It is funny, there is no difference between an atheist and a Christian. They both put their faith into something.
2007-10-18 04:18:53 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is a religion and it's followers are more devout than some Christians.
2007-10-18 04:21:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 7⤋
I would make the case, even as a Christian myself, that atheism is not really a religion.
A religion is not simply characterized by a simple belief that something is the case. For instance, I believe night skies are very pretty. This simple statement is not a religion, and here is why:
- It has no transcendent aspect to it. It makes no claims about the meaning of life, or why we're here.
- It does not involve community. Most religions, at least in some measure, provide the means for like minded people to join in fellowship over their beliefs.... and even a group of people admiring a night sky does not really do this.
- There is no real creedal formula to it - yes, night skies are nice, but that's about where that ends.
Atheism is much like this for the same reasons. There are no communities of atheist mystics, or contemplative mystics, since mysticism is generally completely absent from an atheological outlook. There are no communities, period - since there is no god to be believed in, there are no rites, no places of gathering, no common values.
Shared skepticism is not the same thing as shared faith. Not at all. If I may say boldly, shared skepticism is a lesser state.... like free-floating prokaryotic organisms. Shared faith is much more like the advanced existence of eukaryotes.
2007-10-18 04:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by evolver 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I asked a similar question some time ago, the answers opened my eyes to how diverse atheism is. The only consistent answer I received was that they all were unbelievers, including the idea of faith. So, I believe Christians and Atheists are extreme opposites; Christians believe in Christ and faith, Atheists believe in neither, quite a few recognize Jesus existed, but nothing about His divinity. I don't see how Atheism could be a religion based on their unbelief in God.
2007-10-18 04:27:17 · answer #3 · answered by Mookie 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wrong.
Here's how to understand it properly. Imagine if I told you that there were polka-dotted chimpanzees dancing on your head. I imagine you wouldn't believe me. Suppose I responded "you just have to have faith that there are". That's a belief based in faith.
Now, you still don't believe that there are polka-dotted chimpanzees dancing on your head*. Is your disbelief based in faith? Does it take as much faith to believe that there are no polka-dotted chimpanzees dancing on your head as it does to believe that there are? Obviously not.
Needless to say, the gulf between the two positions is even larger when we're talking about something even less likely, like the existence of gods.
I'm afraid you've fallen prey to radical relativism: the assumption that if there are two sides to an issue, both sides MUST be equally valid. That's simply false.
Now if you want to believe - based on faith - that there are gods, that's fine with me, as long as you're honest about the fact that your belief is based on faith, and don't falsely claim to have evidence or proof. Oh, and also refrain from this "non-belief is also based on faith" argument: it's simply false. If you can do those things, you get to keep your belief AND be an honest person at the same time. There was a Christian here just yesterday who took that position: I sent him my sincere respects. Despite the fact that I disagree with his position, I respect him for coming to it honestly.
Of course if you do admit that your beliefs are based in faith then you have no warrant to ridicule or demonize others who don't share those beliefs. If your purpose in being religious is to ridicule or demonize others, you won't get anything out of the honest route. But if your purpose is to have a relationship with God, by all means go out and make public the fact that you have chosen to believe despite the lack of any evidence. I know some atheists will ridicule your for that, but I'll stand up for you.
* If you do believe there are, let me know, and I'll stop talking with you.
2007-10-18 04:30:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
An atheist does not accept the claims that there is a supernatural deity.
A Christian not only swears there is a God, they use that God to spread hate and bigotry.
2007-10-18 04:24:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, atheism is not making the assertion of the existence of a God, therefore, atheism is lack of religion, only skepticism is required - not faith.
2007-10-18 04:22:38 · answer #6 · answered by The Bassline Libertine 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
"Consequently, atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe is without meaning, we should have never have found out that there is NO meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it WAS dark. DARK would be a word without meaning."
-CS Lewis, Mere Christianity
2007-10-18 04:26:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
One might ask whether the absence of belief in Santa Claus is ground upon which to build a religion.
2007-10-18 04:22:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Do believe in the tooth fairy, how about Santa? Do you consider your lack of belief in these fantasy creatures a religion?
Yes that's what I thought.
*sigh*
2007-10-18 05:01:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Contrary to your propaganda influenced belief, withholding belief in gods in the face of zero evidence to support such a belief is the ONLY valid conclusion.
I understand your church has led you to believe a lot of false ideas. Please remove this one from your cache.
2007-10-18 04:24:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You're mistaking the blind faith of the religious as being the same thing as refusing to engage in that blind faith.
2007-10-18 04:22:35 · answer #11 · answered by Trevor S 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋