Isn't being an Atheist a religion?

[lixluke]

Because it makes a difference. I could have a personal revelation that is meaningful to me, but I could not show it to be true. Religion by it's nature claims to reveal truth to others, but the reasons they give aren't things that can be shown to be true to others. Reliable evidence is something that does not depend on subjectivity.

Right, reliable evidence isn't subjective. Regardless, it is the subject who decides what he considers acceptable.

Given: X is true, and material-X is evidence that proves it.

A subject may not accept material-X as evidence. While the subject may be incorrect in doing so, it doesn't mean that it isn't up to the subject to decide whether or not he considers something acceptable.

Technically, it's always been important to keep in mind that all of our reasoning is based on faith that logic leads to truth. Those who are unaware that they have faith in logic have 'blind faith' that logic works. But that's a different story. But I see you point. That religions do tend to consider themselves as more faith based while atheists tend to consider themselves more geared towards some form of empirical evidence.

 

[s0meguy]

Because it makes a difference. I could have a personal revelation that is meaningful to me, but I could not show it to be true. Religion by it's nature claims to reveal truth to others, but the reasons they give aren't things that can be shown to be true to others. Reliable evidence is something that does not depend on subjectivity.

The reliability of evidence is pretty subjective. We may only accept things that we can perceive ourselves, but some people could be of the opinion that it's trickery by some evil entity or its god trying to test their faith. The reasonableness of such a stance is another story though...

 

[jpappl]

Technically being an Atheist is a religion right? I mean religion is loosely translated as a belief no? So if we (Atheists) believe there is no religion that is a belief yes? Which means that we do have a religion. Being an Atheist actually goes directly against our belief. Ironic no? Well, tell me what you think and if you think being and Atheist is really a religion .


- Isoke

Is atheism a belief, yes. Only because it's a position on the subject of gods or no gods. If asked, do you believe in gods, then no is a position and states ones belief.

Is atheism a religion, no way. It doesn't imply anything other than the lack of belief in gods, IOW, a belief in no gods.

 

[spidergoat]

Some kinds of evidence are indeed open to interpretation, but other kinds of evidence are by nature not valid evidence for absolute belief. Anecdotal evidence is one kind. If it sounds reasonable, one may accept as a tentative hypothesis, but it must be confirmed by other evidence if it can be deemed valid. I have seen no evidence for the existence of God that is valid. That's not just interpretation, I'm talking about the nature of the evidence itself. It consists of books, coincidences, "miracles", artifacts, handling snakes that don't bite, visions, and what else? ...and yet they also insist that no evidence is required. It's time we used some common sense and declare that some kinds of evidence are just too weak to support any premise.

 

[Norsefire]

Atheism isn't a religion any more than anarchy is a form of government; it's the absence of, which is designated by the a prefix.

 

[lixluke]

Just because evidence isn't valid in reality doesn't mean somebody cannot interpret it valid. Just because somebody interprets evidence valid doesn't mean it is valid in reality. Just because somebody interprets evidence as invalid doesn't mean it's invalid in reality.

So when somebody says something like "I have seen no valid evidence that X is true", that is fine. But when he says something like "Oh by the way, it's not subject to interpretation.", that's just doesn't fly.

Of course, if a subject considers X to be leigitmate evidence, it means he considers X to be evidence regardless of interpretation. Or if a subject claims that there is no valid evidence for X, all it means is that he personally considers there to be no known evidence according to what he considers to be a legitimate standard of validity. It doesn't mean it isn't subject to interpretation. Everything is subject to interpretation. It doesn't mean the interpretation is true or false. Regardless of the validity of other interpretations on a matter, it doesn't mean there can be no other interpretations.

 

[nirakar]

Technically being an Atheist is a religion right? I mean religion is loosely translated as a belief no? So if we (Atheists) believe there is no religion that is a belief yes? Which means that we do have a religion. Being an Atheist actually goes directly against our belief. Ironic no? Well, tell me what you think and if you think being and Atheist is really a religion .


- Isoke

Yes you are correct Atheism is a religion. Perhaps the atheism of a dispassionate atheist who does not care about atheism and does not particularly embrace their own belief in atheism would not be a religion but that sort of attitude is probably more of an agnostic attitude than an atheistic attitude.

I find it sort of amusing that some atheists who dislike irrationality and dislike dogma and dislike unsupported beliefs become sort of dogmatic and irrational in support of atheism.

 

[glaucon]

Yes you are correct Atheism is a religion.

Incorrect.

Supporting a methodology is not synonymous with worship.

I find it sort of amusing that some atheists who dislike irrationality and dislike dogma and dislike unsupported beliefs become sort of dogmatic and irrational in support of atheism.

That would be amusing. Thankfully, the behaviour of some adherents says absolutely nothing about the position itself. The atheist position necessarily implies rationality.

 

[mugaliens]

Technically being an Atheist is a religion right? I mean religion is loosely translated as a belief no? So if we (Atheists) believe there is no religion that is a belief yes? Which means that we do have a religion. Being an Atheist actually goes directly against our belief. Ironic no? Well, tell me what you think and if you think being and Atheist is really a religion .

- Isoke

Actually, it depends how one goes about being an atheist. If they simply say, "I do not believe in God," that's no more religious than "I do not like apples." On the other hand, if they spend a good deal of time promoting atheism, sharing their beliefs and rationale for them, then it's as much of a "religion" as any other system of belief.

 

[krazedkat]

Theism= A belief in a diety, religion
Atheism= An absence of religion, commonly belief in science

 

[Raithere]

You know you've been on Sciforums too long when you can just copy any paste replies from old threads to answer new ones:

As theism is belief in the existence of God(s), atheism is simply the lack of belief in God(s). This is generally called the weak atheistic position but it is also the universal atheistic position. Atheism also includes the strong position; those who believe that God does not exist. This, however, is not a universal Atheist position and many Atheists see this as an assumptive and unsupported position, left unqualified.

Therefore, unless specifying the strong position, you are necessarily addressing the universal position which is simply a lack of belief in God(s).

~Raithere

 

[iceaura]

Theism is not a religion.

Neither is atheism.

Buddhist atheists have different religion than Taoist atheists, for example - just as Hindu theists have a different religion from Muslim theists.

 

[krazedkat]

Theism is not a religion.

Neither is atheism.

Buddhist atheists have different religion than Taoist atheists, for example - just as Hindu theists have a different religion from Muslim theists.

I don't see your point.

 

[fellowtraveler]

Technically being an Atheist is a religion right? I mean religion is loosely translated as a belief no? So if we (Atheists) believe there is no religion that is a belief yes? Which means that we do have a religion. Being an Atheist actually goes directly against our belief. Ironic no? Well, tell me what you think and if you think being and Atheist is really a religion .


- Isoke

REPLY: The answer is NO, atheism is NOT a religion. It is not believing in gods and such. ...traveler

 

[Fraggle Rocker]

Theism is not a religion.

Theism is not a religion, but it's a component of every religion.

The primary definition of "religion" is a philosophy or belief system based largely on faith in the existence of a god or gods.

For that reason, atheism is not a religion.

Of course secondary definitions are always given for "religion," but they are colloquial and portmanteau usage. To call football or rock and roll "a religion" is to use religion as a metaphor, not to cite it literally.

However, those uses of the word are merely good-natured jibes that evoke laughter. To tell an atheist that his philosophy is a religion is an affront that would only be said by a confrontational religionist.

Buddhist atheists have different religion than Taoist atheists, for example

It's been argued that the pure godless versions of Buddhism and the Dao are not religions, for the precise reason that they have no deity. In fact a case could be made for the assertion that their supernatural components are very weak and are regarded by many of their practitioners as merely social mythology. Feng shui, for example, is their somewhat more elaborate version of "knocking on wood."

 

[Sarkus]

Theism is not a religion, but it's a component of every religion.

Every??
Many buddhists would disagree with you.

Theism is the belief in the theistic notion of God - so is certainly a component of theistic religions.

But you can be a theist without being religious - e.g. believe in the theistic notion of God without adhering to any practices proscribed by one of the many theistic religions.

And you can be religious without being a theist - e.g. certain Buddhists, I understand. Pagan also, I'd have thought.

 

[spidergoat]

One could argue that Buddhism isn't a religion.

 

[lixluke]

Theism= A belief in a diety, religion
Atheism= An absence of religion, commonly belief in science

You know you've been on Sciforums too long when you can just copy any paste replies from old threads to answer new ones

So what about the replies regarding your incorrect descriptions of atheism?
HERE

 

[iceaura]

Theism is not a religion, but it's a component of every religion

No it isn't.

Unless you define religion so, which eventually begs the OP question.

Most people, and most dictionaries etc, include a significant variety of atheistic ritual belief systems (especially those including an overt spiritual appeal or petition) in their lists of human religions.

The primary definition of "religion" is a philosophy or belief system based largely on faith in the existence of a god or gods.

To include in that definition what anthropologists include in their "religion" category, you would have to include everything from tree spirits and ancestor ghosts to leprechauns and the evil eye in your category "gods".

One could argue that Buddhism isn't a religion.

If you ever win that argument, and rewrite all the dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, and sermons of the past few hundred years, let us know.

 

[nirakar]

Oxford compact ask Oxford.com





religion

• noun 1 the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. 2 a particular system of faith and worship. 3 a pursuit or interest followed with devotion.

— ORIGIN originally in the sense life under monastic vows: from Latin religio ‘obligation, reverence’


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Dictionary.com

re⋅li⋅gion
  /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
Use religion in a Sentence
See web results for religion
See images of religion
–noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.
—Idiom
9. get religion, Informal.
a. to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.
b. to resolve to mend one's errant ways: The company got religion and stopped making dangerous products.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion) < L religiōn- (s. of religiō) conscientiousness, piety, equiv. to relig(āre) to tie, fasten (re- re- + ligāre to bind, tie; cf. ligament ) + -iōn- -ion; cf. rely

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Merriam Webster

re⋅li⋅gion
  /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
Use religion in a Sentence
See web results for religion
See images of religion
–noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.
—Idiom
9. get religion, Informal.
a. to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.
b. to resolve to mend one's errant ways: The company got religion and stopped making dangerous products.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion) < L religiōn- (s. of religiō) conscientiousness, piety, equiv. to relig(āre) to tie, fasten (re- re- + ligāre to bind, tie; cf. ligament ) + -iōn- -ion; cf. rely