Atheism is/is not a religion II: The Return

I see the old thread is over 50 pages and shows no particular trend of stopping, so I guess it is going to be locked soon for length. Therefore, I start a new thread to keep the discussion alive.

What are the criteria for a notion to be called a religion and does atheism met those criteria? I believe that explanations that do not answer these two questions properly and explicitly do not answer the question of whether atheism is a religion or not.

Therefore, arguments like "atheism is a religion if bald is a hair colour" or "atheists is a religion because it forms organizations" are invalid unless they also explain why those arguments link (or delink) atheism from religion.

Also, feel free to copy in relevant posts and discussions from other threads that for some reason (OffTopic, thread length) cannot stay in those threads.

 

Not really. Atheists do believe that religions exist. Atheists just do not believe that any of the gods that any religions proclaim exist, do exist.

In the same way that say Christians, do not believe that the Hindu gods exist, but they do believe the Hindu religion exists.

Dusty

 

As I think I said in the original thread, "religion" is a word with multiple meanings. The metaphorical sense is so widely used that it's entered standard diction. So in that sense, almost anything can be a religion: anything you fervently believe or defend is a religion. I have no problems with someone saying atheism is a religion in the same sense that dieting is a religion.

I assume therefore that you're talking abot the older, more literal sense. In my view this kind of religion boils down to worship of a supernatural creator. To be religious in that sense, you need to not only acknowledge the existence of a supernatural creator, but act in some way that pays deference to it. Clearly atheism does not even begin to fall into this definition.

 

Atheism is not a religion.

Saying, "I am an atheist," only tells someone that you don't believe in any gods. It doesn't tell them anything else besides that. It doesn't tell that person what views you hold on the Big Bang, Evolution, owning slaves, wearing clothing made from more than one fabric, the death penalty, selling your children, etc. Nothing at all.

 

Isn't it just easier to say, "I think atheism is the best religion, and here's why!"?

Use words they will understand. When you guys go on and on about the definition of religion, they feel like you are trying to trick them.

 

No, because then they'll claim that religions are based on faith and that means atheism is based on faith and so atheists can't disbelieve in any religion because they all take faith.

 

No, because then they'll claim that religions are based on faith and that means atheism is based on faith and so atheists can't disbelieve in any religion because they all take faith.

 

Why would they say that? They don't believe in Hinduism or Islam. Of course you can be one religion and disbelieve the others. That's required even... for almost all of them.

"Faith" is a meaningless term to them. They constantly say things like, "Well, you have faith that your car will start, or else, why would you turn the key?" (Read that quote in a retarded hillbilly voice to get the full effect) So obviously "faith" does not mean to them what it means to you. So just let them have it. It's irrelevant anyway. Once you give them that, they won't have anywhere else to go with their argument. Watch.

 

You guys should check out some Calvinism vs Arminianism message boards.

They will show you that being a religion does not end the debate. So don't be so afraid of that label. Let them have it, since it is irrelevant, and focus on the real issues, like God being too chicken to show up for any of the fights I have challenged Him to.

 

Let's get to the root of the issue. Why would it matter if atheism WAS a religion? We can argue until we're blue in the face about whether or not atheism is a religion, but where would an agreement get us? Let's say atheism is a religion. Now what?

 

If one believes that modern definition of words is correct then atheism would be a religion.……even the KKK.

 

Where does it say that in order for a set of belief by two or more is only a religion if they believe in God or gods? Even a government can be difined as a religion based on the modern definion of what a religion is.


Religion:
a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3.
the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion


Definitely any group (a club, girls and boys scout for example) based on the above definition is a religion.

 

Does the definition of a word make any difference to the question of whether or not a god or gods exist? Nope! Personally I wouldn't categorize atheism, or theism for that matter, as a religion but like I said in an earier post--I really don't care. If calling atheism a religion somehow makes you think you've embarased it you really ought to think that through. You're arguing that religion is embarassing. Lol!

If it is a religion, it's nothing like other religions. It certainly must be placed in a "special" category of religion. Just the fact that atheists don't believe in the supernatural makes it different from all other religions that I've ever heard of. Belief in the supernatural, it seems to me, is a necessary condition for a religion. They all have it. Well except for atheism of course.

 

Atheism doesn't have a set of beliefs and practices, hence not a religion.

 

What makes it a religion isn't your proclamation that "you don't believe in any gods".

What makes it a religion is how often you tell us, and seek out threads like this to demand that there are no gods, and to ridicule those who have faith that there is.

What makes it a religion is the admission from your peers that they are attempting to spread Secular Humanism, as doing so "isn't unConstitutional" - even though doing so requires an eradication of the public expressions of any other form of religion.

Perhaps I missed it in the other thread; possibly the thread got closed before from brave godless soul piped up with a credible answer - so I'll reask:

How is it that Thomas Jefferson found it acceptable and within the scaffold of the very rules he was instrumental in writing to arrange Christian Services on Sundays in the Capitol Building? Or opening every session of Congress with a Christian prayer?

Surely I missed the answer to this very simple question.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Hey Panzer, et al:

Whups! How can you remain insistent that Atheism isn't a religion when you have zealots like the washing machine here that are just fine with the portrayal??

Have you forgotten that not every Atheist that subscribes to the opinion that there is no God must allow that belief to rise to cult status in order to acknowledge that other Atheists - like dishwasher here - have, and that they are willing acolytes to a very specific Faith?

 

It does, actually. The practices are what makes them irritating to the rest of us, since their practices are not positive or affirmational, but - instead - negative and exclusionary.

 

Be careful there Dusty1000. Leaving that term "Christians" open-ended without some form of delimiter, would set the impression that you are saying "all Christians". That use of 'all' or the inference of 'all' would demand proof that 'all' Christians held that notion. Are you referencing 'all' Christians?

 

I agree with you BFS.. any political organization, or football team can be viewed as a religion.

 

Interestingly, there is a reason why football is considered a religion in Texas - and why Google autofills that sentence for you.

The fact is that how people behave dictate whether it is a religion or not. If football fans additionally lobbied to remove all prayer before games, then they not only are following a religion, they're adherents to an Atheist religion.

Smart's 7 Tests. Not liking that having called what you believe and practice as a religion is not one of the tests. It is, however, an affirmation - particularly if the reaction is zealous.

For hundreds of years, Islam has battled Christianity in the exact same manner that Atheism now battles them both - with a decided prejudice directed towards Christianity.

Why? Because Islamists would simply remove your heads rather than tolerate your BS.

 

(*)(*)(*)(*)ing yawn. Jesus Christ on a stick everything you write requires half a brain to accept.

 

Whatever I can do to keep you guys praying to the Christian God, I am glad to help. Remember, Hell is a very hot place. Mind your manners today.

 

I don't why atheism would have to be in a special category when the definition of a religion does not mean you the group must believe in a god or gods. If Christians had said what they believed made them 'special" what would you say?

 

You ever been there? What was the temperature in Celsius? How was the heat maintained?

 

No. I go off of what I saw on the history channel documentary: Hell: The Devil's Domain.