Legally is atheism a religion?

lightgigantic said:
So you are arguing that polar opposites have absolutely no similar characteristics?

Perhaps you can provide some sort of example of this since I have never heard of this before

(Ever wondered why it was kind of strange that communism and totalitarian regimes are ideologically polarized yet remarkably similar in practical application?)
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atheism requires nothing. Except that living is life.
There is no practice or requirements.
You are human, you live like a human.
therefore there is nothing significant.
 
The short answer is no. Atheism is not legally a religion. It's not a religion in the colloquial sense, either. It's not a set of beliefs in a superior being. It's not a belief at all. It may be for some people a belief that no god exists, but that does not make it a faith. Quite the opposite, actually.
 
iceaura said:
The Buddhist atheists are defining themselves in what way?
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I was referring to some of the other groups you mentioned, in point of fact. But it stands: they self-define as athiest. So is it a quantitative scale or a binary?
 
laladopi said:
atheism requires nothing.
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and Jdawg

The short answer is no. Atheism is not legally a religion. It's not a religion in the colloquial sense, either. It's not a set of beliefs in a superior being. It's not a belief at all. It may be for some people a belief that no god exists, but that does not make it a faith. Quite the opposite, actually.
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atheists facing legal difficulties certainly disagree


""Legally atheism counts as a religion, though we say we're not one," Dr Perkins said."

(Dr. Perkins being the spokesperson for the AFA - Atheist Foundation of Australia)
 
laladopi said:
atheism requires nothing. Except that living is life.
There is no practice or requirements.
You are human, you live like a human.
therefore there is nothing significant.
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still waiting to hear of a polar opposite that bears absolutely no sharing characteristics to that which it is opposed to .....
 
lightgigantic said:
and Jdawg


atheists facing legal difficulties certainly disagree


""Legally atheism counts as a religion, though we say we're not one," Dr Perkins said."

(Dr. Perkins being the spokesperson for the AFA - Atheist Foundation of Australia)
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That's his interpretation of the law in Australia, and he doesn't seem to be winning that battle. I know it certainly doesn't legally count as a religion here in the US.

But I would be for it having legal standing here if it would benefit the movement.
 
geoff said:
I was referring to some of the other groups you mentioned, in point of fact. But it stands: they self-define as athiest. So is it a quantitative scale or a binary?
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I don't see what their self-definition has to do with anything.

There are varieties of theists who self-define as having a religion - that doesn't make theism a religion.
 
JDawg said:
That's his interpretation of the law in Australia, and he doesn't seem to be winning that battle. I know it certainly doesn't legally count as a religion here in the US.

But I would be for it having legal standing here if it would benefit the movement.
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funny

I thought america had many "god eradicating edicts" in the name of political correctness etc
 
iceaura said:
I don't see what their self-definition has to do with anything.

There are varieties of theists who self-define as having a religion - that doesn't make theism a religion.
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Why not? Christians self-define as a religion.
 
S.A.M. said:
Ha! Yes I forgot, you have laws against libel and slander but not against antireligion hate speech
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On a side note, in the U.S. statements of opinion are generally immune to defamation claims. You don't necessarily have to state "In my opinion..." in your claim. Courts have found that saying someone is stupid, or a jerk, or untrustworthy, are fundamentally statements of opinion and therefor usually immune to lawsuits. Any negative claim of a religious nature would almost certainly fall into the opinion category.
 
laladopi said:
atheism requires nothing. Except that living is life.
There is no practice or requirements.
You are human, you live like a human.
therefore there is nothing significant.
Click to expand...
*************
M*W: As an atheist, there are a lot of meaningful and significant things in my life: my family is the most important to me. None of them are atheists, however. Just because atheists don't believe in supernatural deities, there are many significant things in our lives. We basically want everyone to be happy and follow their own path.
 
geoff said:
There are varieties of theists who self-define as having a religion - that doesn't make theism a religion.
”
Why not? Christians self-define as a religion.
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That's one of them, yep.

That is one of the factors excluding theism as a religion - too many theistic religions, all different.
 
Atheism is a religion in the same way that not playing football is a football team, or that not owning a car is a type of car, or that bald is a hair color.
 
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