Calling all Atheists, Humanists and Science Fans

Abie Philbin Bowman introduces a “godless congregation that meets to hear great talks, sing songs and generally celebrate the wonder of life.” 

The Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation that celebrates being alive. We are born from nothing and go to nothing. So let’s enjoy the bit in the middle together! Scientific studies have found that there are real health benefits to attending church – it seems that singing with people, listening to a talk together and sharing a sense of community is psychologically and physically good for us.

So The Sunday Assembly is set up to get all the best bits of a church service, without god. A typical Sunday Assembly service might include a talk about the wonders of genetics and a rousing rendition of “I get by with a little help from my friends”.

One of our members is a Darwin fan, and likes to explain the Assembly using a metaphor from Evolution. If you think of a church service as a human body: singing together is the lungs;  the public address (or sermon) is the brain; the feeling of community is the heart; and God is the appendix.

Just as our bodies have evolved not to need the appendix, our reasoning has evolved to a point where we don’t need supernatural explanations. Just like an appendix, a lot of people walk around with a belief in God, and it may not be very useful, but nor is it damaging anyone. Unfortunately, in too many cases, an appendix/belief in God can become inflamed. Then it’s extremely dangerous and can actually kill you. So we think it’s safer to cut it out entirely.

The Sunday Assembly was started in London earlier this year, by two comedians and it completely took off. It’s now going global in its aim to establish “a godless congregation in every town, city and village that wants one.” Do you want to see a Sunday Assembly in Dublin? We do, and we’d love your help in founding a community on reason, science and wonder.

The first Assembly is took place in The Little Museum of Dublin, at 8pm on November 1st as part of a worldwide tour by the original founders (confusingly, this takes place on a Friday). After that,they aim to hold a regular monthly service in Dublin, on a Sunday.

Visit or contact www.littlemuseum.ie for more info.

We’ll need musicians, speakers, MCs, and people to help out with organising, publicity, queries and just general “stuff”.  If you’d like to help, we’d love to have you.

There’s a meeting for volunteers this Saturday, 21st of September at 2pm, in The Little Museum of Dublin, 15 St Stephen’s Green. If you’d like to read more about the Sunday Assembly,  here is their website and here is The Guardian on their global expansion…

If you’d like to attend the meeting this Saturday, please let us know you’re coming by emailing office AT littlemuseum.ie