The American Heritage Dictionary gives as one of its definitions for religion as follows: An objective pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion. example: a collector might make a religion out of his hobby....
2007-03-12 08:47:59 · 13 answers · asked by wordman 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
therefore could atheism be considered a religion??
2007-03-12 08:50:49 · update #1
why or why not??
2007-03-12 08:51:40 · update #2
Of course it is a religion,
they have their prophets, Darwin.
they have their priests, collage professors.
they have their Churches, collage campus's
they have their God, themselves
2007-03-12 09:03:45 · answer #1 · answered by Shawn 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to The AH Dictionary, then yes....Atheism could be considered a religion if it is defined as an objective pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion. I have no doubts that atheists pursue and endorse their beliefs with much zeal and conscientious devotion, its evidenced by a lot of the answers and questions posted on YA.
2007-03-12 08:57:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, alot of rude answers, eh?
I'd say that if you objectively pursue (with zeal or conscientious devotion) the idea of atheism...meaning that in all knowledge you aquire you are constantly (objectively) searching for evidence that proves or disproves your beliefs (until disproven, maintaining devotion in your current faith that there is no 'higher power')........then, yes, atheism is a religion.
However, I believe that an individual can be atheist, but atheism not be a religion for them. If they not Religious (using above definition) about atheism, then it is not a religion to them. It is just a secondary aspect of their nature.
2007-03-12 09:18:05 · answer #3 · answered by aurorase 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are giving an example of the word being used as an allusion. You are better to consider the aspects of belief.
A collector might be devoted to the practice of his hobby but unless he holds it as a faith then it is not a religion.
Atheists have no faith in God(s) and they have no organized belief system that they hold faith in as being atheist. So no, it is not a religion. I wish it was because then I could declare my income to be tax exempt.
2007-03-12 08:55:55 · answer #4 · answered by U-98 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
perhaps for some individuals it is, but it cannot be considered a religion in & of itself.
i am an atheist because i do not believe in a "personified deity"
i do beleive in the transcendental power of the universe, the divinity of All, and have a seperate religion, atheism describes a small portion of it.
2007-03-12 08:51:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Possibly. But their definition is incomplete - religion requires a belief in the supernatural. That's usually the definition of religion. Did you just pick one of several definitions that served your purposes?
2007-03-12 08:52:20 · answer #6 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps according to that definition, but I find it incomplete. There needs to be a supernatural or metaphysical element to separate it from an ideology or even a hobby.
2007-03-12 08:53:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK, as long as we do the same thing with the guy who makes a religion out of putting tags on groups.
2007-03-12 08:52:10 · answer #8 · answered by JAT 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
*SIGH* People... that definition is for "religion" when it's used in the context of:
"She jogs religiously... morning, noon and night, she never stops!"
or
"He follows the Red Skins religiously, he's their biggest fan".
If you think that anything falling under that definition qualifies as an actual religion as in organized faith, then... well.... good for you, but you've got it all wrong.
2007-03-12 08:50:59 · answer #9 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It has always been my opinion that everyone has a religion. If they say they don't they are just in denial.
2007-03-12 08:51:32 · answer #10 · answered by Catman 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋