Religion and Atheism

[Firemorphic]

How is atheism NOT a religious/philosophical belief?

Well it's inevitably related, even to an atheist's dismay (as it is a position) but is realistically no more a 'religion' than Theism is.
There are some religions that lean towards or vehemently promote Atheism though, so it obviously fits somewhere in the mold.

 

[shunyadragon]

Is 'Not collecting Stamps" a hobby?

If you are drawing a parallel, yes.

 

[shunyadragon]

Don't be silly. How can the same word have different meanings when used in completely different contexts?

Look in a dictionary. Atheism just means...

. . . a belief system or a religious belief that rejects the existence of God(s) or god(s), who may be affiliated with an organized religion like an Atheist Church or Unitarian Universalists.

 

[Jim]

I have been puzzled about this trend for some time. Why the effort to distance from a term that describes one's philosophical beliefs? Why not be inclusive, with the rest of humanity, and embrace the beliefs/opinions as religious? Why the dread and fear of a term?

The reasons for objecting to it might be different for different people. For me it’s mostly frustration about the ignorance it displays about atheists, and seeing it all being explained over and over again, and people refusing to understand.

 

[Altfish]

Is not believing in stamps, a belief?

Opinions and beliefs is the issue, not activities.

How is atheism NOT a religious/philosophical belief? Isn't denying the existence of God, just another belief about God?

Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam
Christianity
Wiccan
Atheism
Rastafarian

Are these not all beliefs about the nature of the universe? Should not atheism receive protection and acknowledgment as a 'religious' belief?

How can NOT believing in something be a religion?

There are various definitions of RELIGION but all are similar...
A religion is a set of beliefs that is passionately held by a group of people that is reflected in a world view and in expected beliefs and actions (which are often ritualized). There are many different religions, each with a different set of beliefs.
OR
Religion is a cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements.

Atheism has no world view; has no actions or rituals, no sanctified places, morals or ethics. All atheism is is a lack of belief in gods.

No if you change atheism to Humanism or Secularism then you start to bring in world views; but certainly not atheism.

 

[Altfish]

I suppose it is when you make a point of not doing it each day.

Well, I've not done it for the last 50+ years... but I wouldn't call it a hobby.

Yes, I am an atheist but I only think about it when religion is brought up and starts to influence my way of life.

 

[Altfish]

If you are drawing a parallel, yes.

???

 

[shunyadragon]

???

!!!!!!!!

Many Zen Buddhists consider themselves atheists and do not collect stamps.

 

[shunyadragon]

How can NOT believing in something be a religion?

There are various definitions of RELIGION but all are similar...
A religion is a set of beliefs that is passionately held by a group of people that is reflected in a world view and in expected beliefs and actions (which are often ritualized). There are many different religions, each with a different set of beliefs.

Sounds like atheists would qualify here as set of beliefs that do not include God(s)

OR
Religion is a cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements.

Atheists would not fit a definition as a religious belief, but in and of itself it is not a religion. You would have to be a Unitarian or Zen Buddhist to a part of a religion, or an atheist church.

Atheism has no world view; has no actions or rituals, no sanctified places, morals or ethics. All atheism is is a lack of belief in gods.

No if you change atheism to Humanism or Secularism then you start to bring in world views; but certainly not atheism.

Atheism has a world view that does not include God(s). Atheism

 

[usfan]

I don't see most atheists as 'belonging to a religion', like an institution, but neither are most theists. Lots of people who believe in God have nothing to do with religious institutions, so they would be just as 'non-religious', as an atheist.

It just seems to be an elitist definition, to call atheism, 'science!', and theism, 'religious!'

We all have an opinion about the nature of God, man, and the universe. Why not have a common defining descriptor, like 'religious belief', or 'philosophical opinion'?

 

[Jim]

Mostly what I see being called “atheism” in Internet forums and atheist blogs looks to me like a kind of fellowship that revolves around denouncing Christianity and Christians, and blaming some things they do wrong on their beliefs in Gods. I don’t see any linguistic reason or practical value in calling that a “religion.” Within that fellowship it’s popular to define “atheism” as any philosophy of life that does not include belief in the existence or reality of any gods. Again, I don’t see any linguistic reason or practical value in lumping all those philosophies together as one “religion.”

 

[usfan]

Well, I've not done it for the last 50+ years... but I wouldn't call it a hobby.

Yes, I am an atheist but I only think about it when religion is brought up and starts to influence my way of life.

Would someone who believes in God, but does not engage in 'religious acts', be religious? I see the 'religious'! label generously applied to any flavor of theism, why should atheism be excluded? How is the majority of theistic beliefs a hobby?

A belief system, or foundational belief provides the basis for most other beliefs, and colors one's outlook. A 'no God' opinion is just as significant to one's worldview as a 'God' belief, no?

Why should one opinion about the universe be labeled with some dismissive term, (religious!), but another be excepted?

 

[usfan]

Mostly what I see being called “atheism” in Internet forums and atheist blogs looks to me like a kind of fellowship that revolves around denouncing Christianity and Christians, and blaming some things they do wrong on their beliefs in Gods. I don’t see any linguistic reason or practical value in calling that a “religion.” Within that fellowship it’s popular to define “atheism” as any philosophy of life that does not include belief in the existence or reality of any gods. Again, I don’t see any linguistic reason or practical value in lumping all those philosophies together as one “religion.”

I agree. But lumping into 'religion!' is exactly what many atheists do with theists, and especially Christians. Since the term has devolved into a pejorative, why bother with it at all?

If a theist is discussing their beliefs/opinions/conjectures, about God, Man, and the universe, how is that 'religious!', while an atheist doing the same thing, is not?

It seems to be a double standard, and using word definitions to demean other's beliefs. It is not evenly applied, as a useful descriptor.

 

[columbus]

Mostly what I see being called “atheism” in Internet forums and atheist blogs looks to me like a kind of fellowship that revolves around denouncing Christianity and Christians, and blaming some things they do wrong on their beliefs in Gods.

That's because Christians commonly justify some ugly behavior with statements that begin with "God wants..", or "The Bible says..", or similar things.
Tom

 

[usfan]

We already have, 'theism', and specifics like 'Islam', so what is the point of defining, 'religious' as only relating to a belief in God? Is not an atheistic opinion just another religious belief? Or has the term become so degrading that it can only be applied as a pejorative towards xtians?

 

[Jim]

It just seems to be an elitist definition, to call atheism, 'science!', and theism, 'religious!'

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone calling atheism “science.” What I have seen is people substituting whatever their faction calls “science” in the place of a religion in their lives. They use the word “science” in all the worst ways that people use the word “God,” and they misuse reports of research in all the worst ways that people misuse religious scriptures.

 

[Jim]

That's because Christians commonly justify some ugly behavior with statements that begin with "God wants..", or "The Bible says..", or similar things.
Tom

Agreed.

 

[shunyadragon]

Side note: I have meet many many people who deny what they believe is a religious belief or belong to a religion or church including Jews, Buddhists, Taoists, Jehovah Witnesses, and other Christian divisions. Interesting rock to throw at other people who believe differently,

 

[usfan]

That's because Christians commonly justify some ugly behavior with statements that begin with "God wants..", or "The Bible says..", or similar things.
Tom

I don't see 'Christians!' as having an exclusive on 'ugly behaviour'. Its a human thing, imo, and seems to cross over all ideological boundaries.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone calling atheism “science.” What I have seen is people substituting whatever their faction calls “science” in the place of a religion in their lives. They use the word “science” in all the worst ways that people use the word “God,” and they misuse reports of research in all the worst ways that people misuse religious scriptures.

..perhaps my involvement in scientific forums has given me a different perspective. I hear variations of that remark all the time.

'Religion vs Science!' is the phony ideological 'war' that has been raging for decades, now. But that is inaccurate. It is really, 'Religion vs Religion!', as it has been for all of human history.

 

[usfan]

Side note: I have meet many many people who deny what they believe is a religious belief or belong to a religion or church including Jews, Buddhists, Taoists, Jehovah Witnesses, and other Christian divisions. Interesting rock to throw at other people who believe differently,

Yes. Why is one philosophical belief dismissed with a demeaning label, 'Religion!', while another skates off unhindered by any negative connotations?