Atheism: Is it a religion?

[TheD]

well said, TheDemiprist

Thank you.

 

[Holy Roller]

I agree that the comparison between Buddhism and atheism is ill-thought. Buddhism is, at the very least ime, a practice with a set of beliefs. Lacking belief does not equate to having belief. So no, atheism is not a religion. I could probably be deemed an apathetic atheist but only towards myself. I just don't consider religion any more. But, I see the need many have for deities, religion, etc so I respect it and even support it providing they aren't hurting anyone or trying to push their worldview on to me and my husband.

eta: well said, TheDemiprist

Atheism is the disbelief in a theistic G-d. Buddhism also disbelieves in the theistic G-d.
This was the and only common theme to both religions I was trying to get across. Do the forum a favor and read nothing more into it than what had already been stated. This goes for anyone who was reading more into it than what I had stated.

 

[Braunwyn]

Atheism is the disbelief in a theistic G-d. Buddhism also disbelieves in the theistic G-d.

You really don't seem versed enough with Buddhism to speak of it so why not stop while you're ahead? There are indeed all shades of folk that share Buddhist beliefs while being theists, as previously stated.

I don't agree that disbelief is at the root of atheism for all. Maybe it's the case for some, certainly not for me and others. Religion implies commonality, such as all christians believe in Christ. This is not the case for atheists. Having disbelief implies careful consideration as I understand it. I have no consideration for any deity. Just as I don't consider the existance of unicorns or leprechauns. It's a non-issue that doesn't require the extent of disbelief.

This was the and only common theme to both religions I was trying to get across. Do the forum a favor and read nothing more into it than what had already been stated. This goes for anyone who was reading more into it than what I had stated.

If you actually knew what you were talking about in the OP than you probably wouldn't find yourself continually being corrected. Maybe you should edit the OP and put forth a disclaimer of ignorance when it comes to Buddhists/Buddism. Just a thought.

Either way, you're wrong on all fronts.

 

[TooCurious]

If you don't want to convert someone over to Atheism, wouldn't that be apathy on your part? You do want to make this world a better place, right?

Not if you think that part of "making the world a better place" involves preserving every individual's right to his own opinions and beliefs, however misguided or utterly wrongheaded, as long as those opinions and beliefs do not harm, or infringe on the rights of, other individuals.

Is atheism a religion? Only if "not liking football" is a type of "having a favorite football team." Atheism contains no positive claims. It is simply the absence of belief in any deities. Once you introduce anything more than that, you are no longer talking about just atheism.

 

[seeker777]

Not believing in a supernatural Deity is not a faith or a religion.

I get a kick out of right wing evangelical Christians who say things like:

"Atheism is a religion, they worship a God and that God is themselves!"

I mean, fundies do say the darndest things, but that's just plain ridiculous.

 

[ravenscape]

Atheism is not a religion.

However, some atheists (RRS anyone?) pretty much turn their rationalism into one.

 

[Holy Roller]

Not believing in a supernatural Deity is not a faith or a religion.

I get a kick out of right wing evangelical Christians who say things like:

"Atheism is a religion, they worship a God and that God is themselves!"

I mean, fundies do say the darndest things, but that's just plain ridiculous.

Unfortunately, there are waaaaaaaaay too many Atheists on this message board who presume I say the same thing about the Atheist religion!

 

[Holy Roller]

Is atheism a religion? Only if "not liking football" is a type of "having a favorite football team." Atheism contains no positive claims. It is simply the absence of belief in any deities. Once you introduce anything more than that, you are no longer talking about just atheism.

You have to be more articulate than this. You allege your religion is the "absence of belief in any deities". Well, Zeus is a deity. I think what you're trying to say is that your religion is the "absence of belief in a theistic G-d."

The distinction is important.

 

[seeker777]

Unfortunately, there are waaaaaaaaay too many Atheists on this message board who presume I say the same thing about the Atheist religion!

Atheism is not a religion. If one person believes that there is a pink elephant in his closet, he believes that the elephant is God, that the elephant talks to him and helps him, so he in turn worships that elephant and tells everyone about his God.

Yet...his roomate doesn't believe there is an elephant in the closet and thinks his friend is deluded.

By your argument, the roomate has somehow created a religion of non-belief about the elephant not being there.

That's absurd. Just as it is absurd to suggest that an Atheist not believing in a God that he can't see, has a religion about his non-belief.

 

[seeker777]

Unfortunately, there are waaaaaaaaay too many Atheists on this message board who presume I say the same thing about the Atheist religion!

Atheism is not a religion. If one person believes that there is a pink elephant in his closet, he believes that the elephant is God, that the elephant talks to him and helps him, so he in turn worships that elephant and tells everyone about his God.

Yet...his roomate doesn't believe there is an elephant in the closet and thinks his friend is deluded.

By your argument, the roomate has somehow created a religion of non-belief about the elephant not being there.

That's absurd. Just as it is absurd to suggest that an Atheist not believing in a God that he can't see, has a religion about his non-belief.

 

[dlamberth]

I thought Atheism was the faith (belief) that there's no way G-d can be proven to exist.

Most atheist that I know don't care one way or another about God. They live, eat, drink, play, make babies just like anyone else, and doing all of that with no thought or belief in any way, shape or form about God or not-God.

.

 

[Braunwyn]

You have to be more articulate than this. You allege your religion is the "absence of belief in any deities". Well, Zeus is a deity. I think what you're trying to say is that your religion is the "absence of belief in a theistic G-d."

The distinction is important.

I'm not following. Zeus is a deity, a theistic god is a deity, what's the distinction?

 

[GryffinSong]

I suspect that none of us here in this thread believe in the god Zeus, who was said to sit up in Mount Olympus. Does our non-belief in Zeus constitute a religion? Of course not. Atheists have no belief in any personal god. It's just the non-belief in Zeus multiplied. Again. It is not a religion. There simply is not a set of beliefs common to atheists, on which to pin the word religion. It isn't even a philosophy, although it is one minute part of what might combine to be an individual's philosophy.

 

[Braunwyn]

Atheism is not a religion. If one person believes that there is a pink elephant in his closet, he believes that the elephant is God, that the elephant talks to him and helps him, so he in turn worships that elephant and tells everyone about his God.

Yet...his roomate doesn't believe there is an elephant in the closet and thinks his friend is deluded.

By your argument, the roomate has somehow created a religion of non-belief about the elephant not being there.

That's absurd. Just as it is absurd to suggest that an Atheist not believing in a God that he can't see, has a religion about his non-belief.

On point.

Most atheist that I know don't care one way or another about God. They live, eat, drink, play, make babies just like anyone else, and doing all of that with no thought or belief in any way, shape or form about God or not-God.

Yes, that's it in a nutshell. My thoughts about atheism come to a close when I leave this forum. That's how little it matters.

 

[dlamberth]

Atheism is the disbelief in a theistic G-d. Buddhism also disbelieves in the theistic G-d.

Buddhism makes no statement about the existence or non-existence of God. That's not what Buddhism is about. Please note that there are a heck of a lot of theistic Buddhist running around this world.

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[CaDan]

Atheism is not a religion.

However, some atheists (RRS anyone?) pretty much turn their rationalism into one.

And into a rich field of light sweet lulz!

I <3 rathpig

 

[TheD]

Buddhism also disbelieves in the theistic G-d.

I think that depends on the Buddhist's own acceptance or decline of any deity in the first place.
In general, no it doesn't.

I get a kick out of right wing evangelical Christians who say things like:
Atheism is a religion, they worship a God and that God is themselves!

Not only is the quoted material false, it's close enough to being a form of scapegoating 'unbelievers'.
I've seen some Atheists present an unnecessary ego size with their disbelief but that doesn't make
them assert a claim like 'we are God(s)!'. If nothing else, they only do it to mock theism.
Mutually negative waste.

You allege your religion is the "absence of belief in any deities". Well, Zeus is a deity. I think
what you're trying to say is that your religion is the "absence of belief in a theistic G-d." The distinction
is important.

It's not religious.
Atheism doesn't discriminate one deity over the other (Zeus over Yahweh).
It is the absence of believing in a theist deity.
The distinction is only important, because of the separation to make that
distinction seems 'important' in your opinion.

The rules also claim you can't lie (the accusation that I'm lying in itself is a lie).

It's not an accusation,
it's a correction of your former statement,
which was not essentially truthful apparently.

Unfortunately, there are way too many Atheists on this message board who presume I say the same thing about the Atheist religion!

Maybe because you treat it as a religion, when it's not one.

Buddhism makes no statement about the existence or non-existence of God. That's not what Buddhism is about. Please note that there are a heck of a lot of theistic Buddhist running around this world.

Correct.

 

[dlamberth]

Atheism is the disbelief in a theistic G-d. Buddhism also disbelieves in the theistic G-d.
This was the and only common theme to both religions I was trying to get across. Do the forum a favor and read nothing more into it than what had already been stated. This goes for anyone who was reading more into it than what I had stated.

I think where I'm running into problems here is that in the OP, your basic assumptions upon which you build your case are not correct. And we are spending time, as I think we should, trying to correct your wrong assumptions. But you not only stand steadfast with those wrong assumptions, you want us to do so as well. But because they are wrong, we can't.

Personally, from what I see, you have a basic miss-understanding of Atheist AND Buddhist. Instead of telling the Atheist what they are, try listening to them and what they say about themselves. They seem to know themselves pretty good.



.

 

[Holy Roller]

I say yes. The easy way out for the Atheist is to say that Atheism is the "Non belief in a theistic G-d. See? A-theism." OK, but that still doesn't prove that Atheism is not a religion. After all, Buddhists are A-theists, yet Buddhism is a religion...
I am a Theist. That means I have faith in and believe in G-d. If I contend that Atheism is a religion, then what, exactly do they believe in or have faith in that makes Atheism a religion? I further contend that it's the Atheist's faith and belief that their is no G-d that makes Atheism a religion.

If one believes in the existence of something that cannot be proven to exist*, this is religious belief. The obverse holds true, out of inductive reasoning: If one believes in the non-existence of something that cannot be proven to exist, it is religious belief.

*Evolution theory, for example, can be proved, provided tehre's enough time and enough evidence to do so

Note: Something that "doesn't exist" cannot be tested (it doesn't exist; there's nothing to test), thus cannot be proven.

_____________________________________________________________________________



Correct me if I'm wrong in any of this:

• (#1) Theistic religion is a religion because the adherent to the religion has faith in the existence of the theistic G-d

(Agree/disagree: ______________ ).

• (#2) What's of lesser importance, but still somewhat relevant, is that the adherent may or may not engage in worship, and may or may not engage in ritual. Christian church, for example, is just a gathering of two (or more) people in the name of Yeshua, which means Christians do not have to practice or observe ritual in order for them to be called Christian.

(Agree/disagree: ______________ ).

• (#3) If #1 is true, then I am religious by just having faith in (or believing in) G-d. Item #2 may be true or false.

(Agree/disagree: ______________ ).

Stop now and agree or disagree on items #1 through #3. If you disagree with any of the three items, do not continue. If you agree on all of them, continue.
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• (#1) Atheism is defined as having faith in (or believing in) the non-existence of the theistic G-d

(Agree/disagree: ______________ ).

• (#2) The Atheist may or may not engage in worship, and may or may not engage in ritual related to this faith or belief. Two or more Atheists may gather together, but not in the name of a theistic G-d

(Agree/disagree: ______________ ).

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Reply to this post with your answers. We cannot continue until everyone has replied.

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[pgp_protector]

...snip...

Reply to this post with your answers. We cannot continue until everyone has replied.

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can we hold you to that ?