A temple of Atheism

Philosopher, Alain De Botton is planning to build a temple to atheism is the finanical centre of London, he says its to counter the negative and destructive impact that Richard Dwarkins and his ilk have had on the perception of atheism. That atheists should be able to be inspired by beautiful architecture dedicated to the wonders of the planet.

Naturally this has provoke some very mixed responses, with Richard Dwarkins being entirely negative, sayng that its a contradiction in terms and that the money would be better spent teaching children critical and scientific ways of thinking in schools. Some clergy have agreed thats its a contradiction in terms for atheists to have temples and some have rejoiced saying that the architecture will helt to bring a sense of trancendence.

I actually find myself agreeing with Dwarkins for once, that its a contradicition in terms, but I also get what De Botton's on about, that architecture can inspire and that he wants people to appreciate more the great age of the planet and our very small time here.

What do you people think, please try to stick to topic and lets not have another verbal ping pong match between atheists and theists?
The full article is in todays Guardian.

No doubt like all buildings of this ilk, it will cost an arm and a leg to get in to.

My first thoought on reading this was yea, more like a temple to capitalism, because unless somebody gets rich from the venture i doubt anybody will be interested.

If you have nobody to worship, why would you need a temple?

Is his name Dawkins?

Reminds me of the story in the newspapers last year sometime, apparently aetheism was going to be taught in some schools.

I can see the lesson going something like:-

"Good morning children, today's lesson is all about aetheism. There is no God."

Doesn't London have temples of atheism already? In my town they're called banks.

Is this the start of the Silly Season?

The guy's an idiot!

We atheists already have our 'temples' - they're called Libraries, Bookshops, Laboratories, Research Facilities, ect. Many of them are free to enter and their contents can be truly awe inspiring - for those who are seeking the 'truth'.

I have entered many a religious building and although I laugh at the reason for their construction I have stood in awe and wonderment at the skill, energy, and dedication that went into the construction of them and I doubt that those qualities could be replicated in a modern building!

As for Richard Dawkins being an 'aggressive' atheist well I have to disagree there. I have seen him in a few documentaries where he has confronted theists and I often thought "What a pussycat!" but I agree with Dawkin's philosophy that critical analytical thinking should be the cornerstone of our education - it's not just useful for sorting out religious dross but it also has its benefits in most, if not all, academic subjects.

Sometimes I do think, however, that atheism may benefit from a 'focal point' - like religions have their Houses of Worship but a Temple? WTF?




Jason.

"If you have nobody to worship, why would you need a temple?"

Exactly!

Funnily enough I'm not all that averse to the idea. I quite like churches and temples for their quietly contemplative character and whilst "worship" is a word that doesn't agree with me it would be nice to have such kind of places free of the idols and the images and whatever else and where one could celebrate human potential in all it's abundance and as it's never celebrated.
I'm aware that one can do that in nature but there's something about the inside architecture of churches and temples that I very much like and nature is nature. Human potential is the part of nature that relates to us, humans.

I haven't read the article so this are only preliminary thoughts.

My thoughts Lucy if one has no faith why meet up with others

Each to ones own , I suppose in this mixed up world of ours

Celt the lack of belief in gods has nothing to do with banks. I agree entirely with Jason. My temple is the planet especially were it is untouched by man.

I used to be a Christian but left because its rules and beliefs I gradually came to realise are totally stupid. For example they believe that only Christians will go to heaven, everyone else will go to hell. I suppose that includes all those born before Christ and all those brought up in other religions and in areas where Christianity is not practiced and preached.

I would say I believe in spirituality and the supernatural though so am not an atheist.

stonecastle, if you want to see the knots people got themselves tied up in over can people born before Christ go to heaven, then look at some of the medieval stuff on the subject. They had a whole narrative called the Harrowing of Hell, which I think took place between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, where Jesus went to hell and rescued all the Old Testament Prophets and such like and sent them to heaven.

I remember a talk by Sam Harris where he extolled the virtues of some religious buildings and the effect they have on the mind. He went on to say that there's no reason we couldn't have such buildings for meditation and to touch that which each individual knows to be far bigger in us than ourselves (some people call it god, some the universe, some people call it our connection with everything else) given that their architecture is supposed to do exactly that and given also that there are very palpable psychological benefits to be had from this.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons I'm not averse to the idea. I have more of a problem with relating such a building to atheists. No one is born a theist after all.

i say go Dwarkins.

and telling children they would go to purgatory because they bought icecream from Mighellas is good? sorry that finished me. When there is gnashing of teeth I will have none

excellent . bankers ...

I hadn't heard of this project, wonderoushen, but have just quickly read the article in The Guardian.
Mocha Soul's preliminary thoughts on the idea are similar to my initial thoughts.

Although I don't believe in or worship any gods, I do love spending time in cathedrals & temples ... there's something about soaring structures, like arches & spires, that tugs at my emotions and makes me feel uplifted.

I think Alain de Botton's idea of borrowing "the idea of awe-inspiring buildings that give people a better sense of perspective on life" is good but I am struggling with the actual purpose or focus of the building - that's the bit of the plan that seems a bit weak to me.
(and if all these property developers are willing to invest money in this project, I'm wondering what the quid pro quo will be? ... I know ... I'm a cynical atheist!)

I think I'd prefer to see more "awe-inspiring" architecture used in new buildings that are used for everyday purposes & business rather than a "temple of atheism"

When it comes to celebrating life, one of the contributors to The Guardian on-line Poll summed it up very nicely:
"We already have the Holy Trinity of Earth, Sea and Sky."

By the way there are so many dodgy and extreme passages in the Bible that I don't know how anyone who comes to know about them can remain a christian. Eveyone knows for example the passage in Levicticus which demands the death of practicing homosexuals, but that is just one of many. Other passages call for the stoning to death of rebellious children, the condoning of slavery etc.

Plus christians tend to be christians merely because they were brought up in that religion. If those people had been brought up in a muslim country they would be muslim, in a hindu country, hindus, in a buddhist country, buddhist etc. All these religions claim to be true, yet christians dismiss them as lies. So why should people give any weight to christianity when there are dozens of religions across the world all claiming to be true.

Christian beliefs are also not unique, previous religions believed in brotherly love, loving your enemy, even a trinity, christianity seems to be nothing more than a rehash of previous pagan religions.

'where Jesus went to hell and rescued all the Old Testament Prophets and such like and sent them to heaven. '

Don't ever give that idea to any of the software giants, you'll have an FPS game on PS3 & Xbox for it within a year!

Well, why not dedicate it to Wichard Dwarkins!