When I tell people, in one breath, that I’m an atheist and I attend church, I often encounter arched eyebrows and a smirk.  When I qualify my statement by explaining that it’s a Unitarian church, occasionally those arched eyebrows return to a relaxed position.  Yet I’m sure that many people don’t understand. Here’s why I attend:

1. The sermons are thought-provoking.  They are usually a solid 15 or twenty minutes and they address a wide range of topics that deal with how we live in the real world, including science, art, diet, and family relationships.
   
   
2. The Unitarian Universalist religion is non-denominational, creedless, non-religious, and non-theist.  Perfect “religion” for an atheist!
   
   
3. It’s a place to observe and interact with people at various stages of life.  Children and young adults are exposed to meaningful values, and are encouraged to develop their own philosophies.  By speaking with older members, the “sandwich generation” can get first-hand information on subjects such as caring for an elderly parent.
   
   
4. We participate and contribute to worthwhile programs like Emmanuel Dining Room, Black Lives Matter, and Independent Living for Young Adults (a program for people aging out of foster care).
   
   
5. It’s a community.  We offer emotional support to members who may be facing challenges or going through rough times (as we all will eventually experience). 
   
   
6. There are many opportunities to join small groups and meet interesting people - discussion groups, book clubs, brown bag lunch groups, and choir, for example.

Not everyone who attends First U is an atheist.  Some people call themselves humanist, or agnostic - and some people believe in gods of different shapes and sizes.  No one will challenge your non-belief, but they may engage you to find out more about it! And you will always be welcomed as a full-fledged participant in our church (which by the way is officially the First Unitarian Society of Wilmington, Delaware).  

I’m still discovering - or inventing - the meaning of “church.”

Interested in visiting?  Our Sunday services are at 10:30am with coffee hour afterwards at 11:30am.  You can also sign up to get the First U weekly newsletter here:

Hope to see you at First U soon!