If Atheism were a religion, wouldn't it be the oldest religion?

Question

Hmmmmm...?

Answer 1

I don't think so. The earliest proof of any religious or spiritual activity that we have is the remains of stone-age animism (cave paintings, little fat female figurines...)
while those can't be a proof of a "religion" per se, they are a proof of spiritual thinking. I think that as soon the first hominids had enough brain to fear the unknown, they started to believe in unnatural beings and spirits of the dead animals and dead ancestors and similar.

Answer 2

Yes, this would be true if Atheism were a religion.

But Atheism is NOT a Religion

"Atheism is a religion." When you hear a statement like this, it often comes from a person who has actually done little research or thinking about either Atheism or religion. Most people rarely study or investigate their own religious beliefs, assuming they have any. If they are born in a predominately Christian, or Muslim, or Hindu, or Jewish culture, they will probably reflect the religious beliefs of that society.

Nearly every dictionary will define religion as "belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshipped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe. The definition of all other terms linked to religion employ much the same language -- church, monastery, priest. They are all part of a religious-language universe or "game" that has little to do with Atheism.

There cannot be an Atheist "Church", or an Atheist "priest" anymore than there could be an Atheist "god."

Answer 3

Having read through the answers that appear before me, I am happy with the general drift and I am truly stunned to note that there are still some deluded people who accept Adam and Eve as fact. One person even claims that Christianity is the oldest and only true religion. How dumb is that? Why didn't their god smite down all the ancient Greeks for their belief in a whole host of (false) gods and goddesses and, it follows, why not kill off all the Romans, who borrowed the Greek gods and renamed them. Why not murder all the Scandinavians for their belief in Thor and Odin, and the Aztecs and Incas and so it goes on and on.
Since mankind evolved to a state of awareness and the ability to think, he has invented a father-figure god, to protect him and his kind from disaster. BUT, before mankind had reached that stage, his brain activity was somewhat restricted, very similar to current-day apes. Therefore, not one thought ever entered this primitive brain about anything other than eat, sleep, drink, sex, survive. So, by definition, at that stage of human development, man did not consider there to be a supernatural entity. Atheist? I'd say so. Much as every new-born baby in this century is an atheist until their developing minds are filled with the god-concept by supposedly well-meaning parents - and how cruel is that??
Your question is valid. The answer is yes.
EXCEPT
that atheism isn't a religion. As someone else has famously said before me, calling atheism a religion is the same as calling 'bald' a hair colour. Good analogy.

Religion is perceived as true by the common people, as false by the wise and as convenient by their rulers - very slightly paraphrased quote from Seneca, a Greek philosopher.

Answer 4

Although they will deny it, atheism is very much the thing they detest most... organized religion. The word "ism" means: A distinctive doctrine, system, or theory (American Heritage Dictionary). Besides, it takes more faith to believe there is no God than it does to believe there IS a God.

The god of atheism is Themselves and they worship at the altar of the Supreme Court. Their elders consist of the ACLU with Michael Newdow as their High Priest.

Answer 5

If atheism was a religion, it would probably be the oldest, Yet, it wasn't as strong.

The basic instinct for the early human was survival. Survival would take up so much time they would not be too concerned about whether there was a god.

Answer 6

No, because even the oldest culture believed in some kind of supernatural force. Thus a deity-oriented religion is the oldest.

Answer 7

I wouldn't think so. Before the concept of god was invented, humans (or whatever came before us) didn't consider that there was or wasn't a supreme being.

It was when the idea of god was spawned that you had people actively denying it, since atheism is a statement of denial of another premise.

Answer 8

Everyone is an atheist. At least to the religion they don't believe in. A Baptist is likely atheist in regards to Islam or Wicca.

Answer 9

Possibly!

Answer 10

it can not be. the reason is it is impossible to call atheism as a religion. Secoundly christian are the oldest and the true religion!