Atheism a faith?

[madaz]

Is it morally correct for Christian forums to classify atheism as a faith?

 

[ximmix]

Maybe the option should be "None" instead of "Atheist" to make it more correct

 

[Loudmouth]

Including Atheism on the list of religions is a bit like including "none of the above" as an answer on a multiple choice test. You can consider it a position that people take with respect to religion and faith, but atheism is not a faith in and of itself.

 

[Nithavela]

Faith is just the category name. I see no problem here.

Now, if someone would say "Atheism is a religion too, just look, it says Faith: right next to it", that would be foolish.

 

[Shemjaza]

It's certainly a valid answer to the question about what religion someone believes in.

 

[Belk]

I fail to see how its classification has any sort of moral component.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Is it morally correct for Christian forums to classify atheism as a faith?

Only if there is something immoral about their motivations for classifying atheism as a faith.

If they are just trying to belittle atheists out of spite, then it's immoral. If they honestly believe that atheism is a faith, then it's not.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

People who say atheism is a 'faith' have two choices,

1. Give me my tax exemption, or
2. Shut up.

 

[bhsmte]

Is it morally correct for Christian forums to classify atheism as a faith?

I don't see how morality plays into this, but it certainly is not accurate.

 

[Butterfly99]

Nope.

 

[durangodawood]

Is it morally correct for Christian forums to classify atheism as a faith?

I would say no, because its an obvious falsehood. And, all things equal, its wrong to spread falsehood.

 

[loveofourlord]

It could depend, is it like how atheism and such are listed under regions by government for purposes of rights and such.

 

[keith99]

I don't see the slightest issue. Oh it might be technically more accurate to call it Religious position or some even longer phrase. But even without using something longer it is clear what the intent is and that is to give a very general bit of information about someone's faith or lack of the same.

 

[He is Risen 72]

People who say atheism is a 'faith' have two choices,

1. Give me my tax exemption, or
2. Shut up.

Why should you be tax exempt? Are you a building or organization of some kind? Christians pay taxes.

 

[Shemjaza]

People who say atheism is a 'faith' have two choices,

1. Give me my tax exemption, or
2. Shut up.

Why should you be tax exempt? Are you a building or organization of some kind? Christians pay taxes.

He's got a point, I'm pretty sure Levayan Satanists and Raelians can take advantage of religious tax exemptions, while still being atheists.

 

[durangodawood]

Why should you be tax exempt? Are you a building or organization of some kind? Christians pay taxes.

Every atheist organization should be tax exempt.

 

[MehGuy]

Is it morally correct for Christian forums to classify atheism as a faith?

I don't know. Depends on the intention. Even then, perhaps they really believe atheism is a faith. While wrong and intentional, it could still not be immoral if the intent was genuine.

 

[stevevw]

People who say atheism is a 'faith' have two choices,

1. Give me my tax exemption, or
2. Shut up.

If an Atheist organization wanted to set itself up as a non for profit charity that dedicated all its funds to helping the needy then they could get their tax exemptions. You dont have to be a religion to get a tax exemption for charity work. I know of sports and community organizations who are not religiously connected who are tax exempt because they do community work to help the members of the community.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I think it is a faith in that its an attitude towards religion. So I am fine with the classificaiton. In the UK we have a situation where humanism and atheism are not part of the "Religious Education" curriculum, and the humanists (BHA) are actually complaining as far as I recall. Sometimes I think that organisation makes it its business to moan and grumble though, even if they do sometimes have a point.

 

[He is Risen 72]

Every atheist organization should be tax exempt.

Sure thing but his first response was “give me my tax exemption” just for being an atheist.