Why can't Atheist accept, that they belong to Atheism?

Question

Or the FACT, that Atheism is a form of religion?

Answer 1

Atheism is not a religion. It is a loose collection of philosophical positions. The is no central figure. There is no formal structure or organization. In short, there is nothing there that they can belong to.

Why do you feel the need to perpetuate this lie?

Answer 2

I believe in a higher power at work in the universe. I am not an atheist, but how can any sane person think atheism is a religion? Most Christians would be up in arms if atheists were claiming to be a religion! Its a case of trying to be argumentative.

Answer 3

Because it's not a FACT that atheism is a form of religion.

Answer 4

There are no traditions or practices associated with atheism which would define it as a religion. A person can believe in God but not follow a particular religion. The same is true for atheists.

Answer 5

re·li·gion

re·li·gion [ri líjjən]
(plural re·li·gions)
n
1. religion beliefs and worship: people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life
2. religion particular system: a particular institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine
3. personal beliefs or values: a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by
4. obsession: an object, practice, cause, or activity that somebody is completely devoted to or obsessed by
The danger is that you start to make fitness a religion.

5. christianity monk’s or nun’s life: life as a monk or a nun, especially in the Roman Catholic Church


[12th century. Via Anglo-Norman religiun , from Old French religion , from the Latin stem religion- “obligation, reverence,” of uncertain origin: probably formed from religare (see rely).]


-re·lig·ion·less, adj
get religion to stop flouting the rules, regulations, customs, and expectations of society (informal) to become a believer or join a religious organization, and, usually, start to lead a life that follows its teachings (informal)
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Sure, whatever. But we aren't part of some group, we all think differently. I'm "religious" about certain things in my life.

Answer 6

We all accept that we are Atheists but we do not accept that Atheism is a religion because simply, it's not.
All beliefs or non-beliefs are not religions.
It's like saying because I do not believe in spanking my child I now belong to a religion called aspanking.

Answer 7

Because the general accepted meaning of religion involves the belief in the existance of a god. Ofcourse you are free to stretch the meaning of the word religion such that not believing in the existance of a god also falls in the category religion but this will make the word religion almost meaningless.

Answer 8

Atheism is not a religion.

Answer 9

Atheism is not a religion. It's a word used to describe people who don't fall for the big lie, who can separate fact from fiction, and won't behave in a lemming-like fashion...

Answer 10

Atheism is the only religion without a holiday.