Atheism a religion?

[Jason Jarred]

For our religious friends out there, be it Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist or other.
Atheism is not a religion, atheism is a single standpoint on a single view - the (absence of) belief in the existence of a God. That's it! The rest of our personalities, belief systems, lifestyle, or haircolour is up for grabs.

A religion contains:

1) Dogma
2) God(s)
3) Tenets
4) A belief system
5) Your mothers underwear
6) Dogma
7) Rituals, ceremonies, initiations (*cough* animal sacrifice *cough*)
8) and Dogma

It doesn't matter how *you* define atheism. No seriously, it doesn't matter. Because *you're* not an atheist. You don't get to tell us what the definition is for the label we choose to use. Furthermore, you don't get to tell us it's a religion just because you're feeling prim and perky today. So let me clear it up for you today - atheism is the lack of belief in a god, end of story. I know that's a difficult concept to grasp, so let me go into it in more detail for you.

Atheists may be:
Liberal
Republican
Male
Female
White, black, yellow, brown, or pink with purple polka dots
Gay
Straight
Ugly
Not so ugly
Really *not* ugly
Anything but ugly
Bald
Goldilocks
Happy
Sad
Lawyers
Doctors
Keanu Reaves
Men with strange foot fetishes
Women who like men with strange foot fetishes
...and the list goes on.

Got it? No?
<sigh>

My entire life is spent going around in circles with you people. ok, wash, rinse repeat. here we go again.

To my religious friends out there...

[Kyuuketsuki]

Moreover atheism, although it tends to be otherwise, can still allow beliefs in other whacky things like little green me, ghosts or whatever.

There's nothing inherent in atheism that stops the atheist being a total wingnut (to use Dawkins' term)

Kyu

[HalcyonicTrust]

Totally awesome and true thread and post, (and your post is great too Kyu) I'm giving it 5 stars right away.

[Kyuuketsuki]

(9th November 2008 16:13)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote:  Totally awesome and true thread and post, (and your post is great too Kyu) I'm giving it 5 stars right away.

Are we supposed to give stars to people?

Kyu

[Jason Jarred]

(9th November 2008 16:13)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote:  Totally awesome and true thread and post, (and your post is great too Kyu) I'm giving it 5 stars right away.

Which bit was most truthful? The bit about your mothers underwear?
5 Stars? Nawww.... I prefer to get high on strawberry 'scratch & sniff' stickers. Pleeeeeeeeease?

[Tiberius]

(9th November 2008 20:10)Kyuuketsuki Wrote:  

(9th November 2008 16:13)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote:  Totally awesome and true thread and post, (and your post is great too Kyu) I'm giving it 5 stars right away.

Are we supposed to give stars to people?

Kyu

You can rate threads (top of the thread on the right, next to the "New Reply" button). Simply click the stars

[HalcyonicTrust]

Yeah I was rating the thread. That's what I said and what I meant. At least I think thats what I said, my grammar isn't that good.

[fourhorsemen]

To be fair, religious people can vary in gender, political views, occupations etc. But still your point is well taken.

[HalcyonicTrust]

Yes good point 4horsemen.

[EvilEye]

This is why I am an atheist. I get to choose who I want to be. The only thing I am guaranteed to have in common with another atheist is the lack of a belief in God, everything else is up in the air.