The North Texas Church of Freethought (NTCOF) was founded by Tim Gorski and Mike and Marilyn Sullivan in 1994 as perhaps the first explicitly non-theistic and non-supernaturalistic religious organization in the USA. Its aim has been to serve the psychosocial needs of atheists, agnostics, and other non-religious people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and to promote a rational and humanistic view of what have been traditionally "religious" issues and questions.[1][2][3] The first service was held at what was then the Wilson World hotel in Irving, Texas; currently they are held at the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Hotel DFW Airport North in Irving, Texas. Free childcare and Sunday School classes have been an integral part of the NTCOF's mission.[4]
Since March 2000 the Houston Church of Freethought has pursued the same goals and provided the same services in that city. A Northern California Church of Freethought was briefly in existence around 1999, but has since disbanded.[5]
On May 18, 2006, the Texas State Comptroller's office granted tax-exempt status to the NTCOF as a result of actions taken by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which had previously secured tax-exempt status for the Ethical Society of Austin.[6] This status had been previously denied to the NTCOF and other non-traditional churches because they did not profess "a belief in God, or gods, or a higher power."[7]
Because the NTCOF characterizes itself as a church, it has been the subject of mixed opinion by atheist groups; for example, an attempted donation to American Atheists was once rejected,[8] and Paul Kurtz, founder of the Council for Secular Humanism, discouraged the NTCOF founders when they approached him with their idea.[9] However, the Atheist Alliance International in 2000 published a press release defending the NTCOF against perceived media bias from a Dallas-area television news story.[10] The NTCOF takes the position that churches are simply units of social organization, intermediate between those of the family and the larger community, that are based on deeply felt shared beliefs concerning "matters of ultimate concern."[11] NTCOF Officiants have conducted marriages, naming ceremonies, and funerals/remembrances.
^"Who Said You Have to Believe to Attend Church?" (2000-07-13). BeliefNet.com. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
^Embree, Stephanie (2014-08-08). "Atheist Churches Provide a Community for Dallas Nonbelievers." The Dallas Morning News (DallasNews.com). Retrieved 2014-12-20.
^Sanburn, Josh (2014-07-24). "Atheist Churches Gain Popularity Even in the Bible Belt." Time.com. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
^Collier, Lorna (2000-10-22). "A Solitary Project: Some Parents Build a Family Without a Religious Foundation." Chicago Tribune, Health and Family. Reproduced online at LornaCollier.com. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
^"Do Atheists Need a Church of Their Own? -- New York Magazine - Nymag". 18 April 2008.
^. Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
^"Paul Tillich and the Supreme Court: Tillich's "Ultimate Concern" as a Standard in Judicial Interpretation". jcs.oxfordjournals.org. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
^. Archived from the original on 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
January 01, 1970
north, texas, church, freethought, ntcof, founded, gorski, mike, marilyn, sullivan, 1994, perhaps, first, explicitly, theistic, supernaturalistic, religious, organization, been, serve, psychosocial, needs, atheists, agnostics, other, religious, people, dallas,. The North Texas Church of Freethought NTCOF was founded by Tim Gorski and Mike and Marilyn Sullivan in 1994 as perhaps the first explicitly non theistic and non supernaturalistic religious organization in the USA Its aim has been to serve the psychosocial needs of atheists agnostics and other non religious people in the Dallas Fort Worth area and to promote a rational and humanistic view of what have been traditionally religious issues and questions 1 2 3 The first service was held at what was then the Wilson World hotel in Irving Texas currently they are held at the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Hotel DFW Airport North in Irving Texas Free childcare and Sunday School classes have been an integral part of the NTCOF s mission 4 North Texas Church of FreethoughtCompany typechurchFounded1994 Dallas Texas U S HeadquartersDallas TexasKey peopleTim Gorski MD Pastoral DirectorWebsitewww churchoffreethought orgSince March 2000 the Houston Church of Freethought has pursued the same goals and provided the same services in that city A Northern California Church of Freethought was briefly in existence around 1999 but has since disbanded 5 On May 18 2006 the Texas State Comptroller s office granted tax exempt status to the NTCOF as a result of actions taken by Americans United for Separation of Church and State which had previously secured tax exempt status for the Ethical Society of Austin 6 This status had been previously denied to the NTCOF and other non traditional churches because they did not profess a belief in God or gods or a higher power 7 Because the NTCOF characterizes itself as a church it has been the subject of mixed opinion by atheist groups for example an attempted donation to American Atheists was once rejected 8 and Paul Kurtz founder of the Council for Secular Humanism discouraged the NTCOF founders when they approached him with their idea 9 However the Atheist Alliance International in 2000 published a press release defending the NTCOF against perceived media bias from a Dallas area television news story 10 The NTCOF takes the position that churches are simply units of social organization intermediate between those of the family and the larger community that are based on deeply felt shared beliefs concerning matters of ultimate concern 11 NTCOF Officiants have conducted marriages naming ceremonies and funerals remembrances The NTCOF filed an amicus curiae brief in 2004 for Elk Grove Unified School District v Newdow supporting Michael Newdow s argument Newdow has also founded a secular church the First Atheist Church of True Science FACTS 12 External links editNorth Texas Church of Freethought Houston Oasis DFW Coalition of Reason United Coalition of ReasonReferences edit Who Said You Have to Believe to Attend Church 2000 07 13 BeliefNet com Retrieved 2014 12 20 Embree Stephanie 2014 08 08 Atheist Churches Provide a Community for Dallas Nonbelievers The Dallas Morning News DallasNews com Retrieved 2014 12 20 Sanburn Josh 2014 07 24 Atheist Churches Gain Popularity Even in the Bible Belt Time com Retrieved 2014 12 20 Collier Lorna 2000 10 22 A Solitary Project Some Parents Build a Family Without a Religious Foundation Chicago Tribune Health and Family Reproduced online at LornaCollier com Retrieved 2015 01 10 Northern California Church of Freethought Webpage archived Americans United Helps Texas church Of Freethought Win Tax exempt Status Press release 2006 05 26 AU org Retrieved 2015 01 10 Texas official says Unitarian church not a tax exempt religion 18 May 2004 http jscms jrn columbia edu cns 2008 04 15 horowitz atheistchurches bare URL Do Atheists Need a Church of Their Own New York Magazine Nymag 18 April 2008 Atheist Alliance International Archived from the original on 2007 11 05 Retrieved 2009 01 22 Paul Tillich and the Supreme Court Tillich s Ultimate Concern as a Standard in Judicial Interpretation jcs oxfordjournals org Archived from the original on 12 August 2014 Retrieved 3 February 2022 Evolve FISH 800 386 5846 Michael Newdow Archived from the original on 2013 02 28 Retrieved 2016 02 09 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North Texas Church of Freethought amp oldid 1183137730, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
