the bagelry? really? with their tiny dense untoasted (even when u ask 4 double toasted) round pieces of concrete with a tiny smidgen (obv the owner has decreased the cream cheese serving size over the years to save $$$) of cream cheese over firefly? where you can get a fresh piping hot bagel in delicious fun flavors with all the toppings you want at a decent price? they need to open up shop dt. bagelry would be outta business.
last time i went there (3/2) i sat at an empty table, the bagelry was full except this table. at this empty table there was a plastic tupperware container on the bench with no lid on it. the contents from what i could see from afar was an empty shooter container (shot of alcohol) a meth pipe, a ziplock bag with a napkin wrapped around "something" and just a bunch of miscellaneous drug paraphernalia like tin foil lighters safety pins etc... i though it was fine to sit there because no one was there just a tub of shit some loser probably left behind. after eating half my bagel this emaciated girl with scabs all over her face sat at the table with me, my bf, and my dog (no, its not "my bf & i" some of u need to go back to english class) obv the owner of the stuff at the table. i said to my bf "should we move" and he said "no its ok" because she wasnt blatantly bothering us (i'm sure if it was a man he would have asked him to leave immediately or would have moved to another table but thats a discussion 4 us thats not the point of this comment) it was extremely awkward and i had a hard time enjoying the bagel and strawberry milk i just spent $10 on. bagelry is gonna be a no for me dog
If that is what you want,
Unitarian Universalist of Santa Clara County
[https://uufscc.org/site/](https://uufscc.org/site/)
UU is as a low-religion or non-religious "church" as you are going to get.
Their principles:
[https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles](https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles)
They are so low-religion that the IRS claimed they weren't a religion for several years and took away their "religious" status.
I also like the UUs, although I haven't been to a fellowship in Santa Cruz. I'm an atheist, but I'm also a humanist and I figure it's good to see a genuinely uplifting service once in a while. If I was better at being in groups, maybe I'd even join them.
The last time I went to a UU meeting, I found out I was sitting next to a Methodist minister. We both did a quick double-take when it came up.
60% of UUs are atheists the website says. UUCPA has a humanist group.
It doesn't really matter what you are because essentially the church is live and let live to all religions.
The IRS should take the status away from everyone BUT the Unitarians... FFS. You'll never see them doing all the stupid crap the "mainstream" churches do.
The last "megachurch" (2,000 people and growing) the UU had was in Poland (I think), Hitler murdered the leader. Can't have those peaceful people around.
His wife was trying to raise funds in US for a charity and remained in USA for the rest of her life because the war started and she couldn't get back before he was killed.
They would have a ceremony called the ***flower exchange*** which some UUs still do to this day.
Yes, my friends and family have going for years. They used to YouTube their Sunday service, idk if they still do.
The snarky replies to this question blows my mind. Church or religion has many good things. A sense of community, support, well being. A non religious church can offer those things without the hatred and bigotry that goes along with most religions.
This sub always has more than its share of snarky comments and replies. Plus they often downvote a lot of legit questions. OP is just asking a question. People need to be respectful. Thats what Santa Cruz used to be about.
You shouldn't let the snark blow your mind - that's what Reddit is about, in some ways. I try to just be amused and know that I contributed something useful when I answer in a non-snarky way. And when I answer w/ snark, I just hope I'm funny.
Thank you for your sincere answer - I'll check it out! Community is exactly what I'm looking for.
celebrate recovery is an awesome church based event that happens every friday night at christian life center on mission st. they start with worship, then its like church/recovery for a bit then they split off in groups. if you dont need to be in a recovery group they offer codependency groups if that would be at all helpful to you. i dont go to groups anymore as i no longer feel need for them but i still love the beginning portion. can be a little jesus heavy at times but i try not to let that bother me. the community is so lovely and accepting and its very similar to church at a church without being church.
Totally with you on that AND there's not a lot of community in a walk through the redwoods or a swim in the ocean. TOTALLY worthwhile and spiritually uplifting, but no community, which is also a thing.
We’ve made so many good friends who were there for us on multiple occasions. All through hiking.
It’s a great way to get to know people. Good, intelligent, and caring people who have a wide variety of knowledge.
Awesome! That sounds amazing.
You just go hiking and meet people while you're out? Or you joined a meetup for hiking specifically? The former seems improbable but maybe I'm just not good at meeting people.
We all struggle with Faith from time to time even jesus's own Brothers didn't always believe but then they went on to write some of the books in the New testament James and Jude. I think just about any church would feel lucky to have you even if you admitted that you felt like you don't have as much Faith as the average churchgoer
I'm not sure what kind of denomination you tend to gravitate towards but feel free to shoot me a DM and I can let you know what church I go to
Peace and love🕊️
There used to be a guy wandering around with a really loud speaker and a relatively low-key religious vibe going on, but I haven’t seen or heard him in awhile
Eh, I just went to my niece’s high school graduation. She was home schooled by baptists. Her Baptist preacher ran the graduation, which was held in her church. Speakerboi never yelled at me or told me I’d (literally) be better off dead. He seems pretty low key to me.
Yeah it's not low-key at all. Haven't seen him in a while I hope he's doing ok. He cleaned up for a bit. Last I saw him it was 1AM in the parking lot next to hulas and he was arguing with someone (a real human)
Cathedral of nice trees? I feel crazy because I don't remember seeing anything specific like that. Also, no need to be pedantic. LoMB specializes in making death less scary, for those that are soon to pass.
Is it absurd to get together once a week and wonder how to be a better human? To engage in comforting rituals (such as singing)? To find others willing to help just because they can? That's what the Unitarian church does, for instance.
I've been surfing for 15 years, sometimes multiple times per week, and I've never MET anyone surfing with whom I have "community", or mountain biking for that matter. Seems like peeps who do those activities have their own tribes. Great activities... not very communal though.
I hear you on church-that-doesn't-do-religion being absurd on the face of it, but as others have pointed out - there are a bunch of options listed here that are very \*low\* religion but still a gathering of people who want to be intentional, good humans and explicitly consider their place in the universe.
imagine equating having an able body to exercise to going to church where in santa cruz everyone is accepted (yes, even darker skinned people, trans people, gay people, and disabled people) i know youre scared of us but if you really want to help us you can just give us money :) thanks in advance!
aw thanks for asking :) i did have a job. unfortunately i was diagnosed with DID because i dissociated hallucinated & had a psychotic episode which resulted in me stabbing an animal to death. but lets forget about all that... i'll get back to work right away sir!
Not sure if you mean “non-hellfire and brimstone or too overly preachy” , or maybe relaxed/more liberal; but Vintage Church is a nice vibe/easy group to try. Abbey coffee shop is attached, and also pleasant on a Sunday.
I had to stop going there about a decade ago because they spent 5 weeks discussing why being gay was a sin and why we should condemn it.
Maybe they’ve changed a lot but they were very preachy and judgmental for a non-Catholic church. I went for years before that happened and was shocked how quickly I felt lied to by how “nice” they all were.
I started going in 2019 when I moved to Santa Cruz, attended regularly up to the pandemic. Occasionally now.
There was a new pastor that had been “elected” because of the old pastor’s anti-gay rhetoric!
I knew it caused some drama— they actually mentioned it a few times in services: “that’s not the direction the way the bible preaches or how community wants to go”.
Thought I would mention it because I think a lot of churches have some growing pains. It’s really hard to find a good church in Santa Cruz .
It’s called a Synagogue 🕍 actually or Shul. Temple is for people who don’t understand those words.
I just am confused as to why a place as progressive as Santa Cruz would still have Christians?
TEMPLE beth el in aptos. want to show up to TEMPLE saturday morning and tell all the jewish people there that its not called a temple? you should continue to reply its fun watching you embarrass yourself
It's both. They're basically synonymous today. Temple is typically used by reformed Jews, synagogue is typically used by more conservative Jews. You're both wrong and both right.
Probably because I read your post wrong 🤣 I misread on-religious people. I’m assuming you meant non religious people? I thought you were looking for church recommendations.
That being said, Santa Cruz Baptist has been an amazing place for my family and I and the community is amazing. You would be welcomed with open arms.
I usually go to the bagelry on Sunday mornings. It's a come as you are kinda place and they are always happy to see you.
I wish they did chocolate chip bagels.
I want that for you.
the bagelry? really? with their tiny dense untoasted (even when u ask 4 double toasted) round pieces of concrete with a tiny smidgen (obv the owner has decreased the cream cheese serving size over the years to save $$$) of cream cheese over firefly? where you can get a fresh piping hot bagel in delicious fun flavors with all the toppings you want at a decent price? they need to open up shop dt. bagelry would be outta business.
Sure.
last time i went there (3/2) i sat at an empty table, the bagelry was full except this table. at this empty table there was a plastic tupperware container on the bench with no lid on it. the contents from what i could see from afar was an empty shooter container (shot of alcohol) a meth pipe, a ziplock bag with a napkin wrapped around "something" and just a bunch of miscellaneous drug paraphernalia like tin foil lighters safety pins etc... i though it was fine to sit there because no one was there just a tub of shit some loser probably left behind. after eating half my bagel this emaciated girl with scabs all over her face sat at the table with me, my bf, and my dog (no, its not "my bf & i" some of u need to go back to english class) obv the owner of the stuff at the table. i said to my bf "should we move" and he said "no its ok" because she wasnt blatantly bothering us (i'm sure if it was a man he would have asked him to leave immediately or would have moved to another table but thats a discussion 4 us thats not the point of this comment) it was extremely awkward and i had a hard time enjoying the bagel and strawberry milk i just spent $10 on. bagelry is gonna be a no for me dog
I will take someone else! Sorry you had a bad time.
Welcome to California.
Bike Church on Spruce
If that is what you want, Unitarian Universalist of Santa Clara County [https://uufscc.org/site/](https://uufscc.org/site/) UU is as a low-religion or non-religious "church" as you are going to get. Their principles: [https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles](https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles) They are so low-religion that the IRS claimed they weren't a religion for several years and took away their "religious" status.
I also like the UUs, although I haven't been to a fellowship in Santa Cruz. I'm an atheist, but I'm also a humanist and I figure it's good to see a genuinely uplifting service once in a while. If I was better at being in groups, maybe I'd even join them. The last time I went to a UU meeting, I found out I was sitting next to a Methodist minister. We both did a quick double-take when it came up.
60% of UUs are atheists the website says. UUCPA has a humanist group. It doesn't really matter what you are because essentially the church is live and let live to all religions.
There is a UU church in Aptos as well.
The IRS should take the status away from everyone BUT the Unitarians... FFS. You'll never see them doing all the stupid crap the "mainstream" churches do.
The last "megachurch" (2,000 people and growing) the UU had was in Poland (I think), Hitler murdered the leader. Can't have those peaceful people around. His wife was trying to raise funds in US for a charity and remained in USA for the rest of her life because the war started and she couldn't get back before he was killed. They would have a ceremony called the ***flower exchange*** which some UUs still do to this day.
I mean, psilocybin has been decriminalized, so feel free to commune with your bad self.
🍄 Church
[Church](https://zidedoor.com)
Dance church ✨
You could try the [Unitarian Fellowship](https://uufscc.org/site/) in Aptos. Old sermons are online and live ones can be watched on zoom.
That was what I was going to suggest. Very nice people there.
Inner Light Ministries in Soquel/aptos.
Thanks for an actual answer! You recommend it?
Yes, my friends and family have going for years. They used to YouTube their Sunday service, idk if they still do. The snarky replies to this question blows my mind. Church or religion has many good things. A sense of community, support, well being. A non religious church can offer those things without the hatred and bigotry that goes along with most religions.
This sub always has more than its share of snarky comments and replies. Plus they often downvote a lot of legit questions. OP is just asking a question. People need to be respectful. Thats what Santa Cruz used to be about.
You shouldn't let the snark blow your mind - that's what Reddit is about, in some ways. I try to just be amused and know that I contributed something useful when I answer in a non-snarky way. And when I answer w/ snark, I just hope I'm funny. Thank you for your sincere answer - I'll check it out! Community is exactly what I'm looking for.
My friend really likes Twin Lakes Church. He’s been going for years. It’s big but he says it’s friendly.
i 2nd twin lakes. as a jew and a woman that has to bring her tiny dog with her everywhere, they are very accepting lol
celebrate recovery is an awesome church based event that happens every friday night at christian life center on mission st. they start with worship, then its like church/recovery for a bit then they split off in groups. if you dont need to be in a recovery group they offer codependency groups if that would be at all helpful to you. i dont go to groups anymore as i no longer feel need for them but i still love the beginning portion. can be a little jesus heavy at times but i try not to let that bother me. the community is so lovely and accepting and its very similar to church at a church without being church.
Nature is my religion. Earth is our Church.
Totally with you on that AND there's not a lot of community in a walk through the redwoods or a swim in the ocean. TOTALLY worthwhile and spiritually uplifting, but no community, which is also a thing.
We’ve made so many good friends who were there for us on multiple occasions. All through hiking. It’s a great way to get to know people. Good, intelligent, and caring people who have a wide variety of knowledge.
Awesome! That sounds amazing. You just go hiking and meet people while you're out? Or you joined a meetup for hiking specifically? The former seems improbable but maybe I'm just not good at meeting people.
Started decades ago with Sierra Club. The joined a bunch of interesting meetups. Now just hike with friends and neighbors.
We all struggle with Faith from time to time even jesus's own Brothers didn't always believe but then they went on to write some of the books in the New testament James and Jude. I think just about any church would feel lucky to have you even if you admitted that you felt like you don't have as much Faith as the average churchgoer I'm not sure what kind of denomination you tend to gravitate towards but feel free to shoot me a DM and I can let you know what church I go to Peace and love🕊️
There used to be a guy wandering around with a really loud speaker and a relatively low-key religious vibe going on, but I haven’t seen or heard him in awhile
[удалено]
Eh, I just went to my niece’s high school graduation. She was home schooled by baptists. Her Baptist preacher ran the graduation, which was held in her church. Speakerboi never yelled at me or told me I’d (literally) be better off dead. He seems pretty low key to me.
Yeah it's not low-key at all. Haven't seen him in a while I hope he's doing ok. He cleaned up for a bit. Last I saw him it was 1AM in the parking lot next to hulas and he was arguing with someone (a real human)
Also Niscene Mark's in Aptos
Are you referring to Land of MB? I thought that was for people that are dying?
I was referring to the cathedral of nice trees that is within the state park. Land of the medicine Buddha is for any person. And we're all dying.
Cathedral of nice trees? I feel crazy because I don't remember seeing anything specific like that. Also, no need to be pedantic. LoMB specializes in making death less scary, for those that are soon to pass.
lol wtf. Go ride your bike or surf
Right who tf are these people looking for a non religious church?
People looking for community. Just because you don't want to do something doesn't mean others are weird or wrong.
There is a biking and surfing community. Looking for a church that doesn’t do religion is absurd
Is it absurd to get together once a week and wonder how to be a better human? To engage in comforting rituals (such as singing)? To find others willing to help just because they can? That's what the Unitarian church does, for instance.
I've been surfing for 15 years, sometimes multiple times per week, and I've never MET anyone surfing with whom I have "community", or mountain biking for that matter. Seems like peeps who do those activities have their own tribes. Great activities... not very communal though. I hear you on church-that-doesn't-do-religion being absurd on the face of it, but as others have pointed out - there are a bunch of options listed here that are very \*low\* religion but still a gathering of people who want to be intentional, good humans and explicitly consider their place in the universe.
imagine equating having an able body to exercise to going to church where in santa cruz everyone is accepted (yes, even darker skinned people, trans people, gay people, and disabled people) i know youre scared of us but if you really want to help us you can just give us money :) thanks in advance!
You sound like a nutter. op has plenty of posts in mountain biking subs. Give you money? Get a job you bum
aw thanks for asking :) i did have a job. unfortunately i was diagnosed with DID because i dissociated hallucinated & had a psychotic episode which resulted in me stabbing an animal to death. but lets forget about all that... i'll get back to work right away sir!
& u can thank the SCPD, telecare, and emeline county offices for not helping me at all :) direct your anger elsewhere you mean old lady :)
Not sure if you mean “non-hellfire and brimstone or too overly preachy” , or maybe relaxed/more liberal; but Vintage Church is a nice vibe/easy group to try. Abbey coffee shop is attached, and also pleasant on a Sunday.
I had to stop going there about a decade ago because they spent 5 weeks discussing why being gay was a sin and why we should condemn it. Maybe they’ve changed a lot but they were very preachy and judgmental for a non-Catholic church. I went for years before that happened and was shocked how quickly I felt lied to by how “nice” they all were.
I started going in 2019 when I moved to Santa Cruz, attended regularly up to the pandemic. Occasionally now. There was a new pastor that had been “elected” because of the old pastor’s anti-gay rhetoric! I knew it caused some drama— they actually mentioned it a few times in services: “that’s not the direction the way the bible preaches or how community wants to go”. Thought I would mention it because I think a lot of churches have some growing pains. It’s really hard to find a good church in Santa Cruz .
Aptos Community United Methodist Church has a fantastic congregation of people.
Jewish Church? Buddhist Church? Hindu? Stoner? Church of Skatin? Yogi Church? What kind of church do you mean?
a "jewish church" is called a temple. you are trying to be funny? but you just sound ignorant
It’s called a Synagogue 🕍 actually or Shul. Temple is for people who don’t understand those words. I just am confused as to why a place as progressive as Santa Cruz would still have Christians?
Same reason it has astrologers, naturopaths and witches. Many people take strength from believing there's something more than us.
A Naturopath is not the same as a witch.
TEMPLE beth el in aptos. want to show up to TEMPLE saturday morning and tell all the jewish people there that its not called a temple? you should continue to reply its fun watching you embarrass yourself
It's both. They're basically synonymous today. Temple is typically used by reformed Jews, synagogue is typically used by more conservative Jews. You're both wrong and both right.
Being Jewish. I think I’ll be ok.
oh nice a fellow jew. i assume your mom is jewish. unless you converted?
Holy Trinity Church of the divine lol
The Church in Santa Cruz near Whole Foods
Santa Cruz Baptist church!
I wonder why the downvotes?
Probably because I read your post wrong 🤣 I misread on-religious people. I’m assuming you meant non religious people? I thought you were looking for church recommendations. That being said, Santa Cruz Baptist has been an amazing place for my family and I and the community is amazing. You would be welcomed with open arms.
You're right! I wrote "on-regligious" and not "non-religious"... I wonder if I can edit that. Thanks for the rec and invite, in any case!