Why Atheism Is A Religion

No I do not agree. Just because you're arguing that there are lots of similarities between Atheism and Religion and are simply going "it still doesn't make it a Religion" doesn't make it a very solid argument.

 

Ok, maybe you can give some examples of why it is so clear to you that atheism is a religion?

With what exactly do you disagree?

I say the similarities between atheists and religious folks does not make atheism a religion. You disagree, how so? Which similarities in their ideologies makes it evident that atheism is a religion? Because atheists can be preachy and out to convert too? Well so can people of the green party.

I say atheism is primarily nothing more than the lack of belief in a God. Even if we would define this as a convinced belief in something (to be precise: the belief that gods do not exist) how would this belief suddenly become a religion? What makes it one?

Get concrete here please. In your own words. Maybe by the use of Smart's 7 definitions (sounds handy). Thanks in advance.

edit: take your time (I mean it)

 

I've already just pointed out how Atheism acquires 6/7 categorizations of a Religion, when even some Religions don't have that many. You don't have to have all 7 to qualify as a Religion.

If you're admitting that Atheism is an organization of people with collective beliefs about the nature of the Universe, then what doesn't make it a Religion?

You all keep saying I'm pulling this definition out of my ass, while also arrogantly pulling out of your ass that Buddhism isn't a Religion, when a Deity isn't even a must for something to qualify as a Religion.

Accept that Buddhism is a Religion first, people, and then maybe you can take the steps towards accepting that Atheism is one as well.

 

The Accusers of Socrates : We are devoted to the State , in the service of the Gods , and we reference the
evident power of our influence .

They do seem insensibly dangerous in their devotion , and their service could as well been to Atheism .
The accusation and judgment of Socrates would've been quite the same .

A devotion to Reason could be in the service of Atheism ?

A devotion to Reason could be in the service of Compassion .
A devotion to Compassion could be in the service of the State .
A devotion to the State is not advised .

 

It's no surprise to me that many of the Dictatorships of history have leaders that were Atheists. They believe so strongly that there is no God, that they decide to see themselves as the best thing next to a God. Most of them were also Tauruses.

 

The fact that atheism isn't an organization of people with collective beliefs about the nature of the Universe. Most atheists aren't organized as such, and don't share common beliefs about the nature of the universe (only a common disbelief that God didn't do it). They have no common rituals and certainly lack a belief in the sacred or numinous. To call it a religion blurs the distinction between religion and ideology. Some atheists do proselytize against religion, but that per se doesn't make them religious. Of course we can redefine terms as we like, but what's the point? To insult atheists? I do agree that there have been forms of atheism that are quasi-religious: e.g., the Communist dictatorships we've talked about. Scientism can acquire quasi-religious overtones, and when atheists form mega-churches, they've probably crossed the line. But most atheists aren't like that.

 

If American Atheists isn't an organization, then what is it?

 

[SIZE=12pt]The Material Dimension[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]: [/SIZE]

Atheism's would be public schools, where the Theory of Evolution is taught.

​The Social and Institutional Dimension:

Atheism's would be the influence of what we're taught in public school on the collective beliefs that make up our society

​Ethical Dimension:

​​I think that we can all agree that most Atheists have some sense of ethics, which is generally to do good.

​Doctrinal and Philosophical Dimension

​this is also obvious, as the philosophy behind Atheism is that there is no Deities based on lack of material evidence. Materialism could be considered part of this. The Scientific Method could also be part of this.

​Narrative

Theory of Evolution and the Big Bang Theory taught in your local Science class.

Experiential Dimension

​​Materialism and the lack of physical evidence leads to the basis of the conclusions of Atheism. The experience of being "free from religion" and sense of having a little more sense than theists is a shared commonality among Atheists

Ritual Dimension

​The only one missing

 

If only they'd give us that 501-c tax exemption...:-b

 

"Atheism is the position that affirms the non-existence of God. It proposes positive disbelief rather than the mere suspension of belief." -Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy

 

To say that public schools are atheist just because they teach evolution, or that the influence of a public school education is atheistic seems specious. What is wrong with this picture? (1) it equates atheism with secularism; (2) it implies that only atheists accept evolution; (3) it suggests that evolution is ideology instead of science. (1)The public schools supported by taxpayer dollars can't teach the beliefs of a Christian fundamentalist minority, but that doesn't mean they''re atheist. There is no alternative scientific theory of creation, "scientific creationism" being declared religious by the Supreme Court in Edwards v. Aguillard, authored by Catholic Justice Brennan joined by five Protestant justices; (2) Lots of Christians accept evolution, including Catholics and most mainline Protestant churches. Some of the leaders in evolutionary science are Christian: notably: geneticist and Evangelical Christian Francis Collins, and evolutionary biologist and Roman Catholic, Kenneth Miller. (3) Evolution is science, supported by a large body of peer reviewed refutable evidence from several disciplines, supported by a stong consenus of scientists, with no alternative scientific theory capable of explaining species development. Therefore it would seem appropriate to teach it in science classes. As for the Big Bang Theory, that was formulated by Georges LeMaitre, a Catholic priest.

 

There are plenty of atheist organizations, but most atheists don't belong to them, and none of them meet the six other criteria.

 

I wouldn't say that only Atheists can believe in Evolution, but that this is the narrative for the origins of mankind for Atheists. There is such thing as Syncretism afterall.

You can feel free to disagree with the notion of the schools being the industry that Atheism is promoted via Science, but I would argue that public schools have been the way that Atheism can be put into school without considering it Religious. But that's not even needed anymore, as Atheism now has its own real Churches. Reference the below post.

 

Yes I know that was number 7.

If schools aren't good enough for you, then I can list an actual center.

http://www.atheists.org/about-us/american-atheists-center

Or if a center isn't good enough for you, perhaps the First Church of Atheism will do?

http://www.firstchurchofatheism.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/atheist-church

Or the multitudes of others...

http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-mega-churches-root-across-us-world-214619648.html

6. Not everything that's taught in Catholic School is about Catholicism either. There is still Math class.

5. There may be different ethics, but there are different ethics just in the branches of Christianity alone.

3. The Big Bang Theory and Theory of Evolution is the story and narrative. It's a Theory just as Creationism is a Theory.

2. When Christianity was first born, there was no tradition behind that either. Tradition isn't necessarily required to believe in God.


So what's the argument now? There's even Churches springing up much to my amazement. If you still can't admit that Atheism is a Religion even when they are planting Churches all over the place, then I don't know what to say. Looks like some Atheists are surrendering and not trying to argue they're not a Religion anymore.

 

It's not surrender, it's mercy. One cannot fight a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

 

What does this have to do with anything? I'm talking about the ones who are making Churches. Please tell me anything other than RELIGIONS that makes CHURCHES.