Some people are fond of calling atheism a religion, but in that case what is the definition of 'religion' by which a belief in the existence of a deity, and the absence of such a belief, can both be called 'religion'?
2006-08-20 23:16:03 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
atheism is by definition not a religion. it has no ceremonies, no rituals. it believes in nothing. atheists share nothing in common to be atheism except for a non belief in god. is was never and never will be a religion.
2006-08-21 18:11:11 · answer #1 · answered by мΛІ€ҢΛр™ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The definition of "religion" is a belief of a higher being, a belief in a supreme being or higher power. Since atheism is a belief that none of these exist, it can not be called a "religion". Personally, I believe that if there really wasn't a GOD, then atheism would not exist, right? Think about it.
2006-08-21 06:26:45 · answer #2 · answered by Barbara 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually atheism is more a disbelief in the existence of deity or the doctrine that there is no deity. Basically another way of saying atheist. So by default they are actually grouping themselves together by their common belief, which is the basis of all religions. Think this ones tough, try explaining to 50 or so people all claiming Anarchy. Now that's just ignorance!
2006-08-21 06:26:52 · answer #3 · answered by jls1znv9999 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a belief that the earth orbits the sun, but it is not a religion. A belief in something it not like a religion. Atheism is a belief that there is no god or spiritial force.
2006-08-21 06:23:45 · answer #4 · answered by Mr Hex Vision 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The people who define atheism as a religion obviously do not have dictionaries or are too lazy to look up "atheism" in one.
2006-08-21 06:26:01 · answer #5 · answered by =_= 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Athiesm is a "religion" only if Bald is a Haircolor.
The whole debate, the suggestion that Athiesm(and in another issue Evolution) is a "religion" comes from religious people attempting to discredit others.
2006-08-21 06:45:30 · answer #6 · answered by IndyT- For Da Ben Dan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism and theism can both be thought of as "Religion," if we define religion as,
"hewing to a universal cosmological supposition that can neither be proven nor disproven by reason or empiricism, and which therefore must ultimately be accepted as an article of faith."
Hope this helps. (Great question, by the way).
2006-08-21 06:27:21 · answer #7 · answered by Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who calls atheism a religion? I wouldn't even capitalize it. To me, atheism is just a way of expressing that you don't believe in supernatural entities or events.
2006-08-21 23:53:32 · answer #8 · answered by Paul J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Non-belief is a belief. It's the belief that nothing is out there.
As for calling it a religion, I think that's going a bit far.
2006-08-21 06:21:12 · answer #9 · answered by angk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US Supreme Court defines religion as a persons guiding principles. It is therefore impossible to have no religion.
2006-08-21 07:32:25 · answer #10 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋