Skeptics Welcome is not a class or a program with an end date. Press Services

Portland Church Launches "Skeptics Welcome" Initiative for Doubters and the Religiously Wary

Portland, United States - July 24, 2026 / Counterculture Church /

PORTLAND, Ore. - July 21, 2026 - Counterculture Church has launched Skeptics Welcome, an ongoing initiative built for people who are curious about Christianity but wary of organized religion, doubtful of its claims, or carrying past hurt from church experiences. The church, located at 1220 SW Taylor St. and meeting Sundays at 11 a.m., says the program grew out of a conviction that both religious believers and secular skeptics have too often met each other with hostility or dismissal instead of honest conversation.

Skeptics Welcome is not a class or a program with an end date. It is a standing posture the church takes toward anyone who walks in with questions. Attendees are told upfront that objections will be received graciously and answered thoughtfully, and that they remain welcome in the community whether or not their views change. There is no pressure to sign anything, adopt a label, or commit to believe in order to belong.

The church points to a growing body of academic research linking regular participation in a faith community to measurable benefits, including improved mental health, lower rates of overdose and suicide, reduced divorce, increased charitable giving, and stronger social mobility through cross-class friendship. Skeptics Welcome frames those findings as a reason to explore faith firsthand rather than dismiss it secondhand.

"We're not interested in winning arguments. We want to be a place where the most skeptical person in the room feels more respected here than almost anywhere else, and where their questions actually get answered instead of brushed aside" said Jesse Lusko, Lead Pastor of Counterculture Church.

The initiative is designed to remove the usual barriers to a first visit: no assumption of prior belief, no insider language, and an explicit invitation to disagree openly. Those interested can attend a Sunday service to experience the approach directly, with no registration required.

About Counterculture Church

Counterculture Church is a Portland, Oregon congregation with a vision to love Portland as Jesus loves us. Named for the counterculture Jesus launched two thousand years ago, the church centers on welcoming skeptics, building meaningful community, and caring for the vulnerable. Counterculture meets Sundays at 11 a.m. at 1220 SW Taylor St., Portland, OR 97205, and is led by Jesse Lusko.

Contact

Counterculture Church

Phone: 503-893-9340

Email: info@counterculturepdx.com

Website: counterculture.church