Misleading AP Report about Atheist "Mega Churches"

An Associated Press report dated Nov. 10, 2013, titled "Atheist 'Mega-Churches' Take Root across US, World," has been republished widely, but it is grossly misleading. First, there are only dozens of these atheist gatherings, and the largest have attracted one-time crowds in the hundreds. Thus they aren't "mega" by any standard. For a church to be called a "megachurch" it must have 2,000 or more in average weekly attendance. (There are 1,300 of megachurches in the U.S.) No regular atheist gathering comes close to that. And there is no evidence that these "atheist churches" will prove to be viable over any significant period of time. The "atheist church" movement, founded by two British comedians, is attempting to attract atheists to religious-like services to sing pop songs, laugh at stand-up comedy routines, and listen to "inspirational talks." It sounds like the emerging church, except atheists sing hymns to no one and preach a gospel of nothingness.

(Friday Church News Notes, November 15, 2013, www.wayoflife.org [email protected], 866-295-4143)

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