Why do Atheist's continue to claim that Atheism is not a religion?

Question

Pasted from Wikipedia:
"Religion is a human phenomenon that defies easy definition. It is commonly understood as a group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object (real or imagined), person (real or imagined), or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief or system of thought."
Atheists have a developed system of attitudes / beliefs regarding the existence (or non-existence) of God ("Supernatural Being"). Just because their system claims that God does not exist does not place it outside the definition of religion. In fact, the evidence of the "religious" attitude of a fair number of Atheists is potently demonstrated right at this site, in their unincumbered zeal at attacking believers.
Truly, if there was no God, there would be no need to have an established belief system to deny His existence!! What say you?

Pasted from Wikipedia:
"Philosophy is a field of study that includes diverse subfields such as aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics, in which people ask questions such as whether God exists, what is the nature of reality, whether knowledge is possible, and what makes actions right or wrong. The fundamental method of philosophy is the use of reasoning to evaluate arguments concerning these questions. However, the exact scope and methodology of philosophy is not rigid and probably never will be. What counts as philosophy is itself debated, and it varies across philosophical traditions."
Philosophy is about acquiring and weighing information / knowledge, and it is implied in definition for the purpose of application. I am referring to those who seek to disprove / discredit / or otherwise attack something that can neither be proven or disproven. THAT is NOT "philosophy".

It CANNOT be denied that Atheists act on their belief system. It is evident in court cases like L.A. County where the took the Cross off of the County Seal, or Federal Judges who are "prohibited" from displaying a gift because it has "religious" implications. Atheists are actively trying to suppress God from the U.S. market place, so how is it that their beliefs do not affect their actions?

For those who insist in re-interpreting what is posted above, it plainly says "beliefs or attitudes concerning ... supernatural... and the practices ... and institutions... associated with such belief or system of thought."

This definition which fits well into the application of the word 'religion' in English (a 'living', changing language) today, does not require belief IN deities, only belief ABOUT deities. It is a mute point to argue that there is not an Atheistic movement afoot in the marketplace of ideas in the United States, and possibly the world, because it is in the news almost daily (court cases and the like). It is also a mute point to deny dogmaticism of belief, as can be seen in ALMOST every Atheist question and answer on this YA Religion & Spirituality site. I say ALMOST EMPHATICLY because there have been a few who I have encountered who's Atheism is genuine, and is not the result of dogmatic indoctrination.

Answer 1

Most atheists are not very pro-active about it - this site, however, is a breeding ground for zealots with too much time on their hands. Atheism is not a religion in the sense that there are no beliefs in the supernatural, which is the definition. If you want to ignore the definition, sure, caregorize atheism as a religion, but it's really more the horrible connotation of religion we object to, not the mystical denotation.
Have a pleasant day.

Answer 2

Is 'theism' a religion? No. It's merely belief in God (or a god or gods). It's a starting point. The "group of beliefs or attitudes" are what makes Christianity a religion and Islam a different religion and Hinduism a different group of religions again.

'Atheism' is merely non-belief. You can argue that non-belief is a belief, but it is certainly not a 'system' of beliefs. Once you get past lack of belief in God, there are a million different things that atheists can believe. An atheist can be a naturalist, a humanist, a Buddhist, a Taoist, a Satanist, a Unitarian Universalist or one of many other things. A theist can also be any of the things I've listed.

In the end, being 'atheist' is just a single statement. It's a starting point.

Your last sentence is a logical fallacy that begs the question in both halves.

Answer 3

The dictionary says Religion is a Belief in a Higher Power. Or a system of beliefs of the supernatural. Atheists do not believe in any of that stuff. So how can it be a Religion when Atheism is a LACK of Belief. Their attitudes are their own... as is how they view the supernatural... there isn't any set belief system an atheist follows in order to be an atheist. Where as in religion, no matter which one you pick, there is a certain system of beliefs one must believe in order to be a part of that religion.

I would say nice try.... but I've seen this attempt before.

Answer 4

Why do you feel the need to attack someone for their beliefs? I don't think they should attack others for their beliefs either, but I'm tired of everybody being at each other's throats because they believe differently. How can atheism be a religion if they don't worship a higher being, they have no religious ceremonies and such? Your belief that athiesm is a religion is off base at best.

Answer 5

Atheism isn't an established belief system, it's simply a lack of belief in the existence of gods.

If we had a word for people who don't believe in Santa Claus would we say that "ansantatism" is a religion?

Answer 6

The attitudes that atheists have developed regarding our opinion about the existence of a god has no reflection on our moral codes, practices, values, institutions or rituals.
We are who we are in spite of our atheism, not because of it. We possess the same morals and values as believers; atheists manage it without believeing in a god.

Answer 7

there are no rituals, practices, or dogmatic beliefs around atheism. Atheists occupy the negative space around Religion. You can see what religion is by what Atheism is not. The two ideas help define one another, but that doesn't mean they are in the same category.

Answer 8

Religion is a group of beliefs concerning the supernatural or divine. Atheists do not believe in the existence of the supernatural or divine, and thus, not in religion.

Answer 9

A philosophy is not a religion. So I disagree. That part of wikipedia is opinion, and I say incorrect. THe definition of religion would preclude atheism.

Answer 10

is not a religion, they dont practice nothing they just live their lives with their head on the ground. would you say me watching tv and doing my own thing and not beliving in a god, you call that a religion. only if you say they practice and finding that there dont exist a god. just because some people dont meet their standard of their own belife thet try to find someway to attack to the non belivers.