RE: Is Atheism a religion as say...Theravada Buddhism?
February 17, 2010 at 6:27 pm
(This post was last modified: February 17, 2010 at 6:36 pm by Shell B.)
This argument is too easily ended. Actually, I should say it is too easily ended, in my mind. I know it will continue, here and various other places, for a long time to come.
Definition of religion.
Atheism isn't a set of beliefs. It is one disbelief. Whether theists like it or not, atheism is not "practiced."
Atheists do not "follow" atheism. There are no rites involved with atheism. Atheism doesn't involve worship. In other words, one atheist can worship a sock, another nothing, but there is no call to worship something when you are an atheist. Aren't these things the fundamentals of religion?
Look at it this way, if atheism were a religion, it would be the only religion I can think of that doesn't require you being aware that you are a "follower." Any person who doesn't believe in a deity or deities is an atheist, whether they know it or not. Wouldn't it be odd to be part of a religious group and not know it? That would be like saying knowing the sky is blue is a religion.
Definition of religion.
Atheism isn't a set of beliefs. It is one disbelief. Whether theists like it or not, atheism is not "practiced."
Atheists do not "follow" atheism. There are no rites involved with atheism. Atheism doesn't involve worship. In other words, one atheist can worship a sock, another nothing, but there is no call to worship something when you are an atheist. Aren't these things the fundamentals of religion?
Look at it this way, if atheism were a religion, it would be the only religion I can think of that doesn't require you being aware that you are a "follower." Any person who doesn't believe in a deity or deities is an atheist, whether they know it or not. Wouldn't it be odd to be part of a religious group and not know it? That would be like saying knowing the sky is blue is a religion.
