Atheism - is it becoming a religion of its own?

Question

By the way presumptuous people - I am not an atheist or a Christian - I'm open minded!!

Answer 1

In an odd way yes it is. They are as in your face and spouting their disbelief as zealously as the next religious person. And they can be just as nasty. Pol Pot, Stalin...etc. It's a funny old world, you become the very thing you hated most in others. Atheists have become 'religiously devout' to their cause.

Answer 2

A religion has tenets, beliefs, traditions, ceremonies, etc.

An atheist is just one that does not believe in god.

Within the community of atheists, there are some that believe in aliens, some are Buddhists, some believe in an afterlife, some believe in ghosts. They can believe in anything at all other than gods and still be an atheist.

So, no, atheism is not now, nor will it ever be a religion.

As to your later statement about open-mindedness, I think implying that an atheist or a theist is incapable of being open-minded is a statement that shows a decided lack of open-mindedness on your part.

Answer 3

Atheism cannot become a religion. It is not even to be considered a religion, but a way of thinking. An "open-minded" person like yourself will realize that organized religions generally hold gatherings once a week or so and are there to praise something they do not know exists. What would atheists do at the First Church of Atheists? Rabble and say they don't believe in God? NO! Atheism cannot become a religion. But, it can destroy religions, and that's what Atheism is all about... or is that Nihilism?

Answer 4

No. A lot of theists do try to suggest this, apparently as some form of diversion from their own fallacies. But by definition, Atheism is not a position of belief, it is not faith-based, so can not be a religion.

I think some religious types find it comforting to set up a 'straw man' image of an atheist as a failed theist, someone who just can't hack it as a true believer! They find this easier to confront that someone who has arrived at their position through critical thinking and logic!

Answer 5

Atheism is the antithesis of religion. It is the absence of religion in the same way that darkness is the absence of light and that cold is the absence of heat. You can re-define darkness as much as you want, but it will never be light.

Atheism is the confident belief that there are no deities or spirits that humans need to respect or pay homage to. Humans are as you see them, corporeal, thinking animals. Any higher spirituality is due to our ability to think, feel and moralise.

Atheists must make up their own individual moral codes for what is right and wrong because they aren't following the guidance of a religion.

Answer 6

Good question. There are certainly some atheists who go at the religious like a bull at a gate! Pity really. I always feel that quiet logic and reasoned argument ,put across with a soft voice, is a more effective way to answer the injustices of religion.

Answer 7

"- I'm open minded!!"

It doesn't seem so.

And no, Atheism is not a religion. The beliefs of Atheists aren't even constant. The only thing they have in common is a lack of belief in gods.

Answer 8

Forgive me....but...it seems to me that you don't actually know the meaning of the word atheism since you asked such a question;) atheism comes from the Greek : a- theos = without God. So...my friend, there's no way atheism can be a religion since it denies the existence of God , has no specific creed, no rituals and no worship places;)...We, atheists are NON-RELIGIOUS;) Peace.

Answer 9

No, Atheist people might form a religion but Atheism itself remains a term for people who do not believe in a God.

Answer 10

The Dude has an excellent point.

However, it is simply a thought. It is not an organized system of beliefs. There is one requirement, and one only - you don't believe in God. There are no other factors involved, no religious traditions or stories. Thus, I would in no way characterize it as a religion.