As a Christian, why would I call atheism a religion?

Question

I hear Christians stating to atheists words akin to "Atheism is a religion" or "You have your faith, I have mine."

I understand the premise. But I do not see why we, as Christians, would advance the argument.

First, it appear ineffective in opening atheistic hearts. If anything, it seems to ruffle their feathers.

Second, it has the flavor of the pseudo-logic gimmickry so often tossed out by the atheist enclave, i.e., "If God threw a birthday party, could he invite a clown so scary that even he cried?"

Third, it seems to lead into one of atheism's favorite ripostes:

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."

Stephen Roberts

So my question to Christians,

"If you have advanced this argument in the past, why have you done so and has it proved effective?"

Answer 1

Atheism is a philosophy not a religion. In other words it's a way of thinking, they worship no one and no thing.

Answer 2

The word religion comes from the Latin root regulus which means to make the same. We get the word regulate from the same source. So religion is a way to make peoples beliefs the same, to regulate what they believe. To call someone an athiest is to put them in the same box, to make them the same, to regulate in your mind how they believe. That makes Atheism a religion. On the other hand if one is a true skeptic and questions everything, they cannot be regulated. I don't say there is no God, I say I've never seen any evidence for anything like the diety described by some religious people, people that have been regulated, made the same by an organization whose sole existence is to control those people they regulate. I don't believe in fewer gods than you, I believe in many more possibilities than you, and my mind is open enough to let them change every day.

Answer 3

You see this day and age, people are pretty much set in their ways,
I am not athiest, but I am not christian, but when a christian trys to push beliefs on me, my feathers get pretty ruffled too.
If I came up to you and started pushing wicca on you, wouldn't you be offended? That's why I just let people go about the beliefs they want.
That is the same way athiests think. I don't look at it as a religion, because a religion is having faith in a higher power, and athiests, just don't.
I do encounter atheists who try and disprove my logic, but no one on this green earth knows whats waiting for us so doesn't arguing about it just seem a little pointless?
As my mom would say though, keep up the good fight, and a pure heart gets into heaven, not just a religion.

Answer 4

Hokey smokes. An actual Christian intellectual!. It's been so long! I feared the fundies had stoned them all to death! (Actually I just imagine thinking Christians don't know this place is here, since thinking Christians show up all the time on the Secular Web.). Nicely stated though. You clearly read other than Left Behind books and devotionals. Gosh, it's so refeshing! This has made my whole day!

Answer 5

Well if you are going to call me out then I will answer. "Giggle""Snicker" I was an Atheist and many other things too that were not Christian for 30 years and I somewhat enjoy toying with the all knowing carnal ones. I used to know everything until I discoverd that I know nothing and was clueless then I found out that knowing that I didn't know anything was my first nugget of knowledge. LOL Atheist are fun. It is really not very Christ like and I will try to not advance any arguements from now on. Im Guilty. I do love them and You too.

May GOD richly bless you.

Answer 6

If none of us will know exact answers until we die, then no matter what we believe or don't believe is based on faith. You couldn't really call the atheist's faith a religion because religion has to do with ritual and actions. To have faith is to believe in something that can't be proven or disproven at this time. If you believe that we die and just wink out into nothingness, ceasing to be, then you have faith that your belief is true.

Answer 7

Atheism is the lack of a religion.

If I were presented evidence of a god I would change my opinion. A person of faith would not. Take a look at the evolution "debate." There is so much fossil evidence that evolution happened that no serious scientist would deny it today. But still there is debate because evidence does not matter with faith.

Answer 8

1) I would never call Atheism a religion perse' in that they don't have religious practices that religions take too...prayer, singing, praise, reading sacred texts etc... and they don't unite with one focus or idea ......

2) As a Christian I never express the Christian faith as a religion but moreso as a relationship because we use terms to endear to God and Christ...for God so LOVED the world, (John 3:16), Love one another as I have loved you..people define religion because there are certain practices that religions put in place...but in actuality we don't do religious practices we do relational practicalities...prayer to some is viewed as a religious practice..but in its relational practicality its talking to God...When we read our Bible's its viewed as a religious practice..but in its relational practicality we are actually reading what God has to say to us...to some praise (singing) is a religious practice but in its relational practicality its giving God what he is actually due...

3) Atheists do practice a certain degree of faith we all do the question isn't does man have faith but instead its the object(s) of our faith whether its a person or a system...we practice faith when we go through a green light (we have faith that the drivers opposite us at the red light will stop and give us the right away)...we practice faith daily the truth is all man have faith

4) and finally I believe fully what it says in Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" and also "Psalm 19:1 The Heavens declare the glory of God.."...most reasoning atheists would agree that with the creation of the earth in and of itself it would be hard for them to argue the concept where there is a design there has to be a designer and so at some point they have to acknowledge that something higher than them and their intellect has designed the universe

Answer 9

Atheism makes man the ultimate 'deciding factor'. Like it or not, man is a false god in God's sight; which has been true since the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:5-6). I could add later passages too.

Answer 10

Why engage? It's going to make you look just as stupid. As a non-Christian, non-Atheist, unless I'm having a discussion of beliefs and not someone trying to convince my way of living is wrong, I won't engage in a conversation. I don't want to be converted to Christianity any more than you want to become an atheist. So, to those who try to convert you or try to convince you that your beliefs are wrong...walk away.

Answer 11

I love that quote. Richard Dawkins used it on the Colbert last night. you can catch the replay at 8pm.

Call me what you like, it will not change anything any more than me calling you Xians.

oh and the argument is that it is religion because we need "faith" to believe it.