Are agnosticism and atheism religions? If not, what are they?

Question

According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, religion is several things including "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." While this is not the top definition, it is at least one (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/religion).

Therefore, by definition, agnosticism and atheism are religions because atheists and agnostics often believe what they believe with ardor.

However, many Christians, Muslims, Jews, Agnostics, and Atheists alike believe agnosticism and atheism are not religions.

If they are not religions, what are they? Are they beliefs? And isn't the word "belief" synonymous with "religion"?

I'm looking for intelligent answers with evidence/research from Christians, Muslims, Jews, Agnostics, Atheists, and any other ism.

If the link doesn't work: http://www.m-w.com/

Thank you for all of the answers. You've given me solid answers to ponder, and while I'm more confused, I think I'm more confused with more information . . . . if that makes sense.

Thanks. And if it matters, I'm agnostic. :) Just trying to find a clear term to use when people ask me what that means.

And by the way ED SNOW (no need to yell), I would die for what I believe in.

Oh, one more. Ely C, I'm pretty sure God didn't teach you to refer to other people as "feces." And I'm a writer, so once I write a book, I fully expect people to interpret what I've written in different ways. If comes with the territory.

Answer 1

It's largely a matter of semantics. By a "minor" definition, they are "relgions." By the first definition of religion, they are not.

MOST people would qualify them as philosophies or belief systems and not "religions" per se. But, I don't see why it matters critically one way or the other.

It does remind me of a time I watched someone convert an atheist to god via redefinition. Semantics games are fun. He said to the atheist, "you believe in energy don't you?" Atheist said "well yes!" "well God is pure energy! So you believe in god!"

*sigh*

Answer 2

Atheism and agnosticism aren't religions because they aren't "systems of belief". As an atheist I call atheism a belief sometimes because I think it would be quite arrogant to call it my "knowledge" or something like that, because I might also be wrong. But the complete definition of an atheist is a person who doesn't believe in God. There is no "holy" book of atheism, no organization, no rituals, nothing like that. So I would say atheism and agnosticism are alternatives to religion. Except for the lack of belief in God or the doubt in it, there is nothing you have to believe to be an atheist or agnostic. Of course atheists also have morals and it is nonsense to say atheists were generally worse people than religious people, but the morals can't be categorized under the label of atheism. A person can be totally immoral and still be a "true atheist" by the definition of the word, while if a religious person does very bad things, people start to say he is not a "true Christian" or not a "true Muslim" or whatever. That is why I think when I describe myself as an atheist this only describes a small part of what I think. You won't see so much ardor in me when I discuss the question of whether God exists or not. I don't believe it, but I also don't think it's bad if people do. You rather see the ardor in me when it comes to questions of what is good and bad, and this is not described by this little word "atheism".

Answer 3

I'm a religious studies major, and I still have not found one decent definition of religion that everyone agrees on. Defining religion is very difficult. The best definition I've found so far is basically a list of things which a "religion" might include. It does not have to include all those things, but it has to include at least a certain number of them in order to be considered a religion.

It is a bit like a medical diagnosis, where one may have some of the symptoms, but not all, and still have the illness.

One does not need to believe in God to be religious. Buddhists generally do not believe in God, and most people would agree that Buddhism is a religion.

In my opinion, Atheism and Agnosticism have some of the things that are included in the list of what all a religion might contain. But not enough to be considered a religion.

But really, it all depends on YOUR definition of religion.

I prefer to call Agnosticism and Atheism religious stances. They are an opinion ABOUT religion, but not really religions themselves. They don't include rituals or practices common to all "members." They don't include a common scripture, or place of meeting, and things like that.

Answer 4

You've missed the point entirely.
"Faith" and "belief" have to do with thinking something is true without any concrete evidence that it is. That's religion -- believing in something you can't see, touch, hear, taste, smell...something ("god") for which there is no concrete evidence.

The vast majority of atheists and agnostics think the way they do because they have examined the available evidence, and logically concluded that there is no evidence of any kind that "god" exists. They look at the evidence showing the bible is full of contradictions, mistakes, and outright lies, and logically conclude that it is not a "holy book from god," but is instead a complete creation of man.

Neither of those positions are "beliefs" in the same way religion is, they are simply the logical and reasonable conclusions one reaches after looking at all the available evidence. That means they're NOT religions, because they don't "believe" something despite the lack of evidence, but their conclusions are directly based on evidence. It makes them rational people instead of superstitious ones.

No beliefs, no faith -- but plenty of ardor :)

Answer 5

You need to dissect the word atheism if you want your answer. Theism is "Belief in deity(ies)." The prefix 'a' means simply 'without.' You don't have to believe that there is NO god to be an atheist, you can simply doubt--and if you even claim that you doubt in god--you simply don't *have* that belief. It's just like when you don't have your car keys in your hand, you don't vehemently exclaim that your car keys don't exist, you're simply 'without' your car keys.

Atheism is not a belief, it's akin to a clean slate. We're born with no belief in god whatsoever, and atheism is like simply returning to that state of mind--we simply don't care anymore about gods or religions. It's not a belief, it's a 'lack' of belief.

As for belief, a belief is something that one trusts as true without needing any evidence to support it; a statement that the world is a certain way. The difference between atheists and most theists, is the level of evidence needed in order for an idea to gain acceptance. Personally, I have my bar set pretty high, I'm willing to say that something has no answer instead of bridging the gaps with God.

Answer 6

You are correct in one respect, yours is not the "top" dictionary definition, NEARER TO 6 OR 7! It is however an endless `old chestnut` that rears it head at least once a month. There is no "SYSTEM" for Atheism, by definition non-belief cannot support a SYSTEM. Christians, Hindus, Muslims, have erected mechanisms to handle, control, disseminate, and theologise upon deities, the word, the flock,the church, and the full paraphernalia of all SUPPORTIVE belief "SYSTEMS". Atheists have nothing to support, protect, die for, revere, blaspheme against, no system of any shape or kind, there is no Atheist congregation, Pastor, Priest, or Holy book, no belief in that which does not exist!

Answer 7

If you're basing your theory on the dictionary you should consider that dictionaries don't typically define words as much as describe *how words are used*. This is a different thing. If you want to know how to use a word check a style guide or one of the hundreds of websites that can steer you in the right direction. I've linked one such website below.
Sorry this is not an answer, just something to think about.

Answer 8

If atheism is a religion then bald is a hair color and not playing baseball is a sport.

Atheism is a lack of belief in deitys and nothing more. You can add things on top of atheism like Secular Humanism which is a philosophy, but not all atheists are Secular Humanists.

Answer 9

Atheism is not an organized system of beliefs. It is simply the fact of not being believing in god(s). Some take a more positive view of it and posit the position that God(s) don't exist.
That means they go from agnostic or ignostic to what you call hard atheist. The hard atheist can find himself in the odd position of being caught in the god faith by being its polar opposite.

A lot of people get confused about the opposite of having a belief in God.
They tend to think it is believing in no God.
I often post that myself. (when I am deliberately attacking your belief system)
Truthfully though it is actually the believing that is opposed.
The opposite of believing is not believing something opposite but simple disbelief.

Answer 10

Atheism is the opposite of theism. Theism is a belief in a deity or deities. Theism itself isn't a religion, it's a belief that a religion can have. In the same way, atheism isn't a religion, it's a belief. There are actually atheist religions.

The same goes for agnosticism.