Sunday [Secular] Assembly.
Very Interesting!
Just found this in Atlanta, Georgia. They say they want chapters everywhere....that would be nice. I need to check it out, though I am not a "Joiner" by nature.
Used to be one a little over an hour from me, and I'm neither a joiner nor very social myself, so that wasn't going to happen. Just looked and that one is gone. Nearest one now is 2 hours away and their facebook page is deleted. That leaves one nearly 4 hours away ... again, just isn't going to happen. If there were one in my community -- if, like the local UU church, it were a five minute drive or a twenty minute walk away -- I'd check it out. Might go once in awhile. Nothing would probably come of it though.
I think this is the problem with atheism, it's like herding cats. It's too narrow a basis to form a sustainable community around. This Atlanta-area assembly seems to recognize that, they have moved away from identifying specifically with atheism, their differentiation is they "don't do woo", don't discuss the supernatural, but if you're agnostic or theist and want to hang out, fine. Also, they meet once a month rather than weekly.
Yep, you hit the nail on the head. hardcore Atheists tend to be very highly independent, and while not unsociable, they don't have a strong need to be social. So, yes, they are like herding cats.
I tried to set-up an Atheist group through MeetUp.com. I had about 20 local members (another 18 from all over the country?). I arranged some meeting at restaurants so we could get to know each other over some food...but only one person showed up. After a while, I gave up.
A representation of their activities...