Why do people always assume Atheist means non-religious?

Question

non-religiousness is to Atheism what Catholicism is to Christianity. It is only a part of it. There are many more Atheists than there are non-religious, just as there are many more Christians than Catholics.

I am one of those 'many more'. I am Atheistic, but I have religion.

Atheism is the state of not believing in a Deity of any kind, therefore most (if not all) non-religious people are Atheists.

To believe in a higher force is not the same as believing in a supreme being, although many believe in both.

So cutting a long story short all non-religious are atheists, but not all atheists are non-religious

Can I have views on this?

Answer 1

Evidence of a higher force is apparent to any intelliegent being. Rather that force is one supreme deity, or a cluster of different forces governed by the laws of physics is where opinions differ.
Truthfully, religion is just as far from God as an Atheist. You can definitely be both. What you cannot do is accept Christ as God dying for your sins with Atheism. That's where the line is drawn.

Answer 2

Pardon the pun, you rascally rabbit, but now we get into splitting "hares" with the language. You know, what's a religion, what's spirituality, what's a system of ethics and morals, what's a philosophy?

I think most people would define religions as involving a "god" of some kind, but immediately I'm proof of the fallacy of that system, since Buddhism is classified as a religion in the western world -- because western scholars didn't know what else to call it. It's not really a religion at all, at least not in the "classic" sense but on the other hand it is universally recognized as one of the Great Religions of the World, so go figure.

If we use the classic god/religion standards, I think you'd have to say that all atheists, by definition not believing in a god, are not religious (again in the classic sense). But frankly I know quite a few atheists who have a better spiritual compass and a better system of morality and ethics than many of our holier-than-thee "religious" brothers and sisters.

Anyway, you know the old classic about "assume," so we won't do it will we?

Answer 3

Atheists do not believe in a higher power. They do not follow any dogmatic teachings. Religion is dogma. Therefore atheists cannot be religious.

Religion is dogma and tradition. If you follow any belief system in this vein, then you can consider yourself religious. I think you might be confusing the semantics of religious v. spiritual. I am a baptized Christian, but am totally not religious. I consider myself a spiritual being, but follow NO religion -- just the basic tenets of many.

Not all nonreligious are atheists, for I am nonreligious and believe in Source. All atheists ARE nonreligious, for they follow no dogmatic teachings whatsoever.

And if, as you say, you have religion, then you are not an atheist...agnostic, maybe, but not atheistic.

Peace, bunny!

Answer 4

"Are non-non secular people rapidly atheists?" No. a sturdy family individuals buddy is anti-faith, yet has stable perception in many deities. "Or does that only advise they are not in contact in faith? " this could nicely be a closer which technique of the term non-non secular. "Are there any non secular atheists?" confident! maximum Buddhists are atheist (they view Buddha as a instructor, no longer a deity), as a result there are no longer any deities required in Buddhism. "it type of looks like ninety 9% of all atheists are a hundred% anti something non secular." i'm no longer against spirituality. I only have no thought what they advise by way of "non secular" on account that no person has been able to describe what "non secular" means without contradiction or in accordance with subjectivity.

Answer 5

Wow, dude. A simple correction of english, and the thumbs start wagging.

Ya I'm with you there, but I think you've explained yourself wrongly. I think you mean there is a difference between atheism and lack of religion.

atheism is lack of belief in a god, while lack of religion means you don't follow a religion. I agree with Pangel.

by the way, to all those who said agnostics are non-religious, I disagree. I think agnostics-ism (forgive me for not knowing the proper term) is a religious stance, just like any other.

while non-religion is just that. non-religion. but even non-religious people believe something, so there is no such thing as a non-believer

Answer 6

How can you claim to have a religion and be an Atheist? A "belief in a higher force" as you call it is the same as a manifestion of some kind of deity. Atheists do not believe in any cosmic force whatsoever. I think you are confused, and Agnostic at best, not that there's anything wrong with being an Agnostic.

Answer 7

Man you started off making a good point. Then you stuck your foot in your mouth by saying "therefore most (if not all) non-religious people are Atheists" ignoring all the agnostics and allot of other people who don't have religions. I would normally let it go but based upon what your question is I thought it bared mentioning.

Edit: Ranger God: Buddhists are atheist.

Answer 8

You haven't given enough information for me to answer. When you talk of a higher power, that is originally an AA term to allow alcoholic atheists to participate in the steps program.

But what is a higher power? Unless it is a government, a friend, etc. we have to be talking of some sort of divinity. The second we speak of divinity, we are in the world of religion.

So I can't reject what you are saying, but I'm not willing to agree either.

Pastor John

Answer 9

Hmm, I always thought that in order to have a religion, you had to belief in something or in some cases some one. To be Atheist means the absence of a belief system or religion. So maybe you are not atheist after all.

Answer 10

Well think you are right except not all non-religious are atheist as well as not all atheists are non-religious. However most christians do not seem to even know the definition of either let alone comprehend them.