Atheist- An Anti Religion Religion?

Question

I don't mean any disrespect towards Atheists, but lately, I've been noticing that there are many atheist taking part in the Religion and Spirituality question in Y!Answers, I understand that you guys just want us to see the truth (your truth in this case). In Christian the truth means spreading the word of God to the world. In Islam it is called dakwah (if I'm not mistaken). So it turns out that you guys are not that different from the rest of us (Theists). Is Atheisme becoming an anti-religion religion?
I'm really sorry if I offended anyone, I'm just curious.

Answer 1

I can't talk for other atheists,

But personally i only respond to posts about creationism/evolution, cults, & those asking about or condemning atheists, or any other illogical attack based on misinformation.

As per dictionary definition, a religion has to believe in a higher power, atheism fails in this, so it can't be a religion. You could describe it as an opposition to religion, but I'm not sure it all atheists are described as 'anti-religion'. I for one while would prefer if religion wasn't here, but I realise that at present it still has it's place in society, and people are free to follow what they want.

Answer 2

No offense taken.

It can't be a religion if:
1) It has no deity and no dogma.
2) It requires no ritual observance of any kind, and doesn't seek any form of control over others.
3) It doesn't threaten nonbelievers with any kind of punishment, let alone eternal torture.

Therefore, atheism does not qualify as a religion.

You're over-generalizing. I can't speak for most atheists, but personally I don't give two hoots what anybody believes. Some believers hold certain policies or engage in certain practices that I find objectionable or downright dangerous.

Answer 3

Atheist Means Not Wanting To Believe So Really Their Hypocrite's

Answer 4

As with religions there are many different types of Atheists with a common foundation of not believing in a god.

From my perspective it is simply that there is no evidence of a god, ergo I don’t believe in a god. Atheism is less of a belief than a Deterministic (seek that word and you’ll find the definition interesting) view of the world, in short accepting the evidence of what is provable.

Notice here that most responses by those who are religions are negative toward Atheists. Even here responding to a question Atheists cannot exscape those of religion displaying a near hated (fear of?) Atheism.

There are those who profess to be Atheists who seemingly take every opportunity to promote their perspective. While most Atheists do not do this (because they don’t care what others do) for those who do this, usually they are new to Atheism or have bitter memories of connections with religion or use such actions as defense to inundation of religion.

Most Atheists realizes that only a small percentage of the people (say 10%) can actually accept the truth of “no evidence for a god.” Since the ethics of successful cultural interaction are stand-alone this should make little difference in our day-to-day lives. However, the Atheist must come to accept that we live in a world where the majority of people are driven by a belief in a god and they want everyone else to have the same perspective on life. No matter where we go or what we do religion surrounds us. Even at home there is no respite from religion in that people knock on our doors unbidden to convert us to their particular brand of religion.

Answer 5

Atheism = lack of belief in god(s). Many atheists don’t care about religion, which would mean they are NOT anti-religious. These people usually don’t come to the R&S section of Y!A, which explains why most of the atheists you see here ARE anti-religious too. But there is nothing inherent about ALL atheists that makes us anti-religious. PS – Being anti-religious is a good thing. Opposing belief without evidence will make this world better. PPS – I don’t mean to take away the rights to believe whatever people believe. When I say I’m anti-religious, I mean I want to convince people they are wrong, not take away their religious freedom.

Answer 6

U can be rabidly religious or atheist... where the whole point is to insult others.... but sometimes atheists become subversive because religion has such a hold over the minds of people making life miserable for a person who is not god obsessed. So it is really fighting for a breathing space... It is not just being let to live... which in some context also becomes difficult... but the mountains of indifference towards their point of view and also when they try and demonstrate the absolute stupidity of people fighting over their particular identities and faiths.

Though i agree some atheists can be insensitive... but one gets to see many times more irrational and intolerant religious people than atheists.

I think one part of the problem is with the intolerant kind of personality which is common among all kinds of people.

Second part of the problem is with the way belief systems function... they tend to close your mind to possibility of other realities and i think that is the worst affliction. You can never get to know if u r wrong.

Answer 7

I think atheists are very defensive about their choice and that's an indication that even they know something about their belief system is skewed. I'm a Christian and while I believe in sharing my faith, I won't shove it down someone's throat. All I can do is invite and offer them loving acceptance. My uncle is a self-proclaimed atheists....and even more defensive since his daughter (my cousin) was murdered 15 years ago. I think he would accept God but it is difficult for him to accept any religion. I try to show him the love and peace of Christ through my words and actions. He is a parent and what parent wants to believe he will never see his daughter again?

Answer 8

Well, atheism has none of the characteristics of religion. All you can generalise about atheists is a disbelief in God. Everything else changes according to the individual. For my part, I'm not here to convert andyone. You're right about 'wanting people to see the truth', but I'm seriously not trying to get anyone to abandon God. Mostly I'm interested merely in supporting the causes of freedom of all beliefs and of thinking for yourself. Most of my answers are actually defensive - there is a lot of ignorance and prejudice against atheists here, and I try to present the other side. But I also try to defend theists against attacks, where necessary.

Also a community of non-religious people has developed here in R&S - highly intelligent people whose views I respect a lot and am interested in. It fills me with positivity and hope to see how many good atheists and agnostics there are on R&S. Also how many open-minded and intelligent theists there are.

Answer 9

An anti-religion-religion! Bit of a mouthful...
I'm a non-believer, and I think that a lot of us are here because we enjoy the discourse, the exchange of ideas and beliefs, the chance to articulate and challenge our views.
I would never want to deny anyone their faith - I have as much right to not believe as you do to believe - and I'm not sure I'm trying to spread any truth. I'm just trying to exercise my brain a little!

Answer 10

why some people are atheist?I think that's a simble question . They think that believing to the God they loose their freedom. Of course that's not right cause the God gave to the humans the right to be free . But those atheists don't want to have constraints in their life. That's why they say that they are atheists and find so many excuses to explain you that there is no God. Of course there is and they know that.