Atheists To Launch TV Channel And Assemblies May 16, 2014 | Tom Olago The New York Daily news has recently reported that a New Jersey-based atheist group is starting the first on-demand TV channel dedicated to godlessness. AtheistTV will be launched this summer by Members of American Atheists with big plans to reach out to atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and folks who are looking for a way out of faith. Spokesman Dave Muscato stated that they are also looking to fill the gap they perceive to be left by the lack of an atheist channel, given that there is “a glut of religious TV programming out there”. American Atheists already has a production studio at their national headquarters in Cranford, N.J., where they film their public access cable show “Atheist Viewpoint.” AtheistTV will make use of this content as well as their archive of footage from the past 50 years of its activist history. They also intend to work with other content providers such as the Richard Dawkins Foundation and atheist YouTube stars with big fan bases. The channel will reportedly be available through Roku, a WI-FI device that lets users stream from the Internet onto their TVs. Viewers will need to pay to get Roku, but subscribing to the channel will be free. More than 300 faith-based channels are available, featuring programming centered around Christian music, sermons, and worship services. American Atheists will attempt to define godless programming by having “shows about philosophy, science and history” with “a critical examination of the facts.” Muscato also hopes the channel will encourage people who doubt their faith to come out as atheist: “When somebody leaves their religion, they don’t necessarily know everything about the Big Bang…this will fill in the gaps in knowledge that pastors have left behind.” And it’s not just TV programming that atheists are looking to produce: the Daily Beast has recently reported that congregations for atheists are springing up all over the planet. In an article titled ‘Godless Church Services for Atheists Go Global’, it is reported that plans to set up almost 400 “atheist churches” on five continents are underway after the extraordinary success of one small congregation that began holding godless services just over a year ago. The atheistic churches have adopted the generic “Sunday Assembly” name and are typically described as such. Word about the religion-free church spread like wildfire after the first Sunday Assembly was held in a deconsecrated church in Highbury, North London, in January 2013. By this September, 100 congregations will be holding services from Singapore and South Africa to Sao Paulo and San Diego. A further 274 teams currently are working on plans to launch their own assemblies. So what exactly does an atheistic church or “Sunday Assembly” service look like? Their gatherings are said to resemble traditional church services, replicating the traditional church structure as it expands, with activities such as singing, clapping and dancing to secular songs. Also typically included are lessons and the chance to interact with members of the community. Only God is left out of what could easily pass for a normal traditional church service. The concept is said to be proving more popular than most other atheistic meeting structures as adherents are seemingly attracted to “such warmth and affection”. As Jones put it: “The thing that we’ve got is that we’re the only non-religious service that works. Rationality is part of it, but we also have the emotional connection…we are speaking to the whole human.” The church’s first General Assembly is being held this weekend with leaders from all over the world gathered in South London. Sanderson Jones, the group’s leader and CEO, said: “This is the first time we’re coming together like this,” he said. “We’ve had such a short time but I think we’re going to build something magnificent, something that’s going to last.” The group is reportedly currently growing by an impressive 26 per cent each month and plans to target the 1.1 billion “non-religious” people in the world. Jones vision includes having a godless congregation “in every town, city and village that wants one.” Part of the overall strategy towards achieving this, is said to include harnessing the organizational know-how and social interaction of more established institution such as the National Rifle Association. So what can be made of this global concerted effort by atheists to grow and gain converts? Clearly one way Satan can keep people out of heaven is by convincing them that God does not exist. Atheists and their ideologies are therefore the perfect mechanisms for spreading atheistic doctrine. Sadly, their only reward, and those of their unfortunate converts, will be eternal destruction. As Charles Spurgeon once preached, there are no atheists in hell. God’s view of the atheist true heart and attitude is clearly expressed in Psalms 53:1-5: The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God? 5 There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them. Should atheists know better? If so, how would they? The scriptures explain in Romans 1:18-20: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. And to those attempting to use atheism to fill a void in their lives, Jesus would simply say: 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Posted on: Fri, 16 May 2014 17:50:39 +0000
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