See, I've noticed that a lot of people (believers mostly) suggest that atheism is a religion. Usually it's said that atheism requires "faith". So.....
Does "faith" alone constitute religion? Like... having faith in a politician? Or having faith in a sports team? What about having faith in penicillin? How about faith in the skills of a surgeon? Oh, oh, and then there's having faith in the faithfulness of a spouse or significant other. Do all these faiths point to a religion?
2007-02-20 09:21:54 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I would have to say that some people's faith in Notre Dame football does qualify that as a religion.
Still, having a single tenet of faith does not a religion make. Neither Deists (people with faith in god but not in any organized religion) nor Atheists (people with faith in the non-existence of god) have any common belief structure beyond their one tenet of faith. Religion is normally defined as a set of beliefs. In this case no, Atheism, while it requires faith, is not a religion.
On the other hand, there may well be Atheist religions. Religions which do not believe in a god (or gods). And Atheists may affiliate themselves with a religion. So, yes, there are religious Atheists. Still, would a Christian and a Muslim consider themselves members of the Theist religion?
2007-02-20 09:27:38 · answer #1 · answered by Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope you just don't jump up election morning and decide to vote for Hillary Clinton; you should have a good reason for doing so. Faith in anything without having a reason may be a great blunder.
Faith is 'Faith' whether it's about religion or 'penicillin.'
I have faith in Penicillin because I have witnessed it's majic.
I believe in my sergeon because I know he spent many years studying how to cut people open and put them back in one piece.
I believe in God because my dad who is a scientist says that 'science' didn't make the sun.
2007-02-20 17:38:32 · answer #2 · answered by Fatima 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism fits the definition... it's a system of beliefs.
Buddhists don't worship (or have faith in) a God or diety, much like Satanists, it's just a way of looking at things. As is atheism.
It's classified as a religion. Faith alone doesn't constitute religion, but it's one factor that does.
Faith for me, personally, is expectance. The spanish word, with its Latin roots, for "to hope" is 'esperar'. It also means to wait, and to expect. If it's according to God's will, then he has all the power to do it, and I have faith that he will with the authority God gave me through Jesus
2007-02-20 17:27:25 · answer #3 · answered by Doug 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, faith alone does not constitute religion. You need a Prophet founder, Scripture, laws, a calendar, and instruction of beliefs. Faith is part of religion, but faith alone does not a religion make.
2007-02-20 17:59:43 · answer #4 · answered by Dolores G. Llamas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having faith in something does not constitute a religion. I have faith that gravity will continue to function, that doesn't mean I worship gravity only that I believe in something that I cannot see.
In terms of religion, faith in the Bible is a requirement but not the only one. You must follow ALL of God's commandments in order to achieve salvation. Faith alone is NOT enough.
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:20
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." James 2:24
To better understand Faith, read the entire book of James.
2007-02-20 17:31:10 · answer #5 · answered by TG 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, you can have a religion without faith.
Religion is a framework on which to hang your beliefs. When we speak of faith it's part of what goes on the structure.
Atheists do have a god though...it's their mind/intellect. They have faith in their own logic and believe that their logic trancends any belief in the supernatural.
2007-02-20 17:30:41 · answer #6 · answered by Misty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith is a belief in something when you can't prove it. It can be in something religious, or in something else. I have faith the sun will rise tomorrow. It may but, but I have faith it will. But that doesn't mean I have any religion based on the sun rising.
2007-02-20 17:29:00 · answer #7 · answered by Tom :: Athier than Thou 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right.
Faith comes out naturally from the human mind is vain, it is more fancy than truth.
Faith is nothing, if it is not conscious knowledge of God, resolution under His Will and act with His divine guidance.
So, true faith is religion, which means learning and practicing the teachings of the Messengers of the One True God.
2007-02-20 17:33:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't the same kind of faith. All those things your faith is based on some type of evidence that points to it probably being right. Religion has no such evidence.
2007-02-20 17:27:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You dont need a religion to have faith in God
2007-02-20 17:26:51 · answer #10 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋