atheism is a (religious position)

[shunyadragon]

This is a bit of a stretch. An atheist can be religious; there are nontheistic religious traditions. But atheism itself is just a position in relation to a single question.

This is a stretch, bcause it is your personal view of what is a religion based on your agenda.

 

[shunyadragon]

It's really a response made to the question of an existing god posed and started by theists, who one fine day, decided to question their atheism. :0)

I agree with the bo;d above. Everyone should be open to to questioning their own belief

 

[Twilight Hue]

I agree with the bo;d above. Everyone should be open to to questioning their own belief

Most certainly.

If a person is seeking honest and truthful answers, critique is an essential neans to help accomplish it.

 

[Copernicus]

This is a stretch, bcause it is your personal view of what is a religion based on your agenda.

I think that most English speakers use religion to refer to a system of beliefs and practices involving worship or devotion, not just an opinion that gods do or don't exist. I don't even think of theism as a religion. It is just a belief that one or more gods exist. Religions can be theistic or non-theistic, so it is reasonable to say that some people who are atheists are also religious, but we think of atheism typically as being a rejection of religious belief. It is more a rejection of god-belief.

 

[Yerda]

This is a stretch, bcause it is your personal view of what is a religion based on your agenda.

Just my understanding of the words used. Not everyone who disagrees with you is in on some conspiracy.

 

[lukethethird]

Just my understanding of the words used. Not everyone who disagrees with you is in on some conspiracy.

Well, just because he's schizophrenic doesn't mean that everyone is not out to get him.

 

[lukethethird]

This is a stretch, bcause it is your personal view of what is a religion based on your agenda.

If you believe atheism is a religion then you might want to educate yourself as to what religion is, because atheism aint it.

 

[viole]

I agree with the bo;d above. Everyone should be open to to questioning their own belief

That does not always apply. At least not in an efficient way.

For instance, I don't believe in Superman. And I think that me questioning my disbelief in Superman would be a waste of time. After all, we have only a finite budget of pondering time, and we need some triage policy to concentrate on what is useful.

Now, since Superman and God have the same evidence, and plausibility, why shouldn't questioning disbelief in God be rated as an equal waste of time?

Ciao

- viole

 

[Ashoka]

Christians are better people morally than atheists

"It is a heretical opinion, but a common one, that... heretics be burned is against the will of the Spirit." - Exsurge Domine

""These people should be put to death. Every single homosexual in our country should be charged with a crime. The abomination of homosexuality that they have, they should be convicted in a lawful trial. They should be sentenced with death. They should be lined up against the wall and shot in the back of the head," - Pastor Dillon Awes of Stedfast Baptist Church.

"The view of the misery of the damned will double the ardor of the love and gratitude of the saints of heaven ... The sight of hell torments will exalt the happiness of the saints forever ... Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell ... I tell you, yea! Such will be his sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish his bliss." - Jonathan Edwards

“A Christian should argue with a blasphemer only by running his sword through his bowls as far as it will go.” - King Louis IX

“Woman is a temple built over a sewer, the gateway to the devil. Woman, you are the devil's doorway. You led astray one whom the devil would not dare attack directly. It was your fault that the Son of God had to die; you should always go in mourning and rags." - Tertullian

 

[DNB]

All life does, but it just so happens that humans evolved the ability to pass on information, and learn, because of speech and symbolic language. Without such you would never have been indoctrinated into your religious beliefs and not have the belief as to how close we actually are to all other life.

It started from somewhere ....without the baggage.

 

[DNB]

"It is a heretical opinion, but a common one, that... heretics be burned is against the will of the Spirit." - Exsurge Domine

""These people should be put to death. Every single homosexual in our country should be charged with a crime. The abomination of homosexuality that they have, they should be convicted in a lawful trial. They should be sentenced with death. They should be lined up against the wall and shot in the back of the head," - Pastor Dillon Awes of Stedfast Baptist Church.

"The view of the misery of the damned will double the ardor of the love and gratitude of the saints of heaven ... The sight of hell torments will exalt the happiness of the saints forever ... Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell ... I tell you, yea! Such will be his sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish his bliss." - Jonathan Edwards

“A Christian should argue with a blasphemer only by running his sword through his bowls as far as it will go.” - King Louis IX

“Woman is a temple built over a sewer, the gateway to the devil. Woman, you are the devil's doorway. You led astray one whom the devil would not dare attack directly. It was your fault that the Son of God had to die; you should always go in mourning and rags." - Tertullian

Those views have absolutely no merit as far as indicting Christians are concerned - Jesus never endorsed any of the sentiments that you quoted above.

 

[shunyadragon]

According to those definitions, I fail to see how atheism can be considered a religion. Atheists by definition reject number 1. Number 2 is ruled out, 3, nope, 4, gotta be kidding, 5, not a chance.

That does not always apply. At least not in an efficient way.

For instance, I don't believe in Superman. And I think that me questioning my disbelief in Superman would be a waste of time. After all, we have only a finite budget of pondering time, and we need some triage policy to concentrate on what is useful.

Now, since Superman and God have the same evidence, and plausibility, why shouldn't questioning disbelief in God be rated as an equal waste of time?

Ciao

- viole

Superman is not the jssue here,

 

[shunyadragon]

Just my understanding of the words used. Not everyone who disagrees with you is in on some conspiracy.

True . So what?!?!?! The issue is interesting many are trying to narrowly define ;religion as a scapegoat word as what other people beieve and they do not, Theists like JW do the same thing.

 

[shunyadragon]

If you believe atheism is a religion then you might want to educate yourself as to what religion is, because atheism aint it.

IT is up to you to self define words in the English language to suit your agenda, but the US government will still consider Atheism a religion by proper and legal definition of the word.

Again , , , The issue is interesting many are trying to narrowly define ;religion as a scapegoat word as what other people believe and they do not, Theists like JW do the same thing.

 

[lukethethird]

IT is up to you to self define words in the English language to suit your agenda, but the US government will still consider Atheism a religion by proper and legal definition of the word.

Again , , , The issue is interesting many are trying to narrowly define ;religion as a scapegoat word as what other people believe and they do not, Theists like JW do the same thing.

Why the US government does or does not do for tax purposes makes no difference, if you believe atheism is a religion then you don't know what religion is because atheism aint it.

I have no idea what you mean by religion as a scapegoat word, perhaps you ought to explain that. Atheists are individuals that don't share in theistic beliefs, beyond that there are no distinctions to be made, but If you want to call atheism a religion because you want atheists to face the same criticism that religious wingnuts face, good luck with that because it will never stick, your little game is over, give it up already.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Again, you're are referring to practicality, which, as you implied, is a necessity for survival - it cannot be achieved with chaos or anarchy.

Exactly. Off course I am referring to practicality. Morals are about actual behavior. In practice. Not in theory. In practice. In reality. In the real world.
Real actions with real consequences. Fantasies that only occur in your brain have no impact on the real world and other people.
If you torture, rape and murder someone in your thoughts, nobody is harmed in the real world.

But, there are those who still try to play or exploit the system for purely selfish and nefarious reasons

Yes. And we call them immoral. And depending on the severity of their behavior, they will pay a social price for it.

The expressions 'deceit' and 'lawyer' have become synonymous, as with 'law' and 'injustice', or 'politician' and 'liar', or 'police' and 'corrupt' - what should be some of the most noblest professions of our society.

I don't share your pessimistic view of society.
In fact, I likely don't even share your definition of "morality".

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

They destroy character - you'll never find a demure or elegant porn star, or a liar with confidence, or a gentleman who's a playboy

You're just making claims again.
I asked you to demonstrate it.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

What the flippin' heck are you talking about?

Not sure what's tripping you up.
Just pointing out that all species are special in their own way.
Every species has unique traits that distinguish them from every other species.
Do you disagree with that?

There's no difference on the secular level - the body parts do not constitute an intrinsic and fundamental incongruity between one species and another. I'm talking about the intangible, and yet axiomatic dimension to man - his innate proclivity towards the spiritual, the transcendent, the non secular.

That's not unique to humans, actually.
It's just overdeveloped in humans.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Human acculturation is secularly derived. When I say 'spiritual', I am talking about the non secular, the transcendent, the immaterial, that which cannot be quantified but is axiomatically present - love, hate, greed, altruism, bigotries, lust, abuse, compassion, charity, etc...

What is "non-secular" about those?

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

It will be helpful to define religion before we attempt to classify any belief system, such as atheism, as a religion. These definitions come from dictionary.com:

Let's review

1. A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially 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.

Atheism doesn't include such a set of beliefs.

2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.

Atheism doesn't include such a set of beliefs.

3. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices.

Atheism doesn't include a particular set of beliefs or practices

4. The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

Atheism doesn't include beliefs (religious or otherwise) or ritual observances of faith

5. Something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience.

Atheism doesn't include any particular beliefs about ethics or conscience

According to these definitions, atheism can indeed be considered a religion.

As we have seen, the opposite is true.
Literally none of the 5 points apply to atheism.