Atheism is NOOOOOOOT a religion!!

[Marmalade Ho]

Atheism is a lack of religion. xD

I personally need more proof to believe one way or another; so far science is winning.  

[Verderbnis]

Quote:

Sorry, atheism is a religion. In America the definition of organized worship in order to be a religion is covered by:
1. Having 2000 or more members, check
2. Having a distinct set of doctrine that differs from other religions, check (the doctrine that there is no deity)
3. Having a set place of gatherings, check (I can't remember where it meets but there is a huge gathering yearly, that counts)

And that's why atheism is NOT a religion:
1. Sure, but there are no "atheistic circles", atheism not an organisation like christianity.

2. There is only one doctrine "God not allowed". Anyways, all "doctrines" are written in the basic writings like the bible, there is nothing like an atheistic bible.

3. Yeah, I always go to the atheistic church and pray to my nonexistant god. Atheism is unorganised, therefore there are no places for gatherings.  

[Ultra Sarah]

Atheism is the non-belief in any gods.

Christianity is the non-belief in all gods except their god.

Many people do not attend church and still call themselves religious.

Booyah!  

[A Fluorescent Adolescent]

The definition of religion is very loose, and can be interpreted many different ways.
Religion can more commonly be defined as a set of beliefs. Atheism is the belief... of non-belief! I'm an atheist and I don't consider it a religion, but this thread is not arguing whether or not atheism is a religion, but the definition of religion.  

[PlasticFantasticLover]

To say Atheism isn't a religion is like saying Secular-Christianity(you have Christian beliefs, you just don't believe in God), or even Secular-Judaism(similar to Secular-Christianity, a lot of Jews joined this religion after the Holocaust) isn't a religion. Also, if it matters at all, I became an Atheist of sorts so that I wouldn't have things like Gods and some such giving me false guilt and homo-phobic rules. In my opinion, Atheists only call it a religion so we have something to tell people, so it won't get mixed up Agnostic. Essentially, it's the 'lack there of'.  

[Zephier]

From knowing people, I'd say most do not believe that Atheism is a religion.

But I, on the other hand think that it IS a religion. Generally, I'd say that perspective is what defines this. Dictionaries give the general definition saying that Atheism is the belief that there is no god, or the disbelief of a supreme being. But really, you have to think what a religion is, and this is where perspective really falls into place. The definition for religion itself is varied by calling it a general belief or practice. In today's society, people are able to believe in something, but not necessarily have to practice something to be considered to have a religion. And this is where I believe that Atheism is a religion. Without practicing, it's still a belief, and a disbelief is still a belief none-the-less, and so that's why I think that Atheism is a religion. Like I said, this is majorly perspective, seeing as people have different views on the world and the things in their world, and religion is one of them.

As for what I am, I am an Agnostic. Reasons for this may be posted in another topic at a later time. 3nodding

 

[Captain Treky]

I agree in saying that atheism is not a religion. I'm a Lutheran myself, which is basically a rebelious Christian. And I believe there is a God, but I am scepticall at times. People are allowed to believe what they believe. So, mmm, eh.  

[Shenyu]

I agree with Verderbnis

Quote:

Quote:
Sorry, atheism is a religion. In America the definition of organized worship in order to be a religion is covered by:
1. Having 2000 or more members, check
2. Having a distinct set of doctrine that differs from other religions, check (the doctrine that there is no deity)
3. Having a set place of gatherings, check (I can't remember where it meets but there is a huge gathering yearly, that counts)


And that's why atheism is NOT a religion:
1. Sure, but there are no "atheistic circles", atheism not an organisation like christianity.

2. There is only one doctrine "God not allowed". Anyways, all "doctrines" are written in the basic writings like the bible, there is nothing like an atheistic bible.

3. Yeah, I always go to the atheistic church and pray to my nonexistant god. Atheism is unorganised, therefore there are no places for gatherings.

I don't think atheism is a religion, but that does not mean that I think it is better or worse. I believe in god, but I know that I cannot prove his existence just as no one can prove his non-existence. Therefore I think that everyone has the same good reasons to believe or not to believe... or believe something else.  

[Verderbnis]

I didn't say that atheism is better or worse than religion, I just stated my opinion from an atheistic view.  

[Shenyu]

Oh, I did not mean you in particular with that, but I somehow got the feeling like there were virtual stones thrown at someone, if he said that atheism is no religion, like this would steal the credibility of that opinion/belief/whatever you want to call it.

That is not so. Just because something is not in the same category it does not mean it is worth less. (worth less, not worthless). At least to me, but as the quote says this is the definition in America, so there may be other ones in other places. I actually read that there is no clear definition of "religion", so it is more like "feel yes, feel no"-thing.  

[Verderbnis]

The stones are thrown against those people who try to understand atheism as a religion. A lot of people fail to understand atheism, because it contains no religious elements, like rituals, beliefs or something like the bible. Atheism is a counterpart to religion as a thing, not emotion. Atheism is more of a conviction, not of a belief in "something that could be".

Of course atheism does not mean to only see a world, I know a lot of people who follow their own kind of belief, without god, without a theistic base, like christianity.  

[Kagayaku Shirou]

Dolix Pullo

A religion is an organised form of worship. Atheism is unorganised, and worships nothing.

Exactly, an atheist is individualist with popular purposes, not like believers that act popular with individualist purposes(not all believers are like that, i know...).

Dolix Pullo

i stick my toungue out at you. Bleah.

I stick my tongue at you, and I know god wont help you.

Dolix Pullo

Also, I would like to point out that how can Philip Paulman want to kill God, if he doesn't believe in God. And, if God exists(He does!!), how can you kill a god?
kitty! >^.^<

Simple, god is a belief, so either you kill every believer or show them that god doesn't exist physically, spiritually or in any form that's not in the beliefs of people.

Dolix Pullo

kitty! >^.^<

Lastly, my Ostrich is bigger than your pussycat. ninja

 

[Sweetaznbebe]

Well... It doesn't really matter.

 

[Sullen Couch]

let's look at basic linguistics here.
a= lack of, absense of
theism= religion.
therefore, atheism= lack of religion.
duh.  

[Shuyajin]

kyoshiro2

Your very single minded aren't you...
And there is no proof 'God' exists... And 'God' is more a belief than a religion in my opinion...

Where is the proof that you exist? Cause I don't believe that you do.