Atheists. Do you agree with this article that atheism is a religion?

Question

I'll post the link in a second. I find my questions don't get posted if a link is in it.

http://www.therealitycheck.org/GuestColumnist/rtakala090105.htm

Answer 1

Not in the slightest. Atheism is a LACK of belief in any and all religions and gods.

Answer 2

The author of that article is rather ignorant.

If you made it to the end of the article, you'll read a not on the author.

"Rudy Takala is sixteen and was homeschooled for nine years;"

Can you say Episcopalian fundamentalist little boys and girls? I knew you could.

"This is an issue of reality – of what atheism really is. It is a matter of faith. It’s an unproven hypothesis that its adherents want to propagate and convince others of."

Before we can decide whether the hypothesis is proven or unproven, what on earth does Rudy think this hypothesis is? Because my hypothesis is that Rudy doesn't know what he's talking about. Is that unproven? Well, that's debatable but lets say for example it remains unproven. So my "faith" would be "it's unproven that Rudy doesn't know what he's talking about." And that's a religion?

Are all "unproven hypotheses" religions? If you believe I collect stamps, is that a religion? If your friend believes I don't collect stamps and I remain silent, are those both religions?

Atheism is no more a religion than NOT collecting stamps is a hobby.

I also particularly liked this paragraph,

"Because non-religion is now a religion, the Establishment Clause of the Constitution now requires all court houses in the United States to publicly display a copy of the Ten Commandments. When religion was defined simply as a belief in God, it was unconstitutional to display religious monuments anywhere near court houses. However, the absence of God has also become a religion. At best, the amount of space in court houses filled by religious paraphernalia will have to be equal to the amount of space without any religious things."

Are the urinals in public washrooms religious now too because anything that was once non-religious is now religious? Is Rudy saying the court houses need as many Christian urinals as "atheistic" ones? What about Jewish urinals? Muslim urinals? Buddhist urinals? Do they all need equal space? Do the courts also need to fly a Christian American Flag as well as the regular stars and stripes?

Answer 3

Atheism is not, by and of itself, a religion. It is simply a lack of belief.

I don't know the details of the case illustrated in the article, but it appears that the inmate wanted to form some type of atheistic religious group. There is no contradiction here. Although most atheists in the West are not religious, atheism does not necessarily preclude religion or spirituality. There are many examples of atheistic religions in the world, and it would certainly be possible to develop some sort dogma around atheism itself.

Do you have any links to the court's written decision? It sounds like a pretty interesting case. I'd like to learn more about it.

Answer 4

It mostly shows the dangers of home schooling and the reason 16 year-olds are not allowed to vote.

Anyone who confounds Atheism with biological science has been denied some very critical need-to-know information.

Atheism means only no belief in any gods. It is not a religion, a philosophy, an epistemology, or a system of belief of any kind.

More than anything, the article demonstrates how outrageously uneducated American society is from top to bottom.

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Danny H --

You think that an article written by a scientifically illiterate 16-yr-old 'Rocked'?

You skipped all of those math and science classes, didn't you?

Answer 5

LOL! That article rocked! I've been saying that about atheists the whole time!

I read through the posts to your question, most of them standing by the position that atheism is not a religion but simply a lack of belief. The point, however, is that the atheistic position IS based on belief. Period! There is no physical, scientific evidence proving there is no God. NONE! Therefore, in the absence of factual proof, you are only left with what you believe. That is the definition of belief - pure and simple. If, however, it was somehow proven through scientific experimentation that there was or was not a god, then at that point belief would be eliminated because we would have solid, proven data showing us the facts. At one time people believed the earth was flat because they had no evidence proving it was round, and none proving it was flat. Their idea of the shape of the earth was based on a belief. However, as time and technology progressed, it was later PROVEN that the earth is in fact round. Therefore, any beliefs about the earth's shape expired when we obtained the facts.

The same reasoning applies to atheism and theism. Until it's proven one way or the other, both will be based on belief.

The court's ruling is a gem. Now, can we please have prayer back in school, since the absence of prayer violates my rights to practice religion in an institution funded by my tax dollars?

God bless.

Answer 6

No, Atheism has never been a religion. Atheists can be religious, but Atheism in itself is lack of belief in a God. There is no doctrine to be followed, no rituals to be performed, nor is faith required.

Some may argue that Atheism requires faith to believe that there is no God, they fail to understand that Atheism is not a belief structure, it is not a "belief in no God" as was stated earlier it is lack of belief, a negative. Some people whom are Atheist might believe there are no gods, higher powers, and the result is their view becomes a positive belief based upon faith, but such people are expanding beyond the basic definition of Atheism.

Answer 7

No...
I would say more, but it seems like everyone else has said it, in one way or another.

I do not belong to any organized group, and I do not worship anything or anyone who may be considered supernatural.

However, you must keep in mind, that most Buddhist sects, can almost be considered Atheists, as they deny a belief in a Creator God. So from that stand point they are Atheist.

And you were right about the source, it was definitely one sided and meant for a Christian audience.

Answer 8

I am Christian and I do not see atheism as a religion. It does not fit the criteria and I think that the article is posted with a definite agenda. Obviously the courts got it wrong when they granted the inmate religious privileges for atheism. I think that is having your cake and eating it too.

Answer 9

nicely, if the only way we are able to be certain equivalent rights is by skill of the splendid court having to step in and make a criminal huge distinction like this, then i assume it is going to might desire to do. it truly is, even although, truly.Freaking.unhappy. that discrimination against atheists has gotten so undesirable that this ruling is even mandatory. truly because it truly is technically erroneous. Atheism is a faith like bald is a hair colour. am i able to think of of a extra clever way? Yeah, i can. Will the religious majority in u . s . of america ever enable it to ensue? Very doubtful.

Answer 10

Of course it's not a religion..!

If atheism were a religion, then by defualt, every man woman and child ever born, and whoever will be born, are therefore religious, whether they like it or not..

It is a useless label of generalistaion that christians use as a diversionary retort, usually applied when challenged about the credibility of their faith..

Another silly, simplistic and infantile christian concept..