Atheism is a form of religion...

[Mudhammam]

I wouldn't consider an atheist church--or any other community for that matter--religious, unless its adherents began venerating certain figures; if the speech of the so-called leaders, intended to simply inspire and clarify, credulously became authorized as infallible and pseudo-divine, followed by written and oral traditions repeated and passed down generation after generation without ongoing critical analysis, and a high majority of the quasi-membership continually failing to execute inquisitive, open-minded research into the reason and evidence for the factual basis of all claims... then yeah, it's a religion, and it's basically nationalism.

[One Above All]

OK, say atheism is a religion. Say logic is wrong and !A=A. What does that change? Is religion bad on the basis that it's a religion? Because, if so, christianity and every other religion - past, present, and future - are bad. Is it somehow less valid as a PoV because it's a religion? Same thing applies.

[Mudhammam]

Is religion bad on the basis that it's a religion?

Yes

Because, if so, christianity and every other religion - past, present, and future - are bad.

Yes, and the three Abrahamic religions especially.

Is it somehow less valid as a PoV because it's a religion?

It's invalid in method and that all but guarantees the inevitable accumulation of additional errors as that PoV progresses (or fails to).

[Aoi Magi]

Religion doesn't have to have a divine origin or any form of divinity associated with it, neither does it require an authority or leader. One of the definitions of religion is "pursuit or interest followed with great devotion". To some, atheism has personal interests and so they preach it with great devotion even if they have to overstep the line. Look at some of those involved with the A+ thing...

And yes, religion IS bad. yes there are some religions with a lot of good philosophies and or morals, but philosophy does not equate to religion, religion is the ignorance hiding behind the mask of wisdom.

[One Above All]

Is religion bad on the basis that it's a religion?

Yes

Because, if so, christianity and every other religion - past, present, and future - are bad.

Yes, and the three Abrahamic religions especially.

Is it somehow less valid as a PoV because it's a religion?

It's invalid in method and that all but guarantees the inevitable accumulation of additional errors as that PoV progresses (or fails to).

I agree with everything you said, but here's the kicker: theists don't. When they regurgitate "arguments" like this, they don't realize that either they're saying all religion is invalid/evil/wrong, or they've said nothing of value (akin to telling someone right next to you that there's a slight breeze - a fact they've undoubtedly noticed and knew about before you finished your sentence).

[Aoi Magi]

I agree with everything you said, but here's the kicker: theists don't. When they regurgitate "arguments" like this, they don't realize that either they're saying all religion is invalid/evil/wrong, or they've said nothing of value (akin to telling someone right next to you that there's a slight breeze - a fact they've undoubtedly noticed and knew about before you finished your sentence).

You need to understand that while talking to theists you CANNOT talk in the same tone which another adult is supposed to understand, remember they consider themselves to be ignorant children following their sky daddy, so to make any sense to them, explain things as you'd explain it to a toddler.

[Cyberman]

The average toddler would be insulted by the comparison.

[Aoi Magi]

Sorry but it's near impossible to stoop to their level of intellect, a toddler is your best bet...

[Jenny A]

Theoretically anyway. Should we try for tax exempt status for this forum? Because we won't get it--at least not as a religious institution.

I don't think running a vbull generates much in taxes. But those sunday atheist things shouldn't pay taxes.

Exactly, but they don't unless they can fit into another type of tax exempt status such as educational organization.

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In some cases, atheism does become a religion. Like the atheist church thing, also there are many atheists out there and probably a few in here who claim themselves to be atheists just to keep up with the trends without having any capacity for logical thinking, or follow their own beliefs too blindly to consider anything else like those who claim god cannot exist. There are yet others, especially on youtube, who'd lie to prove themselves correct and twist actual facts to suit their needs. When atheism is practiced as a hard stand AGAINST religion it becomes a religion in itself.

What would keeping up with trends, or whether a person reached atheism logically have to do with whether it's a religion? If you don't believe in capitalism just to follow the trends and you didn't reach the position logically, and perhaps you have faith in communism or actually believe that in communist countries the state will wither away. Does that make communism a religion?

There's a difference between a world view or ideology and religion.

[stonedape]

I'll say that I think social ideology of any shape or form, for all intensive purposes serves as a religion. It could be nihilism, communism, objectivism or feminism. If it informs their moral beliefs then it's doing the same thing as religion. Atheism is not a social ideology though. Though it does have cult figures with cult followings. So I'll say "practicing" atheists with doctrines are indeed religious. My religious beliefs could be described as Anarcho-Humanism, but I don't think anybody else would describe themselves as that.