4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
The ideal being to prove their is no God (or gods). I've just seen "cult" used a lot this morning; thought I would look it up...
2007-09-11 05:15:30 · 10 answers · asked by ddking37 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Michael: That's a laugh! Have you ever read any of the atheists' questions on here? Talk about putting everything under one umbrella--grow up, man.
2007-09-11 05:26:21 · update #1
Simbha: read all the def's, Sweetie. Like I said in the original question: the ideal that they hold in high regard, or to REVERE (to use your def), is to prove there is no God.
2007-09-11 05:48:33 · update #2
brk: very good point! I stand corrected that not all atheists try to prove anything; the burden of proof is on Christians.
2007-09-11 06:02:48 · update #3
That would be malafide.Any cult has a lot of inbuilt irrationality in to it,where as the very basis of atheism is rationality and logic.The ideal of atheists is not to prove that there is no God.They simply don't believe there is any entity like a God.The burden of proof is rightly on people who believe in existence of a God.
2007-09-11 05:35:58 · answer #1 · answered by brkshandilya 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it doesn't seem like a match to me.
Some atheists might want to prove there are no gods, however other atheists just assume there are no gods and have no interest in proving it or trying to convince anyone about it.
I don't think it would be accurate to say that most atheists are "bound together" in any particular way.
There might be a small subset of atheists that could be considered to sort of be a "cult" that "venerates" the concept of there not being any gods. It would just be a small group who have a special interest in this subject - but it could just as easily be called a club as a cult.
However, as a whole, atheists could not be considered to fit the dictionary.com definition.
2007-09-11 05:32:20 · answer #2 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your reasoning is based on the notion that atheists are bound together by the veneration of the idea "there is no god". Certainly atheists agree with that statement. But "veneration" is a much stronger than simply agreement.
I would also point out that every religion in the world would be a cult by the definition you cite.
2007-09-11 05:27:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No no longer a cult yet a faith of varieties? possibly...I be conscious many cases each and each atheist will answer a question with an identical words and suggestions...especially unified there...just about an solid group with unofficial 'widespread know-how' that any one embraces. concept i might upload something that an atheist published up above me...what's a cult?---- 4. a set or sect sure at the same time by ability of veneration of an identical situation, man or woman, appropriate, etc.
2016-12-13 06:14:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Also from dictionary.com (since you used that source):
venerate (verb): to regard or treat with reverence; revere.
Atheists, in general, do not "treat with reverence" their disbelief in a god. Instead, it is the absence of a belief in god. It has almost become cliche' but I will use an analogy: if the members of a group of people believe there exist no pink unicorns swimming in my pool, is that a cult?
2007-09-11 05:26:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's not atheism at all. Here's a hint to what atheism is: imagine if you raised a child, and told it nothing of any religion. That child would be an atheist.
Do you think that selecting one possible definition of a word from an arbitrary source and then generalizing an entire group of individuals under an umbrella definition is respectful?
2007-09-11 05:22:04 · answer #6 · answered by Michael 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, because atheists by definition dont venerate any ideals or persons
2007-09-11 05:48:14 · answer #7 · answered by Peter A 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if atheists think that god is a man-made concept, then any religious school of thought is a religion technically.
2007-09-11 05:25:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That would make NASCAR fans "a cult" as well.
You shouldn't define so broadly. You may end up including yourself.
2007-09-11 16:42:11 · answer #9 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every bit as much as any legitimate religion could be. Good point.
2007-09-11 05:22:12 · answer #10 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋