be Richard Dawkins?   

       He's a bit snappy for my taste, but for the self respecting atheist, you can't go far wrong.
—zen_tom, Dec 29 2005
   

       I like. Also good for the non-religious, yet non-atheist science fan folk among us. [+]
—Zuzu, Dec 29 2005
   

       A long time ago I volunteered at rocket club meetings, and it was at least as good for the kids as any church youth group.
—moPuddin, Dec 30 2005
   

       Largely baked in the form of the Royal Institution, Cafe Scientifique and other public science fora
—hazel, Dec 30 2005
   

       //I volunteered at rocket club meetings// Any other salad leaf-based societies?
—AbsintheWithoutLeave, Dec 30 2005
   

       "Mass" could be held at a particle accelerator.
—JesusHChrist, Jan 24 2006
   

       I think we should retain the singing, but what would we sing? Sinatra would be a good starting point.
—wagster, Jan 24 2006
   

       Finally, a useful reason for having a Church
—quantass, Sep 03 2009
   

       I dig it. A good lecture (many www.TED.com talks) leave me gently abuzz with "damn, that's RIGHT" energy. I could see this going down well in Australia, where there are many community-minded normal athiests/agnostics who attend church (occasionally) just for the community. It would have to have all the church trappings to succeed. NOTHING new age or modern about its aesthetic!
—white, Sep 07 2009
   

       Arrival of the fittest! Give me a frightening facial tattoo and an assigned bride. Quant Suff!
—wbeaty, Sep 11 2009
   

       Not really, no thanks.   

       This idea is basically a reactionary idea for a "Society for People Who Don't Believe in Gods". But then you also need one for people who don't believe in everything else.   

       I dunno, it's just dumb.
—MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 11 2009
   

       Organize and hold meetings if you want, but please don't use religious terms to describe what you are doing. You would just be playing into the hands of fundamentalists, who are already trying to blur the distinction between science and religion. It's a two-pronged attack: Some of them are claiming "intelligent design" is really science (and therefore we should teach it in school) while others are saying environmentalism is really a religion (and therefore pro-environment legislation is an unconstitutional "establishment of religion").
—Jim Bob of Merriam Park, Sep 14 2009
   

       except for the donation thing, isn't what you're describing generally referred to as college?
—CaptainClapper, Sep 14 2009
   

       Sounds like Unitarians. No?
—minoradjustments, Sep 14 2023
   

       Science doesn't care where it goes. Theoretically. Bad behavior may be rewarded. Good behavior can be punished. Then we all disappear in the big crunch.   

       So this would only suit nihilists and the morally ambidextrous.   

       If you care where you go, you need magical thinking. Then you need to get out the robes and altars.
—mylodon, Sep 16 2023
   
      
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