Atheists sometimes tell me that Atheism is a religion, and sometimes that it's not... But it is a set of beliefs and definitely rule out a God. God can not be ruled out scientifically (Quantum Physics) so in my mind it is a religion/belief system of no-God.
Agnosticism on the other hand leaves the possibility for God and the possibility for No God open, so I can definitely see that this is not a religion.
Please explain why my thinking on this is wrong, thank you.
2007-12-13 00:41:36 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Right... but Agnosticism is "Not playing Golf." Atheism is going out and lobbying against Golf.
2007-12-13 00:49:25 · update #1
Toog.. What makes you think I don't believe in Unicorns?
2007-12-13 00:55:06 · update #2
I think you are on track. Atheism makes a religious statement, and ergo is a religion. Agnosticism says that the existence (or non-existence) of an Almighty one cannot be scientifically proved or disproved. It therefore really is a comment on science.-- (that science is not an appropriate tool for this particular study)
2007-12-13 00:48:21 · answer #1 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Atheism is based on the absolute faith that there is definitely no God, and you can't convince them otherwise ever no matter what they might experience. It is prone to the same absolutism that other religions are susceptible to. Agnosticism, on the other hand, is simply honest and open-minded doubt, which can be a natural part of anyone's spiritual path. It is not a religion, but the unmanifest possibility between religions -- asking questions, and being open to answers. I'm not sure that either are technically religions, but Atheism certainly has the same attitude of Religion, while Agnosticism has the same attitude as Science.
2007-12-13 08:53:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism isn't a religion, it's a philosophical position. Same with agnosticism.
I'm an atheist. I have a religion, though it doesn't involve deities. Two very different things. One is a system of beliefs and practices, the other is simply a lack of belief in one concept.
Or is NOT playing golf considered a sport all the sudden?
2007-12-13 08:44:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not a 'set of beliefs' at all. Nor does it rule out the possibility of gods, you're only looking at 'strong' atheism. Atheism itself is just the absence of belief in gods. One can be both an atheist and an agnostic, if one doesn't believe in gods but isn't certain that they don't exist.
Anyway, neither atheism nor agnosticism is a religion.
2007-12-13 08:58:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't call either of them religions. Religions as I think about them involve rules and rituals to make you a better person/get you closer to God (which incidentally is why I wouldn't describe Christianity as a religion - that's not what it's about). Atheism and Agnosticism are both belief systems, which would put them in the same category as belief systems like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.
2007-12-13 08:47:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I cannot speak for Agnosticism, but Atheism is not a religion. We only share belief that there is not sufficient evidence to prove the existance of God(s) and that's where our unity ends. It's not like I have to adopt a certain set of rules in order to become an atheist, nor do I have to follow some rules in order to be considered such.
Difference between Atheism and religion - when another atheist says or does something contrary to my personal principles, I do not blush for him nor do I feel like he/she has brought a bad name to Atheism. That's the key.
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2007-12-13 08:47:07 · answer #6 · answered by Poppy Pickette AM - VT 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Neither of them is a religion.
Atheism rejects the existence of God because there is no proof. In science, you need to actually proof that something is right before it is right. Just because God cannot be ruled out does not make him real. Athesim is built on logic. It does not set out to disapprove God. Instead, it simply wants proof (scientifically) of God's existence.
Agnosticism, on the other hand, states that God cannot be prooven and leave it at that. It is a bit of a lazy approach. It is built on humility, accepting that there are things that we simply can't understand.
2007-12-13 09:20:31 · answer #7 · answered by zi_xin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Neither are religions, as neither are following a belief system or worshipping something-or-other. Atheists do NOT believe and Agnostics don't yet know what they believe. This is not religion. Various definitions of "religion":
(Dictionary.com) A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
(American Heritage Dictionary) Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe; A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship; A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
(Wikipedia) ****A religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law... encompass[ing] ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience.
Atheists and Agnostics have beliefs related to the idea of religion, but they themselves are not part of a religion.
2007-12-13 14:01:42 · answer #8 · answered by Tamara Taylor 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Neither of those is a religion. Just like "theism" isn't a religion.
Let me explain the english language to you because apparently you never went to school...
"A" means "without", the second part of the word explains what it is that you are without. In this case "theism". This means that an Atheist is litterally "without god(s)".
"Agnosticism" means that you are right down the middle.
Theism (notice there's no "A" attached) means "with god(s).
None of them are religions. To be a religion you need to have things like doctrine and structure. Nowhere do the words Atheism, Agnosticism, and Theism imply that they have doctrine and structure.
There are no similiarites between Atheists other than that they are "without god" because there is no doctrine and structure. Therefore they aren't a religion.
So stop doing your best to troll a reaction from the Atheists and go back to school.
2007-12-13 08:49:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think neither atheism or agnosticism are religions.
A religion is a set of commonly-held beliefs, rules, and hierarchies designed to promote mass worship of a deity. Neither atheism nor agnosticism have any of that--no priesthood, no religious laws, etc. They are simply described by two beliefs:
"I believe there is no God."
"I don't know if there is a God."
That's it.
2007-12-13 08:51:06 · answer #10 · answered by Chantal G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋