Why Skeptics in the Pub is not "Church for Atheists"

I know that there's at least a few of my friends that feel this way -- that my efforts in skepticism are basically my replacement for religion.

Here's what happens at Skeptics in the Pub: I go to the pub and hang out with like minded people, drink a few beers and talk about science, politics, social issues, and basically shoot the shit with people that I would like to become closer to. This is not much different than any social gathering, and admittedly it's not unlike what many believers do in their Sunday church gatherings. But there is one big difference.

That big difference is that there is no doctrine, and no truths are taken for granted. Churches usually reinforce preheld beliefs through scriptures and sermons, and in many modern churches, through music and pop culture elements. When we meet as skeptics, we get together and talk, offer our opinions and open our minds to new ideas because new ideas tend to always get exposed.

Today, I chatted with my peers about sexism and gender roles, dealing with death and loss, the heroes in our lives, the doomsday predictions of the year, and the difference between how we behave online versus in person, among other things. Each of these issues was approached with opinions going in, but we all seemed to gain some insight into contrary points of view by hashing things out, playing devil's advocate, and genuinely disagreeing about certain issues until mutual understanding could bring us to a form of consensus. Doesn't sound much like doctrine, closed-mindedness and faith to me.

The main criticisms and comments about my skeptical attitude are "It takes just as much faith to be an atheist" and "Skepticism is just like his religion" (as if to say, "my views as a spiritual person are just as valid as your views as a skeptic just because we have similar ways of thinking), but I think this is intellectually dishonest, and ignores the disagreements we have. For example: if someone believes that 9/11 was a conspiracy enacted by the US government, and I do not, we disagree completely. Our ways of thinking, even if they were similar (which they are not) do not excuse the fact that we are at odds on this issue. Agreeing to disagree may sound like the most diplomatic and respectful solution to our problems, but it gets us nowhere and advances nothing.

Skeptics in the pub is very casual, and represents the more communal aspect of what many churches may do, but there really is nothing about it that reinforces my preheld beliefs about the way things work, nor does it make me any stronger in my conviction that the nonsense advertised by pseudo-scientists and theologians is bullshit; the conversations we have always challenge my assumptions and remind me of how humble I really ought to be. I always find myself inspired that I should question things more.

When was the last time, in your church, that you were told not to just accept the preacher's content at face value? When was the last time anyone said to you, "you know that Jesus thing? You ought to question whether or not it's really true." Chances are, never. If so, I'm very impressed with your church, and I'd love to invite the priest out to the pub some day for a glass of Christ's blood to mull over the biggest issues of our day. Unfortunately, the clergy want nothing to do with that discussion, and would rather preach to the flock that which has already been proven bunk by the best of the skeptical community, ignoring we exist at all.

There's nothing I'd love more than to have a panel discussion with people that disagree with me right there at the pub. Think I'm closed minded? Arrogant? Unable to listen to the other side? Try me.