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Learning from London's Atheist Church

The King has left the building.

Where do you go for connection when you don't believe? Looking to London might offer us a strange vision of things to come.

Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones, two British comedians, recently started an atheist "church" in London. "If church is going down in terms of attendance, how can we keep hold of these rituals that are part of our lives?" Evans asks. The pair decided to start something.

The Sunday Assembly is a "friendly community gathering for like-minded people" that meets once a month in a deconsecrated church. While Evans and Jones expected "about 20 people" for their opening Sunday, over 200 came. 300 came the next month.

What goes on in an average service? It varies, but looks a lot like the Christian churches around the corner—just without God. After welcomes and announcements, the congregation sings along to hits by Queen and Stevie Wonder with a live band, a message is brought by a guest speaker, and readings are shared. ...

March
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