The Rise of Atheist Churches?

Summary

The video examines the growth of “godless churches”: communities for atheists, agnostics, humanists, and others without a religious affiliation. These groups offer fellowship and shared practices often associated with churches.

The growing “nones”

The video uses nones—not “nuns”—to describe people who select “no religion” on surveys. This broad group includes atheists, agnostics, humanists, and people who describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. The video cites a figure of 23.1% of the U.S. population identifying as unaffiliated, compared with 22.8% identifying as evangelical Christians.

A need for community and meaning

Lack of traditional religious belief does not necessarily mean a lack of interest in belonging, ritual, or life’s major questions. People may still seek support in raising children, facing serious illness, mourning, and marking important moments.

Anthony Pinn’s idea of “churches for the godless”

Religious studies scholar Anthony Pinn describes these groups as offering structures for relationships and shared rituals, as well as ways to celebrate life’s high points and mourn its losses. Their aim is to help make life meaningful without relying on belief in God.

Two examples

• Sunday Assembly began in 2013, founded by two British stand-up comedians. Its gatherings include songs, games, comedy, and other communal activities. The video describes it as having no formal doctrine, sacred texts, or rules about how members should live.
• Houston Oasis is presented as more explicitly humanist and more similar in form to a traditional service, though without scripture or appeals to revelation. Meetings include discussions of “real-world principles,” emphasizing people over beliefs and human action—not prayer or divine intervention—as a way to address problems.

Humanism

Pinn defines humanism as a way of life without belief in gods that places responsibility for human life and ethics on people themselves, in relation to other forms of life.

Can these groups be called religious?

The video does not offer a definitive answer. Pinn argues that if religion is understood as “binding together,” shared community and identity can be religious even without gods. On that view, these gatherings may be forms of godless religiosity: communities that wrestle with fundamental questions of existence and create meaning together.

Why the distinction matters

These groups challenge assumptions that religion must involve supernatural beings, creeds, or worship of a deity. Their existence invites reconsideration of terms such as religion, church, worship, and ritual. The video also notes that such communities are not limited to highly liberal cities; the examples include Houston, in the Bible Belt.

Speakers and sources featured

• Narrator and host: Andrew Mark Henry, the video’s presenter.
• Dr. Anthony Pinn: Religious studies scholar interviewed at Rice University.
• Houston Oasis: Presented as an example of a humanist community. A member is mentioned as having been interviewed, but that interview is not included in the supplied subtitles.
• Sunday Assembly: Discussed as an example of a secular communal gathering.
• Sacred Writes and Northeastern University: Acknowledged in the opening as supporting the video.
• Patreon supporters: Also acknowledged in the opening.