After all, if it is scientifically impossibly to dis-prove the unprovable (which it is), then it takes just as much faith to deny a god as it does to believe. If the basic definition of a religion is to believe in an entity that is unprovable (the essence of faith), then the absolute disregard of any chance of a higher power is indeed a religion. The Atheist worships science.
What do you think?
2006-07-17 05:44:09 · 19 answers · asked by mrknositall 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not trying to swing anyone over to any religion. If you actually read my question you would see that I never stated anything about my personal beliefs. What I have gathered from most of your answers is that most people who call themselves Atheists are actually agnostic.
There are huge holes in the scientific explanation of the origin of the universe and to embrace that theory wholly and deny the off-chance that there is any possibility of a higher power requires (whether you want to admit it or not) an enormous leap of faith which brings you quite a ways toward a religion.
For those of you who feel I'm trying to "trick" you into believing in a god, you are wrong; I'm just trying to convey the notion that none of us knows the answer and to believe otherwise is tantamount to faith whether you worship at the church of god or the church of science.
2006-07-17 06:18:55 · update #1
atheism is a religion like bald is a hair color.
2006-07-17 05:47:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you are trying to bring atheists down to your level. If you truly believed you were right, you would be happy to allow us to be in a different category than yourself. That's why I have no desire to claim you are really not religious.
But no, atheism isn't a religion, because you're starting from an invalid definition of religion. By your contorted way of thinking, failure to believe in alien abductions is also a religion.
Most atheists hold only a 99%+ claim that no gods exist, not 100%, because the conclusion that there are no gods is usually rooted in the abject lack of evidence of such things, not faith. So even if we were to accept your definition of religion, the vast majority of atheists would still not fall into that category, since the belief there are no gods is rooted in evidence, not faith.
...and yes, absence of evidence is most assuredly evidence of absence, if the premise in question SHOULD produce evidence and no evidence can be found.
2006-07-17 12:55:09 · answer #2 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to dictionary.com, the definition of religion is:
1a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
1b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
If the person practices their atheist beliefs within the guidelines established in #4, then it would be a religion, according to that definition at least.
2006-07-17 12:57:37 · answer #3 · answered by chris_qu2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's so funny that some people always want to call atheists religious in some logical form of the word. No, atheism is not a religion. I don't care how you rationalize it or how much you argue over semantics, atheism means "lack of religion." Plain and simple. No religion. To say that atheists worship science is a generalized statement assuming that all atheists live their life by science, which is completely untrue.
2006-07-17 12:57:00 · answer #4 · answered by gfmech 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs about a higher power (God)... Atheists do not believe in God... they do not worship science... they USE Science. Do you worship your computer? Or do you use it? Science is not an "Entity" lol Science is the Study of life, as well as other things.
I would love to see the Dictionary some of you people could come up with. I'm betting we would have to rename our language.
2006-07-17 12:50:01 · answer #5 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion requires worship, not just faith. If I were to have faith in the Christian mythology but not worship their god would I be a christian? Of course not as I do not follow the teachings of christ nor worship his father.
If an atheist were to somehow worship their un-god then their distinct brand of atheism would be a religion, until that time it is, at best, a philosophy.
2006-07-17 12:51:50 · answer #6 · answered by Lucifer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You make a valid point about the "faith" of Atheism, but to say that they worship science is incorrect. Pure science makes no assumptions, there is no faith in science. Science is the process by which we learn real answers to questions regarding our past, present and future. It is not dogmatic and can admit when it is wrong. This is why religious people don't like it. Atheists cling to its current suppositions the same way that Christians cling to a 1400 year old, outdated moral code. Neither is acceptable in my opinion. I hope that answers your question.
2006-07-17 12:52:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am atheist, and worship nothing. Nice try. The fact that there is no proof of god is proof that there is no god. It takes no faith to not believe in things that don't exist. With your logic you can say anything exists, like the tooth fairy, and Santa, and by suggesting your logic, then you are saying that you believe them by default. There are theories, that are not entirely proven, but we have evidence to back them, which is what gets them accepted as fact. God has no proof to back it. No real proof. But nice try.
2006-07-17 12:54:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish. I would love to own some land and not pay any taxes on it.
Does it take as much faith to deny there is a Mickey Mouse as there is to believe in Mickey Mouse? The religion of not believing in Mickey?
2006-07-17 12:48:10 · answer #9 · answered by lifelover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not all atheists worship science, they tend to just believe what they see rather than having faith. atheism doesnt take faith, because faith is believing in something you cannot see. atheism is the lack of a belief in god. it is not a religion because their is no standard set of rules, dogmas, or beliefs for it, its simply a disbelief in god.
2006-07-17 12:49:46 · answer #10 · answered by kalrissian23 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to atheists I've spoken to, belief in something without physical proof is "faith", and I completely agree with them.
The disagreement is about what we decide to put our faith in.
Atheists put their faith in their belief that there is no God.
As a Christian, I have put my faith in Jesus Christ.
The atheist's religion is his atheism.
My religion is my Christianity.
And the beat goes on.....
2006-07-17 12:49:48 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋