How I got Out of Religion.

[Samson]

Binny, that's funny, my daughter is the same way.... And Ghost hunters, and shows like that have made her scared to death of the dark...LOLOL



"Crazy"Neko...lolol..

Some view it as a philosophy and some as a religion...Depends on what part of Asia you grew up in...

[KichigaiNeko]

My son is also on the autism spectrum and does not believe in god either, but he was also raised without any gods. I let him make up his own mind. He says he has a scientific mind and doesn't believe that stuff. On the other hand he believes in ghosts. That's probably from watching Ghost Hunters.

Mine too! Although being of Maori blood stock he has a "conection" with his 'ancestors' and his energy 'powers'

I think that they'll do well.... Kids! eh?

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Buddhism is a religion

First 4 words of the article on Buddhism.

I fail to see how your statement has any validity AH

Perhaps you are getting Buddhism confused with Hinduism??

[Tiberius]

Buddhism is a religion

First 4 words of the article on Buddhism.

I fail to see how your statement has any validity AH

Perhaps you are getting Buddhism confused with Hinduism??

Look, apparently you have problems reading. The first four words of the Wikipedia article on Buddhism are:

"Buddhism is a religion".

Usually, when an Encyclopedia says something like this, it means it. I'm not confusing Buddhism with Hinduism, you are confusing the definition of a religion with something that only exists in your own mind apparently. Buddhism has always been a religion. Religions don't always require theism as a central tenet. If you thought this was true, you were wrong.

[KichigaiNeko]

Buddhism is a religion

First 4 words of the article on Buddhism.

I fail to see how your statement has any validity AH

Perhaps you are getting Buddhism confused with Hinduism??

Look, apparently you have problems reading. The first four words of the Wikipedia article on Buddhism are:

"Buddhism is a religion".

Usually, when an Encyclopedia says something like this, it means it. I'm not confusing Buddhism with Hinduism, you are confusing the definition of a religion with something that only exists in your own mind apparently. Buddhism has always been a religion. Religions don't always require theism as a central tenet. If you thought this was true, you were wrong.

And Wikipedia is an acceptable reference?? (It certainly is handy)
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pāli/Sanskrit "the awakened one").

Oooooooooooooooooo we are touchy tonight aren't we??

So you are saying that Atheism is a religion??

A religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.[1] - Wikipedia

What are your thoughts on Zen??

[chatpilot]

Atheism is not a religion nor a philosophy it is in my opinion the negation of religion altogether. Atheist's have no philosophy to follow or unholy texts to read or places of non-worship the definition of the word atheism speaks for itself A = without theism = god/or gods. I have had a rough road to recovery coming from an extremely fundamental church that believed in the practice of faith healing, tongues and all the other so called gifts of the holy spirit. I used to preach and believe every single word in the bible as literal and the inspired word of god no matter how ridiculous it seemed at the time. We were taught not to question anything in there for fear of committing the unpardonable sin of inadvertently blaspheming the holy spirit.

I too used to serve up the stock answers to questions regarding the faith such as: If god made man then who made god? I would say "he is is the alpha and the omega the beginning and end of all things etc. etc." and my friend fr0d0's favorite cliche, "he just is". I actually felt genuine fear when I started to have doubts about my faith. It took me awhile to go from fanatic to atheist but it was a step that was necessary to my growth as a person. I don't miss god nor do I need a belief in him in my life. Most of all I don't miss the bunch of hypocrites I used to worship with that conveniently began condemning me to hell as soon as I left the church. When I finally left the church I also cut off all of my friends and acquaintances from the church as well.

I just thought that it was hard enough dealing with my doubts and at the same time my new found agnosticism than to have to have some idiots meeting me all the time trying to reconvert me. I grew sick of the foreboding warnings of doom that awaited me if I did not go back to god on bended knee and cry a river for forgiveness. Everybody I knew in the church wanted to pray over me when they saw me on the street. I came out of religion with all kinds of negative sentiments and a true hatred for what religion had done to me or rather I had allowed to be done to me. I still harbor some bitter sentiments to this day and that was 15 years ago give or take a few months. I don't waste my time with those feelings anymore but I can't deny that they are still there and tend to come out at the weirdest moments lol.

This forums and others are the only place I have to express my feelings and opinions on religious beliefs since I am the only atheist in my entire family. No one in my family is on the same intellectual level as myself so talking religions with any of them is like trying to teach a dog to speak, very frustrating and a fruitless unpleasant endeavor.

[KichigaiNeko]

Atheism is not a religion nor a philosophy it is in my opinion the negation of religion altogether. Atheist's have no philosophy to follow or unholy texts to read or places of non-worship the definition of the word atheism speaks for itself A = without theism = god/or gods. I have had a rough road to recovery coming from an extremely fundamental church that believed in the practice of faith healing, tongues and all the other so called gifts of the holy spirit. I used to preach and believe every single word in the bible as literal and the inspired word of god no matter how ridiculous it seemed at the time. We were taught not to question anything in there for fear of committing the unpardonable sin of inadvertently blaspheming the holy spirit.

But according to Wiki definition it is. Atheism is as Adrian has stated

Usually, when an Encyclopedia says something like this, it means it. I'm not confusing Buddhism with Hinduism, you are confusing the definition of a religion with something that only exists in your own mind apparently. Buddhism has always been a religion. Religions don't always require theism as a central tenet. If you thought this was true, you were wrong.

There are many "religions" along with Buddhism that do not have a-theist stand point.

Wiki- Atheism
In Western culture, atheists are frequently assumed to be exclusively irreligious or unspiritual.[10] However, religious and spiritual belief systems such as forms of Buddhism that do not advocate belief in gods, have also been described as atheistic.[11]

I sympathise with you on your road to atheism in a very theist orientated family....it ain't easy I know!

Still it would seem that getting hung up about 'labels' is more the issue here

This forums and others are the only place I have to express my feelings and opinions on religious beliefs since I am the only atheist in my entire family.

I just wonder if we are really just swapping one religious belief/belief system for another?

[chatpilot]

KichigaineKo you stated that according to wikipedia atheism is classified as a religion, but upon reading the definition myself and basing myself on that quote you have provided, I am afraid that all you did was misinterpret what was said.
Wiki- Atheism

In Western culture, atheists are frequently assumed to be exclusively irreligious or unspiritual.[10] However, religious and spiritual belief systems such as forms of Buddhism that do not advocate belief in gods, have also been described as atheistic.[11]

If you read it carefully it is simply making a comparison of religions that do not believe in a deity or god of any sort with that of atheism. As defined above by myself atheism is just that; a lack of belief in a god or any deity for that matter. So I hold firmly to my previous statement and refute your statement regarding "just swapping one religious belief/belief system for another?".

Now back to wiki for the definition of religion:A religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.[1]

Let's compare this to my atheism and see if they match up.
1. My beliefs about the universe are based on scientific data and what can be observed in nature etc.
2. I don't consider any supernatural agencies as the creators of said universe.
3. I don't follow any devotional or ritualistic observances of any kind.
4. My moral code is based on my life experiences and observances.
So I therefore conclude that atheism is not a religion and I personally have not swapped on religious belief for another.

[Edwardo Piet]

Just because theism isn't necessarily required for all religions, that doesn't mean that atheism=a religion. That does not follow. Because if there are non-theistic religions that doesn't mean that they're religions because they're non theistic. As Adrian said, theism isn't always a central tenet of religions.

Atheism itself is nothing more than non-belief in God - but that doesn't mean that if you take a bunch of atheists who believe in an afterlife, souls, spirits even - etc, etc. - that they are either non-religious or they're not atheists (despite the fact that they must be if they don't believe in deities).

Paganism for instance, is a religion - but not all Pagans literally believe in deities, certainly not - some of them just personify nature as "God(s)" and they believe in an afterlife, etc..

EvF

[Tiberius]

And Wikipedia is an acceptable reference?? (It certainly is handy)

It's more reliable than Encyclopedia Britannica, which also lists Buddhism as a religion ( http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topi...4/Buddhism ). As does the BBC ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/ ) and religionfacts.com ( http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/index.htm ). Buddhism has always been a religion.

So you are saying that Atheism is a religion??

A religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.[1] - Wikipedia

No, of course not. Calling atheism a religion would be like calling theism a religion. Atheism and theism are core concepts of several religions, but they are not religions themselves.

If you think your quote from Wikipedia describes atheism as a religion, please tell me the following:

What set of beliefs do atheists have concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe?
What devotional and ritual observances do atheists have?
What moral code do atheists have?

If you answer any of the above questions with anything other than "atheists don't have a specific...X" then you have a very different definition of atheism from the rest of us.

Atheism is simply the disbelief of the existence of Gods. Disbelief in something doesn't equate belief in anything else, nor does it mean we have to believe in specific things concerning origins, nature, purpose, etc. Nor does it dictate our moral code.

[tackattack]

If I called atheism a cult would I start a riot