A large portion--the majority, in fact--of atheists are former believers, and while I confess I do not miss attending church services even a little bit, many of the deconverted say the one thing they miss from their former lives is the "assembling of ourselves together." And there is indeed something profound in gathering together with like-minded people and being strengthened in your convictions though fellowship and discussion. So it is of no surprise that "atheist churches" are suddenly springing up as atheism's numbers swell. Personally, I attend atheist church every time I step foot in a museum or an art gallery, or emerge from my tent in the shadow of Half Dome. And while I have no desire to attend--frankly, I adore my lazy Sunday mornings--I particularly see the appeal of speakers "from economists to poets," but find the same experience every time I'm on YouTube, minus the personal interaction, which, of course, is the entire point of this gathering. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/21/sunday-assembly-is-the-hot-new-atheist-church.html

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