Playing church. (catholic tastes).A project cooked up seven years ago by four former Catholic altar boys has become the prototype and model for a new type of "church" congregation around the country. The Irving, Texas-based "North Texas Church of Freethought The North Texas Church of Freethought (NTCoF) was founded in 1994 to serve the psychosocial needs of atheists, agnostics, and other non-religious people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It was joined a few years later by the Houston Church of Freethought. " (NTCOF NTCOF North Texas Church of Freethought ) describes itself as "a fellowship of unbelievers." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. its Web site (church. freethought.org), "Atheists, agnostics, humanists, doubters, skeptics, [and] freethinkers freethinkers, those who arrive at conclusions, particularly in questions of religion, by employing the rules of reason while rejecting supernatural authority or ecclesiastical tradition. ... have found themselves excluded from traditional church life in America.... Faith-based churches have enjoyed a near-monopoly in providing their members with a sense of community and a ready source of personal, emotional, and social enrichment and support." The NTCOF was conceived as an atheist ATHEIST. One who denies the existence of God. 2. As atheists have not any religion that can bind their consciences to speak the truth, they are excluded from being witnesses. Bull. N. P. 292; 1 Atk. 40; Gilb. Ev. 129; 1 Phil. Ev. 19. See also, Co. Litt. 6 b. alternative that offers the "benefits of traditional church membership to those who are uncomfortable with supernatural beliefs.... Unbelieving parents will find us an especially attractive option because we offer children a source of moral training and reinforcement free of supernatural promises and threats." NTCOF's monthly Sunday services last about an hour and are usually attended by 75 to 100 members. |
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