2006-08-22 21:47:33 · 12 answers · asked by jas3tm 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religion and Spirituality
Point is, one can be spiritual and not have religion.
2006-08-22 22:07:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism, in its broadest sense, is a lack of belief in a deity or deities: the opposite of theism. This encompasses both people who assert that there are no gods and those who make no claim about whether gods exist or not. Narrower definitions of atheism typically regard as atheists only those people who actively assert the nonexistence of gods, leaving other nonbelievers classified as agnostics and/or non-theists.
Although many of those who identify themselves as atheists share a common skeptical attitude regarding spiritual or supernatural claims, atheistic beliefs may derive from a variety of personal, philosophical, social, and historical rationales. While there is a tendency among self-described atheists toward secular philosophies such as humanism, naturalism and materialism, there is no single system of philosophy to which all atheists can be said to adhere, nor does atheism have any institutionalized rituals or behaviors. Using the broad definition, atheists need have nothing at all in common with each other, since they belong to a category which is defined by what they are not (theists) rather than what they are.
2006-08-23 04:55:57 · answer #2 · answered by johnboy1234 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If atheism is a religion, then bald is a hair color.
There are different levels of faith.
1. Faith in something for which there is evidence. Like i have faith that my chair will hold me up when i sit in it. But this isn't really faith it is more of an informed trust based on the evidence that the chair has held me up every time so far.
2. Faith in something for which there is no evidence. Like the god of Deism.
3. Faith in something that contradicts evidence. Like the god of Christianity.
I have type 1 faith in the Scientific Method and Reason. But like i said it is more like an informed trust. It shouldn't be lumped in with the other categories of faith but sadly people do this all the time.
2006-08-23 04:50:36 · answer #3 · answered by AiW 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Religion is the practice of a belief system. By definition atheists have a religion as they practice not believing in God.
2006-08-23 04:53:22 · answer #4 · answered by pastorJ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As you say "faith is what you believe". If it stopped there I would have no problem. Each person should keep their faith to themselves. I don't want people telling me how I should live. I don't want my laws based on religious doctrine.
2006-08-23 04:55:03 · answer #5 · answered by doggiebike 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not a religion because atheism means lack of theism. Absence of religion.
Plus, it's not faith, it's lack of it in favor of accepting only the material universe exists (i.e. what there is evidence for).
It's like someone travels to 5 different countries and ends up broke, and then you ask them what currency they have (dollars, pounds euros, etc).
Their answer? none. It's not a currency, it's lack of it.
2006-08-23 04:53:31 · answer #6 · answered by 006 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there are atheists out there who band together and become evangelical then they are poseurs. True atheists not only don't believe in a god or gods, but they eschew the nasty politics involved in organized religion.
2006-08-23 04:52:00 · answer #7 · answered by Grody Jicama 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Doggiebike has it.
Im atheist and I dont go around asking questions like this.
2006-08-23 04:58:59 · answer #8 · answered by ii337 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Faith is a belief in anything.
Religion is a belief in a god and/or afterlife.
Atheism is the belief that there's no god/afterlife.
2006-08-23 04:52:43 · answer #9 · answered by mojawoja 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
atheism is not putting their faith into something its not putting their faith into anything (well nothing religious) they bleieve in facts not faith and the first step in religion is faith
2006-08-23 04:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by macanshire 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋