I suppose that will come down to peoples interpretation of the word 'religion'... whether it means only having ones life dictated by a novel, or wether it means having the ability to think for oneself!.
(Actually it could mean a myriad of things rather than the either/or scenario - I got carried away and thought I was preaching for a minute !. (Preachers give you two options rather than let you think for yourself)
2006-10-13 08:56:57 · 15 answers · asked by Jon H 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
About atheism, not agnostic.
2006-10-13 09:10:47 · update #1
Absolutely not. It in no way qualifies.
2006-10-13 08:58:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Variation on a God Botherer theme
What about the ratio of electron to proton mass? the maximum deviation that can be allowed from this constant is 1:10^37. This is so minimal it can not be visualised. In order to help you imagine this I have an analogy. Cover the entire North American continent in dimes all the way up to the moon, a height of about 239,000 miles. Next, pile dimes from here to the moon on a billion other continents the same size as North America. Paint one dime red and mix it into the billions of piles of dimes. Blindfold a friend and ask him to pick out the one red dime. The odds that he will pick the red dime are one in 10^37. What this means is that the ratio of electron to proton mass falls in such a tight range that its impossible to think of it happening by chance, .but if we then remember that the number of protons and electrons colliding over say 36 million years it would mean this ratio chemical bonding would be impossible for there not to be life and the only possibility of there being no life was if there was a god who was able to kill life every time it occurred. This is just one of many more finely tuned constants in the universe which if they were to deviate the slightest sterility of the planet would not be possible and surely give proof that there is no God in any shape or form in this or any other universe.
Atheists know there is no great big beard in the sky. Atheists have as many sects of Atheism as there are Atheists. Atheist can be Humanists or not, cruel or kind. Most are moral, we don’t need a book (which is the history of the Jewish people) that we have to accept in its entirety and follow slavishly.
2006-10-13 17:58:48 · answer #2 · answered by Ashley K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not a religion but rather a position. Buddhism has no God and so is Athiestic, although technically Gods are optional, they are not required. Instead, it has Truth.
Atheism means literally without a theos. So it is not a religion although it does tend to create a slant to the possible belief systems, whether religious or philosophical.
Now,as to why it is scorned, it is scorned because it is a deep personal threat to individuals. Theism is a very foolish (at best) way to look at the world if atheism is correct. Of course theists would say they are correct.
2006-10-13 16:02:14 · answer #3 · answered by OPM 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
For the atheists out there. Im going to take a scientific view on the possibility of the existence of God. Scientists have agreed that there are ten dimensions at least in the universe. We occupy 3 of them, 4 if you include time. That means there are atleast 6 dimensions in which we can not see, hear, feel or go into. How can you then be so confident that in those many extra dimensions there is not a God or a higher being of some sort who may have created the universe as we know it? Otherwise why would there be so many dimensions if no one was going to occupy them?
What about the ratio of electron to proton mass? the maximum deviation that can be allowed from this constant is 1:10^37. This is so minimal it can not be visualised. In order to help you imagine this i have an analogy. Cover the entire North American continent in dimes all the way up to the moon, a height of about 239,000 miles. Next, pile dimes from here to the moon on a billion other continents the same size as North America. Paint one dime red and mix it into the billions of piles of dimes. Blindfold a friend and ask him to pick out the one red dime. The odds that he will pick the red dime are one in 10^37. What this means is that the ratio of electron to proton mass falls in such a tight range that its impossible to think of it happening by chance. If it did fall out of this ratio chemical bonding would be impossible and there would be no life. This is just one of many more finely tuned constants in the universe which if they were to deviate the slightest life would not be possible and surely give proof to a higher being or force of creation.
2006-10-13 16:25:37 · answer #4 · answered by MC 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's not a religion or even a philosophy. Although my own beliefs are a-theistic, the lack of theism is simply an aspect.
If someone asked you where you were going and you said 'Not London', that doesn't make 'Not London' a specific place. It's like that with atheism. Simply saying that you don't accept a god, or a creator doesn't say what you do have confidence in (e.g. materialism, cosmic consciousness, or whatever). I doubt that anyone is sufficiently rational and empirical to believe only in things they can establish as fact - so we all have a degree of faith beyond absolute fact.
Atheism by itself is rather reactionary point of view. It is allowing theism to define the rules of the debate, rather than stating your preferred positive alternative. One grouping which is taking on the issue on its own terms is 'The Brights' (see link below).
2006-10-13 16:18:31 · answer #5 · answered by Hal W 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is not a religion because one of the definitions of religion is "having a belief in a personal god or gods that requires worship or obedience." This doesn't apply to atheists; so, atheism is not a religion.
2006-10-16 18:24:37 · answer #6 · answered by Crimson King 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
religion is a weird word. catholosism is a religion, as you have to complete certain tasks(sacraments) to gain salvation... same with islam. but christianity is a relationship, becasue christians believe that salvation is God's free gift, and that you can pray to God any time.
the bible isnt a fictional book. i cant even tell you how much that offends me. it was recorded by men and inspired by God... do you think i would be following the direction of scrawlings of men?! no way jose.
but anyways i guess atheism could be classified as a religion, because it is the belief that there is no God.
2006-10-13 16:02:54 · answer #7 · answered by lauren 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when I seen this Q. I had a good laugh I'm quite religious in a spiritual way but i totally respect someone who says they are atheists because they are so non judgemental as a spiritual person I can at least say I'm going to heaven if I'm a good person
but if I'm an atheist the world is my oyster don't care going stemware may it be heaven may it be hell don't care dust to dust whatever ...but they probably lead life's we should be proud of wish I WAS ,,one ....MAYBE SITTING ON THE EDGE
2006-10-16 22:12:26 · answer #8 · answered by bobonumpty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no its a way of life were we live for today and now not in the past following a contradictive book helping ppl by point scoring to get into a fictional heaven we help ppl because we REALLY care
2006-10-13 16:49:32 · answer #9 · answered by Barson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only people that I know that insist that being an athiest is a religion are the religious....usually Christian people.
2006-10-13 16:09:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is just a way of hating God. The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'
2006-10-16 09:31:31 · answer #11 · answered by Iain C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋