> It's like church, but without the god thing.

That's like saying it's like an omelette without eggs or soup without water.

"Going to church" is much more than worship of a god-being. Being part of a community is important. Church helps with that.

This is absolutely what I mean--having a group that cuts across a different set of sociodemographic characteristics than I otherwise encounter regularly. The shared struggle of the whole thing also makes it a pretty close-knit group.

There is a higher purpose involved, it's just not a deity. A church is a society wound around a higher purpose.

You might not be aware of the fact that there ARE godless religions - for example buddism.

> omelette without eggs or soup without water

Those sound like interesting recipes to me. Water is fine though, as long as it isn't fluoridated.