i do. i mean, if you ask an Atheist what religion they are, they say "Atheist", which means, it's a religion, right?
2007-10-31 11:10:18 · 36 answers · asked by :) 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
NO atheist would respond to your question with that.
When atheists are asked of their religion .. they say *NONE*
2007-10-31 11:14:01 · answer #1 · answered by nola_cajun 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's not a religion so you are right if people say "atheist" when you ask them then they are technically being incorrect but I think it's reasonable for them to say that because they are explaining why they have no religion. Plus if you just say "no religion" then people usually ask if you're atheist or something.
2007-10-31 20:08:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you ever asked me what religion I was, I would answer you in a complete sentence. But you haven't asked me and I doubt you've really asked that many Atheists. .
When I am asked what religion I am, I tell people that I was raised Catholic but I know longer believe in God. I don't even use the word Atheist. I tell them I'm a Realist. What do you call people who don't believe in the Tooth Fairy, or the Lochness Monster? Atheists or Realists? What did one of the Presidents goons call us... "The reality based community" like its an insult or something!
I spent so much time in church growing up - I used to even go to my evangelical friends Bible Basketball after school. I never believed it. I thought I might for a while, I even wanted to, but I was always prone to questioning too much- I found that they didn't like me questioning things too much.
2007-10-31 11:26:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, let's deal with semantics. Is an Atheist someone who believes that there is not a god, or is an Atheist someone who says "I have no objective evidence of a god, so I see no reason to base my life on the existence of a god"? I vote for the latter.
So what this really comes down to is the faith versus reason thing. You can accuse me of having faith that my senses are perceiving the world correctly, and that I just don't see god. But I don't have faith that they are giving me an accurate picture of the world. I simply have no choice. My senses are all that I have. And my senses don't perceive a god.
If xtians want, they can argue that they have a better developed "sense" of faith, and do perceive a god. I really don't care. Just as long as they don't accuse me of taking part in self delusion, of being part of an Atheist religion.
David
2007-10-31 15:39:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no youre getting hung up on grammar. its not a religion but they answer you by telling you what they are - its just another way of saying I don't believe in god. If they were thinking about their grammar they should say I don't have a religion because I am an Atheist. But its simply easier to say I'm an Atheist.
2007-10-31 11:16:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
According to the dictionary an atheist is someone who denies the existence of god. It is quite possible for someone to believe in God, but not belong to a religion. Deism is a religious philosophy and movement that derives the existence and nature of God from reason and personal experience.
2007-10-31 11:26:03 · answer #6 · answered by Incognito 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes, especially when I read some responses, I get the suspicion atheists are, in fact, envious of religious people. I wonder if people calling themselves atheists are really individuals who've had such misery and disappointment in their lives they've given up hope. More important maybe, they may never have bumped into religious people who've bothered to share their Faith with them. Scary. Shouldn't happen. I'm not about to give out my name, address and phone number, let alone my email address, but I'd relish talking with a few atheists over coffee.
2007-10-31 11:21:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the traditional sense, no. But being that that Atheist is defined as someone who doesn't believe in the existence of a supreme being... they still have to believe. Atheists have faith and belief without proof just like everyone else.
But no, it's not a religion.
2007-10-31 11:20:20 · answer #8 · answered by pagancowboyjoe 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To "not believe" is every bit as much a religion as "to believe Christ is the son of God" in the same way that it takes two to make an argument. Every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction.
2007-10-31 11:30:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, I do not consider atheism to be a religion. Do you consider the lack of belief in Santa Claus a philosophy?
2007-10-31 11:18:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's not a religion at all.
You won't even find the word religion in the definition of Atheism. I'm actually quite proud of that. =)
Peace.
2007-10-31 11:17:28 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋