Atheism is/is not a religion II: The Return

Then here's to you growing your stem into such a fraction - I guess we'll know when you've arrived at that point, as I would presume you'd have an answer to my question.

 

Whatever you say suds 'n duds. You may want to actually post a response which is germane to what I said.

Or not.

 

So someone from the history channel represented that he/she has been to Hell and can attest to the conditions therein? Or the location of that place? In short then, you don't know if Hell is hot or cold or lukewarm.

 

Atheism is a religion.

 

Actually, some parts are hot. The worst place in Hell, though, is ice cold and reserved for history's great traitors. I assumed none of the posters here would get sent to that part, but you are right, I should have been more thorough.

Depending on your sins, Hell may be very hot or very cold.

And yes I know this for fact because since I posted the last post, I visited Hell and confirmed that everything from the documentary was 100% accurate. Thank you for your interest which inspired me to pursue the matter.

 

I see... you visited Hell. Where is it located?

 

Such information is not available to laypeople, Incorporeal. I have been sworn to secrecy by Satan himself.

 

Well my goodness.... you then must be one of the high officials of his realm. LOL

 

I personally wouldn't call it a religion but I can understand why some would make such statements with people like Freedom Seeker preaching secular humanism and trying to convert all people of religion.

 

I've tried to ask that question before (even in that very format). Needless to say, threads devoted to that question quickly turn into a discussion of whether or not atheism is a religion or not.

Personally, I believe the point is that those who want to call atheism is a religion do so because atheists criticize religion, and if they are a religion, they are being hypocrites by criticizing that which they themselves are. Of course, since atheists often criticize religion not for being a religion in any sense that would include atheism, but for actual opinions, such as believing in a god, that argument is not valid. However, I'm open to any other explanation.

 

Just an acquaintance.

 

Yeah, I think they're trying to put us on equal ground like they do when they try to convince us that we have faith in science. Not only do they fail at understanding terms/definitions, but they think that if they can squeeze us into the same category that both things are exactly the same in value, which is absurd.

 

The modern definitions (yes, there is more than one) of religion would include atheist......the meaning of words are constantly changing and since some people believe that the latest definition is the correct meaning, then those who agree with that will have to accept that. By faith, they believe matter came out of nothing and that life created itself, because they did not see it happen.

 

That's not atheism. Sorry. Atheism does not involve beliefs related to the development of the universe. It relates to beliefs about god.

 

Oh, so you are saying that they don't have any belief on how the universe comes into existence? And I don't see anywhere in the modern definition of religion that limits it to only a belief in God or gods. Even the old definition makes no mention of a belief in any god.

 

The label "Atheist" does not speak to anyone's beliefs, only their lack of one particular one. A theist believes in a god or gods, an atheist does not share that belief. Supernaturalists may attempt to links it to all sorts of other beliefs, but they are simply wrong on that too.

 

What you call a lack of a belief would not make an atheist an atheist.....that would make them an agnostic. Those that I have come across here and outside of this forum are quite sure that there is no God......that to me does not sound like a belief.

 

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary traces the word back to an old Latin word religio meaning "taboo, restraint." A deeper study discovers the word comes from the two words re and ligare. Re is a prefix meaning "return," and ligare means "to bind;" in other words, "return to bondage." Do you still want some of that "old-time religion"?

http://www.tentmaker.org/Dew/Dew1/D1-EtymologyOfReligion.html


For those who see themselves as being religious the above is what you have embraced......a return to bondage.

 

You're quite right, but also barking up the wrong tree. Individuals can and do have beliefs on how the universe came about, but those beliefs are not required in order for a person to be called an atheist. Correlation is not causation.

And, just because religion doesn't necessarily require a god, isn't enough to say that any beliefs that don't require a god can be called a religion on that basis alone.

 

Who's this 'they' of whom you speak?

You think Christians believe that Atheism is exactly the same in value?



The point is that Atheism has the exact same ability to shape expression in society, and - likewise - has the power to impact free expression of other religions in a way no other religious belief has.

Do you think that Christians would be able to preserve their right to freely express Christian belief (ie: Nativity scene in Town Hall Square) and simultaneously lobby to excise things like menorah displays?

That's what Atheism can and does.

 

What an bubbleheaded attempt to skew definitions. "to bind" in this context is "to voluntarily commit oneself" not a 'return to bondage' #*(#%.

 

I don't recall seeing anyone pushing the argument that something can be called a religion solely on the basis that a belief doesn't require a God. It is simply a component that doesn't disqualify calling something a religion.

 

Here comes the name-calling and mocking again.

I don't see you providing any source that supports your claim.......it is you that is making an attemot to skew the definition of that word.

 

Then it also goes the other way around......a belief in God does not automatically makes one a religious person.

 

Yes. Merely a very strong correlation, again.