A group of nonbelievers, who meet regularly as part of a congregation that worships bacon, has drawn more than 10,000 new members after offering free baptisms and weddings with the promise of solemnizing these ceremonies before something that is real. United Church of Bacon was set up in Las Vegas in 2010 by an atheist, John Whiteside, who said at the time he was disgusted with the discrimination that nonbelievers have to face in American society.
Recently, the church’s membership numbers shot up after the organization decided to offer free baptisms and wedding ceremonies on its website.
“Bacon lovers — we are truly blessed. The latest billboards for the United Church of Bacon in Las Vegas are advertising the organization's commitment to offering free, legal wedding ceremonies to all couples. Now the church has reported that membership has tripled in the last three months to more than 12,000 new converts,” read the organization's website.
United Church of Bacon has its own list of rules that are listed on its website. Mimicking the Ten Commandments, these rules are laid out on stone tablets. As one of the few quasi-religious organizations that have named themselves after a food or drug, United Church of Bacon issues titles to members, such as ‘funkmaster general’ and ‘bacon prophet’ while boasting of worshipping the meat because at least it is real.
In the past, one of the members of the organization has managed to get a lot of attention for creating an artwork that takes a direct dig at Christianity.
“Saving kids from stale crackers & communion wine since 2010,” it says.
Members of the group also advocate the separation of church and state in the United States.
“The skeptics' church has a serious intent, to fight religious discrimination against non-believers, to promote church-state separation, and to demand equal rights for everyone, regardless of faith,” read a statement from the group.
One of the latest billboards, funded by United Church of Bacon, shows support for America’s LGBT community.
“To our LGBT family and friends supporting freedom of expression since inception,” reads the billboard.
Photo Credits: United Church of Bacon
