I have a honest question for Christians...?

Question

Why do many Christians, especially fundamentalist, consider every ideology they disagree with (Atheism, Liberalism etc) intrinsically a religion, when it isn't? Does it make those ideas easier to hate if they consider them a different religion? And, does that show the inherent intolerance of Christianity?

I should've asked why are Christians sometimes so evasive.

43rd Apostle: Read Ann Coulter's "Godless: Church of Liberlism"

Answer 1

Well - personally, I do not consider atheism a religion...

Yet, it depends on what a person means by "religion".

For example, I have a book called:
"The Compact Guide To World Religions" by Dean Halverson.

In it, there are chapters on Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Marxism, New Age Movement, and Secularism among others...

And atheism and the "non-religious" are grouped together and discussed under "Secularism".

How do they justify this, when the title of the book is "World Religions"?

So...I went to the beginning of the book, which states:
"What is a religion? The definition what we will be working from in this book is that a religion is a set of beliefs that answers the ultimate questions: What is ultimate reality? What is the nature of the world? What is the nature of humanity? What is humanity's primary problem? What happens after death? Such a definition means that a religion does not necessarily include a belief in God, a set of rituals or a class of clergy or priests. Secularism and Marxism are examples of what could be called religions in that they answer the ultimate questions, but they do not teach the existance of a supernatural realm, nor say anything about God."

...but that is just THIS book.

The Bible would define "religion" differently...

And "religion" in Merriam-Websters is also different:
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/religion

I would agree more with THESE definitions rather than the "twisting" of the word as my book above does. Therefore, I would agree with you that atheism is not "intrinsically a religion". However, many Christians simply use the word "religion" when they should use the word "worldview" or "world view".

Now then...for the first time ever, I just looked up "worldview" in Merriam-Webster:
And it points to a word of German origin that is defined as:
"A comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world, especially from a specific standpoint"

And specifically, a worldview or world view answers very basic questions about the "world" from our perspective, such as:
1) Why is there something rather than nothing?
2) How do you explain human nature?
3) What happens to a person at death?
4) How do you determine what is right and wrong?
5) How do you know that you know?
6) What is the meaning of history?

...and each religion answers these questions differently. And even atheism (not a religion) attempts to answer them, though differently, of course...

So, perhaps the book I own should have been called:
"The Compact Guide To World Views"

But then again, it probably wouldn't have sold as much...because people are more use to the word "religion"...and generally accept atheism as "just another religion"...

So, perhaps there are some "marketing" issues here.
:)
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But on to your other questions....
"Does it make those ideas easier to hate if they consider them a different religion?"

Well...perhaps, for some. But for me, making the categorization of "world views" helps me compare and contrast all world views, including atheism, on a very basic level. In other words, it helps me discern between atheists, Jews, Muslims, Marxists, and Wiccans...in how they answer the questions above (and other basic questions many people ponder).

Your final question:
"Does that show the inherent intolerance of Christianity?"
i.e. When a Christian calls atheism a religion, is this evidence for intolerance?

No. Perhaps they are misguided using that word...or even "twisting" the definition of the word...and should be using the word "world view", or something similar...

But the fact that they lump "atheism" in with the other religions is only due to the fact that MOST world views ARE religions. There are very few (in comparison) world views that are NOT religions. Atheism just happens to be one of those examples. BUT, to be semantically accurate and precise, I completely agree with you. Christians should NOT use the word "religion" to describe atheism. And there is a "growing trend" and gaining popularity of the word "worldview", especially amone Christians...and due to people like you, who are atheists.

Even in the Bible, itself...the word "religion" only appears about 5 times...and the Greek word used in the original writing was "threskeia" or "threskos", which basically meant "ceremonious in worship".

So, the Bible would not consider atheism a religion.

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Finally, a note on "intolerance":
The people that promote "tolerance" the MOST are the people that say you can "believe whatever you want to believe". Well, I personally believe that what Jesus said was true...that He is the ONLY way to heaven. A "tolerant" person should therefore be "tolerant" of my view.

Furthermore, no one in their RIGHT MIND is truly "tolerant" of all religions.

I could "make up" a "religion" that had a "religious ceremony" that involved pedophilia and child sacrifice...but would the "tolerant" people of the world "tolerate" this?

And the question could be proposed for "extremist" Muslims, who are "worshipping Allah" through a holy Jihad, and killing unbelieving infidels! They are just being obedient to their religion! How "intolerant" to suggest that these actions are acts of "terror"! Shouldn't we "praise" them for being true to their religion...and tolerate their religion! Isn't this the land of freedom...freedom of speech...freedom of religion???

On 9/11, why were "tolerant" Americans so "intolerant"???

If 9/11 made you upset or makes you upset, then you are being "intolerant" of Muslim extremists! How dare you!

America is intolerant!

In truth, a healthy amount of "intolerance" is morally acceptable...especially for honest atheists...and honest Christians.

It is also necessary to be "intolerant"...or else you must live in a society without laws! Laws are inherently "intolerant".

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Answer 2

Though they might not be able to communicate it, the Fundies are operating on a grain of truth, in my opinion. What is apparent to me is that those other ideologies are set upon certain types of thinking that have to do with their views on Christ. And it's not a good view or an accurate one.

Liberals for instance think that recycling is going to save the Earth. And it's not going to 'save the Earth'. They think that America is the worst country for environmental pollution, and it's not.

The way the Liberals think shows that they do not look forward to salvation by Christ, and that these are the End Times. And that God will get into the act as far as the environmental destruction which will occur when God starts the Great Tribulation. They act like this Earth will continue until the sun goes nova. And it won't.

So Atheism and Liberalism do not place the future acts of God which are promised as having any factor on what ought to be looked for, and I agree with the Fundies on that point.

Answer 3

It has more to do with politics than religion. Leaders of the Religious Right want to make Christianity look embattled, threatened. It's easier to do this by claiming another religion is being favored over Christianity, rather than that the government refuses to endorse -any- religion.

So they tell their flocks, for instance, that the reason prayer isn't allowed in schools is because the govt. wants to teach our kids its own secular religion. Doesn't that sound a lot scarier?

Also, if what we're fighting is another religion, then it's not just a difference of opinion, its good vs. evil! If we know WE have the One True Religion, then other religions are just -wrong-, they are the work of Satan. We don't have to come up with logical, reasonable answers, we can just -fight-.

Answer 4

I think it is the train example. If a person sees another on a train track they try to warn them. The person on the track does not realize they are in danger and feels the other hates them for telling them to change. Then there are others that look at the person on the track and say it is their right to be hit by the train whether they are aware of it or not.

I think that is the intention of certain religious types. The problem is that many even the religious types are on tracks themselves and vaguely aware of it.

Answer 5

I'm a fundamentalist Christian. I don't view atheism, liberalism, Darwinism, etc. to be a religion.

I don't hate people, but I do hate lies that tear people away from God. I have many friends who are atheists and I love them dearly.

I don't think I'm intolerent of people; however, I am admittedly intolerant of sin. There's a difference.

Answer 6

Atheism should be more properly termed "anti-theism."

Especially in R&S where the goal seems to be not to gain acceptance for non-belief, but to prove non-existence and to cause believers to feel copious amounts of guilt and shame for having a belief in common with the radicals so horrendously portrayed by the media.

Answer 7

I think it depends on the "Christian" my friend. If the "Christian" is a fundamentalist they they believe their teaching are the only way and any other way is a method of worship typically aligning this person with the devil. That is the nature of fundamentalism to see any other way of thinking other then their own as a false method of worship.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

atheism is a belief. not a religion, atheists dont practice anything, unlike christians who practice the belief in Jesus. If atheist had a church where they went to all focus on one thing it would be different.

Answer 9

What ever one uses as the guiding principles for their life can be considered a religion.

Answer 10

Men teaches religion the way they see it, the bible teaches the truth. So many are evasive because they can not defend their religion and its practices. there's alot of man- made doctrines involved in religion.