Is atheism a religion?

[Crono]

The question is not meant to attack anyone, just to see viewpoints from different people. Please explain your answer and provide your background (whether you are an atheist, agnostic, religious, etc). Please, no flaming each other; let's try to keep this as civil as possible. If I should add additional poll options, let me know.

 

[yllus]

It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

All religions are beliefs, but not all beliefs are religions.

 

[MisterJackson]

They're not that organized. I know a few and they don't even have a handbook.

 

[irishScott]

Not really. A religion involves a set of moral values enforced by some sort of punishment (divine or mortal) for not following those values. As previously mentioned, Atheists are also disorganized.

Personally, I'm of the persuasion that god = nature. I leave open the possibility of things such as intelligent design (and thus other religions being right), but I give these possibilities a slim chance at being true. Thus I am something of a Gaean/Agnostic hybrid.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: yllus
It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

LOL. That's the dumbest thing I've read in quite some time...

 

[CollectiveUnconscious]

No, it's an ideology.

 

[Kanalua]

Yes. I would say a cult, even...

Science bless you...

 

[tersome]

Originally posted by: yllus
It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

FSM much?

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: yllus
It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

Disbelief in something that "hasn't" been proven, not "can never be."
I would say it's very rational to believe something false until you see it yourself, especially something like God. Otherwise, you are merely going on hearsay, which is often times unreliable.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Kanalua
Yes. I would say a cult, even...

Science bless you...

Agreed. I put it right next to scientology. Very cultish and fanatical.

May the sciene be with you brother.

 

[royaldank]

I don't believe in god. I don't really believe in trying to find out what that makes me. Atheist, Agnostic, who knows? I don't nor do I care.

I do what I think is right and wrong. I treat others as I want to be treated. That pretty much sums up my religous beliefs.

I would say lots of "atheist" are this way. They just don't care enough to be a religion. That's like saying the sky is blue and trying to get together with other folks each week that think the sky is blue. What's the point?

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: yllus
It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

LOL. That's the dumbest thing I've read in quite some time...

Then you must read only intelligent things.

When you're pontificating about the existence of Object X, saying, "No! X definitively does not exist!" is hardly better than, "Yes! X definitively does exist!" Neither side can perform tests to determine the existence or nonexistence of Object X, so what exactly is an athiest basing his/her claim upon?

Or to rephrase the above, regarding the more logical position of weak agnosticism:

The principle of weak agnosticism is not about a belief in God or a disbelief in God but about the belief in the statement "God exists" or the belief in the statement "God does not exist". Given that, to a weak agnostic, nothing has been shown to support either statement conclusively, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the data is inconclusive and believing in either is a leap of faith.

 

[mugs]

Atheism is a religious belief. It is not a religion. Although with many people it resembles one.

 

[JackBurton]

It's not a freakin' religion. The only reason people say it is a religion is because they want to put it on the same playing field when arguing about religion. Atheism is a belief, that's it. And like it has been said, belief does not equal religion. MOST people believe there is no Big Foot, and most likely would ridicule someone who DOES believe in BF. Is the non-believing group then considered a religion? No.

 

[Ausm]

I know I hate religious zealots MORE then any atheist Zealot I have ever met.

I hope that helps.


Ausm

 

[CKent]

Depends on your definition of religion. It's a valid belief, certainly, and like religions we should have the freedom to believe it.

 

[randay]

no

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
It's not a freakin' religion. The only reason people say it is a religion is because they want to put it on the same playing field when arguing about religion. Atheism is a belief, that's it. And like it has been said, belief does not equal religion. MOST people believe there is no Big Foot, and most likely would ridicule someone who DOES believe in BF. Is the non-believing group then considered a religion? No.

Psychology refutes your statement. Humans have a basic need for religion. It's just how the brain works.

Atheism is just an extent of this belief system and a means to connect with and congregate with other people who share similar beliefs. You see it all over this board and any other board. It's the exact same kind of behavior as any other religion. So to deny that it isn't a religion is just foolish and ignorant of the facts. Open minded and free thinking people see it for what it is - another religion following the same path as every other religion.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: yllus
It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

Disbelief in something that "hasn't" been proven, not "can never be."
I would say it's very rational to believe something false until you see it yourself, especially something like God. Otherwise, you are merely going on hearsay, which is often times unreliable.

I think the most rational solution would be to not have an opinion about things that no one knows anything about.

So, if that is correct, atheism isn't the most rational answer, believing that something does not exist because you can't see it, isn't the same thing as not having an opinion.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: yllus
It does promote irrational belief. Disbelief in something that can never be proven is hardly more logical than believing in it.

Disbelief in something that "hasn't" been proven, not "can never be."
I would say it's very rational to believe something false until you see it yourself, especially something like God. Otherwise, you are merely going on hearsay, which is often times unreliable.

I think the most rational solution would be to not have an opinion about things that no one knows anything about.

So, if that is correct, atheism isn't the most rational answer, believing that something does not exist because you can't see it, isn't the same thing as not having an opinion.

:thumbsup:

 

[SVT Cobra]

No, not at all.

 

[Turin39789]

If that's the case I'm going to go ahead and need to get my tax exempt status.

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: JackBurton
It's not a freakin' religion. The only reason people say it is a religion is because they want to put it on the same playing field when arguing about religion. Atheism is a belief, that's it. And like it has been said, belief does not equal religion. MOST people believe there is no Big Foot, and most likely would ridicule someone who DOES believe in BF. Is the non-believing group then considered a religion? No.

Psychology refutes your statement. Humans have a basic need for religion. It's just how the brain works.

Atheism is just an extent of this belief system and a means to connect with and congregate with other people who share similar beliefs. You see it all over this board and any other board. It's the exact same kind of behavior as any other religion. So to deny that it isn't a religion is just foolish and ignorant of the facts. Open minded and free thinking people see it for what it is - another religion following the same path as every other religion.

I've never "connected" or "congregated" with other Atheists. I don't seek them out... in fact I don't think I have a single friend who is an Atheist.

By the way, this thread is going places:roll:

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: datalink7

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: JackBurton
It's not a freakin' religion. The only reason people say it is a religion is because they want to put it on the same playing field when arguing about religion. Atheism is a belief, that's it. And like it has been said, belief does not equal religion. MOST people believe there is no Big Foot, and most likely would ridicule someone who DOES believe in BF. Is the non-believing group then considered a religion? No.

Psychology refutes your statement. Humans have a basic need for religion. It's just how the brain works.

Atheism is just an extent of this belief system and a means to connect with and congregate with other people who share similar beliefs. You see it all over this board and any other board. It's the exact same kind of behavior as any other religion. So to deny that it isn't a religion is just foolish and ignorant of the facts. Open minded and free thinking people see it for what it is - another religion following the same path as every other religion.

I've never "connected" or "congregated" with other Atheists. I don't seek them out... in fact I don't think I have a single friend who is an Atheist.

By the way, this thread is going places:roll:

Ill be your friend.