My answer to this question is yes and no.
It depends on how you define the word "religion".
If you set up a definition of it where the only real requirements are that you have a philosophy that tries to explain life and death and our place in the universe, then yes, atheism is a religion.
If, however, you choose to include the requirement that it has to have a positive belief in some sort of god or gods, then no, atheism is not a religion.
It all depends on how you define that word that humans have invented.
We're not dealing with universal truth when it comes to that definition. We're dealing with semantics.
What do you think?
2007-01-21 06:22:43 · 17 answers · asked by Steve A 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I should correct myself.
I shouldn't have used the word philosophy in one of the definitions.
2007-01-21 06:30:12 · update #1
I should also add that I personally don't consider atheism to be a religion.
My personal definition for it includes the requirement for a god or gods and the supernatural.
2007-01-21 06:32:33 · update #2
The whole point behind my question was that I was trying to refute people who say that atheism IS a religion like it's a universal truth.
2007-01-21 06:34:03 · update #3
Thank you for your answers.
2007-01-21 06:34:38 · update #4
I think "religion" is a much simpler word than you make it out to be, and it does not cover atheists.
2007-01-21 09:58:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a religion, it's not even a state of mind or whatever.
I am an atheist, but I always feel silly calling myself that. Atheism is the lack of belief in a god or higher power. So what? I'm also not a doctor, and don't go around calling myself amedic. I don't believe that sushi will have a good taste when I try it, that makes me an asushist?
I don't believe in a God. If there were no believers in Gods, there would be no need to ever label myself as atheist. Atheism is not a religion, but it's a word created because religions exist.
You don't call yourself everyday an "atheist when it comes to Thor", right?
2007-01-21 14:34:11 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you're absolutely right in saying yes and no.
I would have to lean towards yes for this reason: It has not been scientifically proven that there is no God.
Yes the majority of scientists are atheists, but that doesn't prove anything. And I think most will agree that you can't disprove God by the scientific method. Eventually when you strip away all the rhetoric and pre-conceived notions, you're left with a worldview that cannot be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. And for someone to place a belief in something that can't be 100% proven, is to demonstrate faith.
So yes, because atheism is belief in something that cannot be proven, that invokes faith. Even if that faith is that "Well science has taken us this far in confirming out beliefs and I'm quite confident that it will continue to validate our beliefs with future discovery." Even that is still faith, however reasoned one may feel it is. And faith, according to my definition, is one of the key constituents of religion.
2007-01-21 14:42:47 · answer #3 · answered by sickblade 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed.
The definition of religion is as follows:
1.a.Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b.A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2.The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3.A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4.A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
If you use #4, then atheism is a religion. If not, then no, it is not a religion.
Have a nice day.
.
2007-01-21 14:34:36 · answer #4 · answered by Weird Darryl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My answer is yes, no, maybe and who cares.
No, really, atheism is not a religion, we don't meet the requirements. Wikipedia says:
Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life.
Therefore, our lack of beliefs, rituals, and faith makes us non-religious.
2007-01-21 14:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by cannabia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is a lack of a certain belief, and says nothing further about life or death or our place in anything. It is neither religion nor philosophy, although someones philosophy (for instance, empiricism) can include atheism..
2007-01-21 14:28:34 · answer #6 · answered by neil s 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If I say that science, taken in its entirely, tends to cast serious doubt on the existence of a God; how can that be construed as any kind of religion?
Religion is when you believe things in an emotional way, and you don't need any evidence.
2007-01-21 14:30:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, because religion requires invoking a supernatural element. And atheism doesn't.
But it IS a religion in terms of being descriminated against - you can't not hire a person because of their lack of religion any more than you can not hire them because of a religion you don't like.
2007-01-21 14:26:27 · answer #8 · answered by eri 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, they believe in their supernatural existence through evolution. They have strong faith and they preach it thoguh the Religion and Spirituality forum.
2007-01-21 14:34:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, religion is defined in one instance as something one believes in and follows devotedly. Based solely and only on this definition, one could answer your question "yes".
The Bible tells us what pure religion is:
James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
2007-01-21 14:30:10 · answer #10 · answered by lindakflowers 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋