Atheism is a religion

[Mister Agenda]

Welcome, Jared! I hope you enjoy your experience here.

Does it irritates you when religious people say Atheism is a religion?

Only in the same sense I'm irritated when someone says a hyena is a canine, no matter how anyone goes about explaining why they aren't. That is, it's annoying because it is factually untrue. Theism isn't a religion either, by the way.

Hi, I'm a Christian looking for a good conversation. I have a comment, and I hope you reply so I can understand your thinking more clearly. It seems that Christians have told you that you have a religion, and this seems absurd because you don't believe in the supernatural (I'm assuming this; please correct if I am wrong).

It seems absurd because religion is clearly more than an opinion on the topic of whether God (or gods) is really real.

I think it makes more sense for a Christian to say that you have a world view because everyone has a world view. A world view is a construct that we use to answer important questions, make sense of the world around us, and live our day to day lives.

We all have world views. Athiesm isn't a world view. Neither is theism. They are opinions on one topic.

In my world view, I acknowledge the supernatural along with natural world. This may sound like blind (read dumb) faith, but I actually think that coming to the conclusion that a supernatural world exists is a very rational and logic activity. You, I assume, would disagree with that last statement, but that is a conversation for another post.

I do wonder what evidence and reasoning you base your conclusion on, but you're right, no need to multiply topics.

In my understanding of a naturalist/atheist world view, something can only be trusted/known/believed in/etc... if it can be scientifically proven (scientific method/repeatable tests and outcomes).

Not all atheists are naturalists. I suppose you could say I am, though. I think your idea is a little restrictive. I'm willing to take your word for it if you claim you tied your shoelaces yourself this morning. If you claim to have levitated three feet over your bed this morning, I'd need more than your assurances.

I'm wondering if this claim for the basis of knowledge (that I hope I got right) can be scientifically proven. I take that back. I have reasoned that the claim is logically invalid and therefore does not hold up under the weight of its own requirements.

Science can't prove that science is valid. However, simple observation tells us that science is effective in discovering things about our universe. Do you think rejecting the evidence of your senses because you can't come up with a syllogiism that ends in 'therefore, science is valid!' is really a reasonable position in which to find yourself?

Now, I'm a big fan of the scientific method, and I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bath water here.

Why are you a fan of it when you've concluded it is invalid?

My point is that it takes a certain level of faith in its most essential premise to adhere to a naturalistic world view.

You mean the premise that a reality exists which can be studied? Does that not drill down deep enough for you?

And that is why I think some Christians might claim that atheism is a religion. Both Christians and atheists start with an incomplete set of data, make inferences, search for answers that are intellectually credible and existentially satisfying, and draw conclusions.

I think you're equivocating faith with religon. Both words have multiple meanings, and can be synonyms, but 'faith' in the sense of trusting something is not the same thing as 'a faith' in the sense of a religion. Faith that the sun will rise tomorrow is not the same kind of faith as 'the Muslim faith'.

I surmise that that my world view is superior, and so does everyone else. That is why we chose our particular world view. Not because we are certain, but because the hypothesis we came to fits that data better than anything else.

Sure, no one holds a world view that they think is wrong.

Please pick apart my thinking. I am sure there are some holes in my argument, but I think it is rather compelling. I would truly enjoy a discussion regarding belief formation and the similarities and differences between atheism and Christianity.

Your thinking seems to be summarizable as you believe what you would like to be true.

Thanks for reading.

You're welcome, and thanks for posting.