"structured beliefs" is weak argument to pin "religious" on Atheists. The definition of "belief" doesn't imply the religion as modifier for "belief". The belief alone doesn't make the one religious. it'll take more than just belief, the things like faith, prayer, spiritual and having deity. Atheism has some structure of belief, but with basis of reason, logic and critical thinking - Hardly religious. If theist claim the existence of god with faith, then the burden of proof rest on their shoulders by default, no exceptions. the one could argue this conclusion may come with faith:
"atheists believe in no god" or..
"atheists don't believe in god"
Which is one of Theists' common assertion.
You're agnostic, I presume? [correct me if I'm wrong] You mentioned you don't have "defined" god, that's understandable. To be honest, I simply don't agree nor trust with the religious claims made by theists that defined to suit their needs. There's the possibility of extraterrestrial life on a planet orbit a star of somewhere in billions of galaxies. If one of extraterrestrial life are responsible of our creation, I wouldn't consider them as "god" which is defined by theists and religion - I considered them as one of sentient beings or "extraterrestrial life" if you prefer. The concept of "god" is preposterous and wishful thinking - it's pitiful to see the vast majority of people deluded themselves and yearning for salvation. - as if they are lost lambs.
If you are referring Scientology as my personal beliefs, so no. Once upon time, ancestors thought the lightnings are Thor's hammer, God's fury or whatever. Later, science refuted and extracted the superstitious belief out of the equilibrium.
I agree Science and Faith is mutually excessive, but sometimes the dimwits trying to push the pseudosciences like Creationism and ID into science to reinforce the faith - is absolutely insane. Sometimes, it's really sad that people had to use science to hammer the sense into these deluded people.
Science provided mankind with many things like agriculture, technologies and education. Get the idea? Sure, religion gives the one with purpose of life, bah, bah. But if they think religion make better lifestyle than one without science, they're sorely mistaken. Think of modern medicine, vaccines and many things. Science does not limit lifestyle, religion does -well, I meant religious fundamentalists. Religious fundamentalists meddle the scientific progress like stem cells, CERN and LHC. The technology of stem cells could potentially save daddy's little girl - maybe give daddy the purpose of life with her daughter. Religious dimwit like former president Bush vetoed against Stem Cell for religious reasons, for example.
I didn't intend to denigrate all of the religious people. There's nicer, rational religious people - delusional they may be, I don't think them the same to religious fundamentals like Islam terrorists. it's just the superstitious beliefs are harmful to humanity to some degree.
My point was that there is no such thing as "true religion", religion is an culture that is defined by humanity to suited their needs. I don't mind civilized religion, but other religion that promotes hatred, misogyny, practice of slavery and practice of monogamy must be stopped immediately.
