British philosopher and author Alain de Botton is taking his book ‘Religion For Atheists’ to the next stage, releasing plans for an atheist temple in London and setting up secular ‘seminaries’ in London and now in Melbourne, complete with ‘secular sermons’.

Design proposed for the first ‘Temple of Atheists’ Image: DeZeen

Last week, De Botton revealed plans to build a $1.5 million, 46-metre “temple for atheists” to assuage what he believes is the “aggressive” and “destructive” tone of Richard Dawkin’s approach to ‘new atheism.’

The first proposed structure, named the ‘Temple of Perspective’ is designed by UK architects Tom Greenall and Jordan Hodgson, and is outlined in de Botton’s Religion for Atheists.

“Why should religious people have the most beautiful buildings in the land?” de Botton asks. “It’s time atheists had their own versions of the great churches and cathedrals.”

“Normally a temple is to Jesus, Mary or Buddha, but you can build a temple to anything that’s positive and good,” de Botton told The Guardian. “That could mean a temple to love, friendship, calm or perspective.”

This is how the architects describe their vision for the new temple:

Standing 46-metres tall and in the heart of the City of London, the temple represents the entire history of life on earth: each centimetre of its height equates to one million years of life. One metre from the ground, a single line of gold – no more than a millimetre thick – represents the entire existence of humankind. A visit to the temple is intended to leave one with a renewed sense of perspective.

“Because of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens atheism has become known as a destructive force. But there are lots of people who don’t believe but aren’t aggressive towards religions,” says de Botton.

In response to De Botton’s temple announcement, Dawkins told The Guardian a temple for atheists was a “contradiction in terms” and a waste of money, which could have been used to promote secular education.

De Botton is unconvinced that ‘new atheism’ as practised by Richard Dawkins will ever be popular unless they develop a sense of nostalgia, providing buildings, rituals, communities and works of art and architecture that religions have always used.

Also required to make atheism more popular, says De Botton, is teaching.  His books include The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, How To Think more about Sex, The Art of Travel and The Architecture of Happiness, and he has opened what he not-so-modestly calls ‘The School of Life’ in London and Melbourne.

“The idea is to challenge traditional universities and reorganise knowledge, directing it towards life, and away from knowledge for its own sake. In a modest way, it’s an institution that is trying to give people what universities should I think always give them: a sense of direction and wisdom for their lives with the help of culture,” de Botton told Elia Kabanov, blogging for metkere.com.

The School of Life opened in Melbourne earlier this month, delivering courses de Botton says will cover art, philosophy, religion and history “that should guide us as the biblical books once did.”

“Culture is the next best to a religion,” he told The Broadsheet in Melbourne. The courses have two big themes: love and work. But what de Botton really wants to stress is his belief that is possible, as someone who does not believe in God, to feel empathy, to behave ethically and to not become individualistic.

“It is important to stress that it’s possible to believe in nothing and remember these vital lessons (just as one can be a deep believer and a monster).”

 Read a review of ‘Religion for Atheists’ by Centre for Public Christianity’s Simon Smart here.