Alain de Botton the 43 year old Swiss British writer, philosopher, television presenter and entrepreneur who discusses various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life, claims to have launched the first Athiest Church in the UK, in the wake of a comedian led launch on an Atheist church in Canonbury. In an article published by Tom Marshall in the Islington Gazette titled ‘Nation’s first atheist church launches in Canonbury’, Marshall states “A Sunday gathering billed as the nation’s first-ever “atheist church” got off to a flying start this week – despite irking one the UK’s most famous non-believers who says he did it first. There was standing room only as some 200 people descended on the first congregation of the Sunday Assembly, cramming into an ex-church in St Paul’s Road, Canonbury. But writer and philosopher Alain de Botton, who is known as one of the most forthright atheists in the UK and last year published a book titled Religion for Atheists, told the Gazette that his organisation beat them to the punch. Mr de Botton, whose School of Life centre in Bloomsbury hosts Sunday gatherings of atheists, said: “We want to wish the comedians all the very best on their venture, while modestly adding that we have been ploughing this furrow for many years and they shouldn’t therefore claim the idea as their own …We wouldn’t want to start a schism so early on in the movement.” …Attendees enjoyed uplifting talks, readings, music and some time for quiet reflection, as founders and stand-up comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans led proceedings. Mr Jones said: “We’re huge fans of Alain’s and would love to get him down to talk, if he wants to … So many people turned up and were getting really excited, it was just overwhelming. It seems people just loved the idea and it far surpassed our hopes.”   Inspired by Tom Marshall, Islington Gazette ow.ly/gKBwH Image source Facebook ow.ly/gKBvZ A schism so early on in the movement (January 20 2013)

Alain de Botton the 43 year old Swiss British writer, philosopher, television presenter and entrepreneur who discusses various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy’s relevance to everyday life, claims to have launched the first Athiest Church in the UK, in the wake of a comedian led launch on an Atheist church in Canonbury. In an article published by Tom Marshall in the Islington Gazette titled ‘Nation’s first atheist church launches in Canonbury’, Marshall states “A Sunday gathering billed as the nation’s first-ever “atheist church” got off to a flying start this week – despite irking one the UK’s most famous non-believers who says he did it first. There was standing room only as some 200 people descended on the first congregation of the Sunday Assembly, cramming into an ex-church in St Paul’s Road, Canonbury. But writer and philosopher Alain de Botton, who is known as one of the most forthright atheists in the UK and last year published a book titled Religion for Atheists, told the Gazette that his organisation beat them to the punch. Mr de Botton, whose School of Life centre in Bloomsbury hosts Sunday gatherings of atheists, said: “We want to wish the comedians all the very best on their venture, while modestly adding that we have been ploughing this furrow for many years and they shouldn’t therefore claim the idea as their own …We wouldn’t want to start a schism so early on in the movement.” …Attendees enjoyed uplifting talks, readings, music and some time for quiet reflection, as founders and stand-up comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans led proceedings. Mr Jones said: “We’re huge fans of Alain’s and would love to get him down to talk, if he wants to … So many people turned up and were getting really excited, it was just overwhelming. It seems people just loved the idea and it far surpassed our hopes.”

 

Inspired by Tom Marshall, Islington Gazette ow.ly/gKBwH Image source Facebook ow.ly/gKBvZ