Athiest a religion (pt 2) ?

Question

According to the previous post:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070721112137AAlM7Gn&r=w

I would like to continue the disscussion.

According to the previous answer by Pangel

"....because although Buddhism does not believe in a God , it has a set of principles
Atheism has none

principles , commandments , scriptures , rituals , meetings .... make the religion
not the title

Atheism is not a way of life.... their lack of belief in a God does not govern how they live their lives ...."


This paragraph caught my attention the most
"....because although Buddhism does not believe in a God , it has a set of principles
Atheism has none..."

Athiesm or Athiest DO NOT HAVE a set of priciples to follow right ? Agree ?

Well , here is a question statement.

Isn't not having a principle a way to say that your principle is to not have any one in particular ?

Many would agree with this statement as Athiest do not follow any set of principles. However...

However .... Isn't that generalizing that "Athiest" are people who believes that there is no one set of rules which they must obey.

In which contradicts with the believe that they indirectly "obey" a generalized "Belief" which cause them to "reject and deny" any such religious act of "superstition".

That would be a religion sole based on "Logical and Rational" Theology. Am I right ?

In other words, Athiest believes that by not having a religion means they do not have a religion.

Of which contradicts with their "No believes" ideology. Because they Believe they shouldn't follow any religion. Therefore, indirectly causing them to Believe in something "Generalized" as an Athiest believe/Religion.

Again, Am i right?

Because when you believe in something in which there are many other people who felt the same way. In an Athiest case ... Not to follow any Religious believes.

You eventually "create" a religion to be followed by people who are Athiest too.

About what different Athiest believe and practise . Isn't it just the same that if you are a Christian and there are many others who believes differently from you and therefore branch out?

Agelicans, Protestants *spelling error? , Roman Catholic , Catholic and many other respected Branch of Christian Churches.

But they all regardless of whichever branch they are from, Believes in one thing common. GOD is the almighty and creater .

Despite the debate of religious differences and facts . They share a common "leader" or "Belief".

Just like the Athiest who believe in the general idea of "there is no God" but practise their life differently or similarly. In otherwords, Individualism is born.

Please read carefully before answering =) thanks !

Again, I would like to point out a possible theory wich I would like to share with everyone.


Athiest Believe that they should govern their own life and they whatever they do about their life is based on their own action. There is no "divine" intervention even when "miracles" happens in their life as they consider it as lucky or coincidense.

Isn't that theory a general idea of what Athiest believes?

So in such a way they are a religion because they "Believe" that they are the "CPU" or "God" for their own fate and future. As whatever they do individually will eventually reflect upon themselves.

Other religions believe that God determines their fate. But Athiest believe that they determine their own faith. (Similarly, Buddhism believes the same thing and it is called Karma = Cause and effect.)

For whatever Cause carries the same or an equal result in return. (Physics)

A good point from Leith C ... Although I don't know why he acts so hostile towards my question.

"...A true athiest wouldnt be dwelling on the subject, comming up with more and more ways to disprove the existance of divinity. They wouldnt wake up in the morning and say "Another glorious day and god doesnt exist!" If they made a point of keeping divinity out of their lives they would more likely be agnostic, not athiest...."

Basically, you are saying that Athiest are people who so decide that their lives isn't "govern" by god. But instead it's govern by themselves which is obvious.

As I had mention earlier above that when you believe in something and a group of people too believes in the same thing. And passes on for generations ... It eventually evolves into a religion.

Buddhism wasn't a religion to start with . Infact the Buddha was only human and had no claim to be affiliated with any Omni potent beings. Instead he teaches ways to help with your everyday life.

Continued

Yes the Buddha didn't deny the existance of god believe it is the people's believe and it's just a way for him to respect other's believe. Which I am happy to say most Athiest respects other religions too.

However, I am not pro - christian / buddhist here.

I am only pointing out several factors which may probably confirm my theory that Athiest are in fact not very different from Buddhism.

I'm a scholar and it is my duty to ask questions and be patient in order to get the right amount of details from other peoples like you (in general).

However, I am not going to say that Athiest is going to be a religion tomorrow when I am done with this. Rather I want to understand further about why Athiest who are Believers call themselves NON BELIEVERS ?

It obviously contradicts with everything they say. They believe in the Will power of SELF. So does Buddhism and Buddhism is instead of being a philosophy . It is not a religion.

Soon , will it be the Athiest?

Continued.

Why do i say that Buddhism shouldn't be a religion and I dared to compare Athiest with Buddhism.

Because to me I feel that many people misunderstood the true teaching and messages from the Buddha.

What Buddha taught was merely a "Way" to lead your life. He did not force the Buddhist to follow his way of life. He never damned anyone who doesn't follow.

he teaches people the "middle" path which many Athiest too are taking now. Which is there is no too extreme of anything.

Just neutral and just enough .

However, whatever people say about Demons and Deities in Buddhism. It's all purely in believes of individuals.

Mara the "demon" king was no more than the "Self" we all have whithin ourselves.

When we desire something , we become greedy and we end up hurting others which will also hurt ourselves in the long run.

So, Athiest NON BELIEVER theory is also formed from this inferrence.

*the Buddhist info was only for example.

Answer 1

A- ............ Greek for without or not
Theo(s) ... Greek for God or gods
-ism(os) ... Greek for state, condition or quality of being

Atheism is the condition of being without (belief in) God or gods.

It doesn't really matter why a person has no belief in God or gods, if they do not have the belief they are atheists.

Children are born without a belief in God or gods, they are atheists until they are taught to be otherwise.

re- ....... Latin for again or again and again
ligare ... Latin for to be bound or fastened
-ion ...... Latin for state or condition or the act or action

Religion is the condition or action of being bound (to God) again and again.

A more modern definition of religion is "belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe" or "a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship."

The condition of being "without" belief in God or gods precludes atheism from being a religion. Atheists are not bound to any God or gods. There is no action involved in being without belief. Atheism is not a religion.

In spite of this, when asked about my religious preference, I usually tell people that I am an atheist. It is much easier than attempting to explain that I have no religious perference because I am without belief in God or gods. Telling people that I am an atheist is like marking the box next to "None of the above."

Most people don't really care what words mean or where they derive from. They usually have their own private definition that they adhere to without regard for what is written in dictionaries. Or they choose one of several definitions provided that is convenient to their belief without regard to context. But sharing the actual roots of a word helps me to explain why atheism is not a religion.

Answer 2

Things are so black and white to you arent they?
How does a lack of belief in divinity in any form constitute a religion? Perhaps some people are secure in their lives, accept resposibility for their own actions and do not feel the need to have some higher meaning for it all.
This is not a religion, there is no book that tells you to how to have a religion that is based on not having a religion. That would be an oximoron.
To refer to your other question "If Athiest is a way of life than how come Buddhism is a religion instead of a way of life ?"
Paganism is a way of life, not a religion per-se, yet we believe in divinity (not as a cranky puppet master though, more like kin.)
A true athiest wouldnt be dwelling on the subject, comming up with more and more ways to disprove the existance of divinity. They wouldnt wake up in the morning and say "Another glorious day and god doesnt exist!" If they made a point of keeping divinity out of their lives they would more likely be agnostic, not athiest.
So what about Pagans like me that DO believe in a kinship with divinity, and even believe that we ARE divine ourselves! Why is it always either christian or athiest? You dont hold the monopoly on gods you know!

Answer 3

The only thing that characterize a member of the set of atheists is that theu do not believe in the existance of god.

that is all.
nothing more nothing less.
there are no other COMMON principles.
ofcourse as an individual an atheist has principles.

so the answer to your question is : no.


... ??? huhhhhhhh What exactly do you want to know ????

However, I am not going to say that Athiest is going to be a religion tomorrow when I am done with this. Rather I want to understand further about why Athiest who are Believers call themselves NON BELIEVERS ?

Answer : simple enough

Because when someone say i do not believe in god, that person is generally considered as a atheist, but the person can be a humanist, buddist, etc or an uncategorizable ather type ase well.

He is sure that he does not believe in god. I do not see why you want to call this "state of mind" a belief and the person a believe, Can you explain that ?

Answer 4

Religious folk consistently purport piety and push tiresome notions to imply that atheists live lives bereft of morals and guidance. They often make outrageous claims that murderous leaders such as Stalin and Hitler were atheist when they could not have been because they believed themselves to be omnipotent gods, welcoming the worship and giving or taking of life which went with it.
Atheist lifestyle is resultant from ingenuity, logic and wisdom developed over eons. Atheists neither need nor desire a god’s confirmation and forgiveness, but simply get on with their lives to maintain civil society. Atheists commit acts based on their individual merits instead of bowing to overreaching rationale of doctrinal demands tied to threat of eternal damnation. Capable human beings are ultimately responsible for their own actions.
The concept of puppeteer gods or demons denies that we have only to answer to ourselves, the law and those we care about. Religion is a scapegoat lifestyle. Unfortunately there will always be some who, if not stopped, have the potential to damage society in the name of their god. That is why there are societal laws.

Answer 5

Most atheists are atheists in the same way that they are non-believers in Santa Claus - they haven't proven he doesn't exist, the question of his existence doesn't keep them up at nights, they just don't believe because it's obviously a fiction. It's only a self-selecting few of us that like to get on here and argue with theists about it :-)

So Pangel is right - for most people atheism isn't about principles, any more than non-belief in Santa is about principles.

Answer 6

People who do not believe in God, can be nice peoiple, but the fact that they are turning their back on their creator is the problem. God put laws down for us to live by, and if they want to live by them, not acknowledging they are God's rules, does not say they are thugs, killers, and such. It just means that they are ignoring their maker. By not knowing God's laws, it would leave them vulnerable for the pitfalls of Satan.I Atheism is not a religion, but a dark, empty, and depressing theory. There is no faith, nothing to follow, nothing but emptiness, believing in whatever makes you feel good. It is a empty dark hole, full of traps to fall into set by Satan. The word of God is the protection that true believers have, and the prayer strengthens them in their every day life. The hereafter also is a strong belief, and even ancient people, had a faith in a God. It is something that is necessary, to believe in someone bigger than yourself. Where did they get this need, it was there all along. They knew that the heavens and earth were made by someone other than man, it was God of the Heavens. We just found the real answer when God allowed himself to come to earth as man, and suffer on a cross through His death, to save us from our sin and be with us in a place He prepared for us after death. There is something very special given to a Christian, and it is the gift of the Holy Spirit, it is with you, protecting you, and giving you a peace. This life is only a learning place, if you think it is the only thing that matters, I will tell you that it is not. The real home is in heaven with our Father, the Creator. If you cannot see any further than the end of your nose, then go ahead and believe in your non-belief, and stay in your dark hole. Oh, how much you have missed in not having God in your life. You will never know, as you are an Athiest.

Answer 7

I'm not sure about atheists. My understanding of atheism that there is no belief in anything at all. If it's not tangible or physical it does not exist.

or does it mean that an atheist is just without any sort of belief of a monotheistic set of principles but might believe in something like Buddhism that is without worshiping a deity/deities, or paganism (polytheism).

Answer 8

While I DO see what you're trying to convey, saying atheism is a religion is like saying that running is a religion because I'm fully devoted to it. The only unifying "principle" with atheists is that we don't believe in any deities. That's all. But I would rather call atheism a philosophy rather than religion.

Answer 9

no. what she meant was that atheists, as a group, don't follow any set standards or principles. we all believe different things and live our lives in different ways.

we do have principles, but they are individual principles and are in no way governed by our lack of belief in a god.

the only guaranteed things all atheists have in common is that we don't believe in god. there are no unifying principles or beliefs that tie us all together, like christianity or buddhism does.

Answer 10

I'm surprised you got as many answers as you did. Not being able to know the difference between atheist and atheists or atheist and atheism is enough for anyone to know that you are a waste of time.