(September 5, 2009 at 7:01 am)Trojan Wrote: Is defined as the lack of belief in and/or belief against the existence of a supreme being(s), god(s), and/or deity(s).It depends on which definition you use. Atheism itself is a label, not something you subscribe to (like a religion). If you believe in god, you are a theist; if not, you are an atheist. You don't "believe" in atheism anymore than believing in your blue eyes changes your eye colour.
Is this a religious view? Perhaps, considering it pertains to the concept of a deity, which is largely and commonly religious; but a religion itself? I personally think not, although there are many who disagree.
What do you think?
As atheism itself makes no positive claim (since atheism also covers non-theism), it cannot be held as a belief or any kind of religion. It is a disbelief in the positive claims of theism.
Now if one were to be a gnostic atheist, or someone similar who said "I believe there are no gods", or "I know there are no gods", I wouldn't call this a religious position, but it is certainly a faith position. A religious position I think has to have other attributes, such as explanations for the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, etc.
