If atheism and agnosticism aren't religions, philosophies, or beliefs, what are they?

Question

I know a lot of people have asked this question, but I'm still confused.

As an agnostic, I wouldn't be offended if someone called agnosticism any of the above. I'm not saying agnosticism and atheism ARE religions . . . I guess I'm not really sure what I'd classify them as. But I've always referred to them as a belief systems.

I need labels here, folks! :D

Rico, if you wanna row about what an agnostic is or isn't, I'm more than happy to carry on a discussion you via e-mail. But don't be so childish as to insult and run.

OK, I think I get it now. Essentially, there are atheists and theists. But because there are so few non-believers in the U.S. and so many theists, non-believers get lumped into one big category. (Hence, so many people not even knowing what agnosticism is.)

In other words, theist=Christian, Muslim, etc. Atheists and Agnosticis=humanists, etc.

That first answer helped a ton. Thank you!

Answer 1

To quote Don Hirschberg, "Calling atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color."

Most atheists and agnostics tend to be humanists... so I guess you could call that the philosophy of atheism... but it's more accurate to call that the philosophy of humanism (counterintuitive as it may sound ;p).
Also, the atheist/agnostic brush paints a wide spectrum of people. There are antitheists, spiritual atheists, ignostics, etc... all of which fall into the categories you listed, so in actuality, atheism and agnosticism are used to describe a huge array of beliefs.

But it's fine to shorthand it once in a while, as long as people understand there is no definitive "atheist" or "agnostic."

Answer 2

They are not belief systems. Agnosticism is simply stating that there is no knowledge from which to make any choice regarding religion. Atheism is an observation not a belief or a belief system. It is like believing in gravity or that the ocean has water. It isn't belief in the religious sense, it is the observation that there is nothing to believe in. As such, any other non-contrary belief can be paired with it and so cannot form a belief system.

Answer 3

Agnosticism and atheism are not religions. In fact, by the correct theological definition, they describe two different aspects of a belief in the divine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG4lr9KJvow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9wnV1AReSo

I would say that "a belief concerning the nature of the divine" would be the most appropriate label.

Answer 4

Well as an agnostic, I do not like to be told I have a religion when I have none. I think of it more as a philosophy which creates my own unique set of beliefs.

Answer 5

Why do you need a label? It is a belief. It is not a belief system. Every atheist is free to think what ever they like. There is only one common belief, No gods

Answer 6

Well, I guess you can compare atheism to not believing Santa exists. Agnosticism you can compare to not believing that any of the current versions of santa are correct, but that doesn't mean that santa doesn't exist, there's just not enough to convince them. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

i would say atheism/agnosticism is the lack of a label. sort of like black is not a color. it's the absence of color. atheism/agnosticism is the absence of a religion, philosophy, or belief system.

Answer 8

Atheism and agnosticism are not religions via fact they are no longer "systems of perception". As an atheist I call atheism a perception in specific circumstances via fact i think of it could be particularly conceited to call it my "information" or something like that, via fact i could additionally be incorrect. however the entire definition of an atheist is a individual who would not have self assurance in God. there is no "holy" e book of atheism, no employer, no rituals, no longer something like that. So i could say atheism and agnosticism are ideas to faith. aside from the lack of ability of perception in God or the doubt in it, there is no longer something you would be able to desire to have self assurance to be an atheist or agnostic. of direction atheists even have morals and that's nonsense to assert atheists have been usually worse people than non secular people, however the morals won't be able to be categorised decrease than the label of atheism. a individual could nicely be completely immoral and nevertheless be a "actual atheist" via the definition of the word, mutually as though a non secular individual does very undesirable issues, people start to assert he's no longer a "actual Christian" or no longer a "actual Muslim" or despite. subsequently i think of as quickly as I describe myself as an atheist this basically describes a small part of what i think of. you will no longer see plenty ardor in me as quickly as I communicate the question of whether God exists or no longer. i've got not got self assurance it, yet I additionally do no longer think of this is undesirable if people do. You somewhat see the ardor in me whilst it includes questions of what's sturdy and undesirable, and it fairly isn't defined via this little word "atheism".

Answer 9

Why not call agnostics what they really are, fence riders who are afraid to make a commitment. Its for those who think they are hedging their bets and fooling themselves that they will still receive salvation by not fully committing to atheism. Well, here is a news flash my friend, it does not work that way.

Answer 10

Well I consider myself a scientist (i believe in science), but why label?