Religious View: Atheism?

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

Why are a lot of atheists on the forums posting their 'religious view' as 'atheist'? The last time I checked, atheism isn't a religious view. Whatever happened to the saying 'Atheism is to religion as bald is to a hair color'? Either atheists here change their religious view to 'no religious views' or similar, or the admin of this site changes 'religious view' to 'philosophical view' or 'world view'.

What do you think?

[Zhalentine]

Perhaps I'm wrong but religious views are different than religion. My view on religion is that I do not believe in the gods that religions claim exist. I have no religion but my view on it is atheist.

[Tiberius]

I think the problem with it is that if we called it anything else, the Christians here wouldn't have the correct category. Atheism is related to religion; it can be called a view on religion (or more a view on a certain religious claim). I wouldn't call Christianity a "philosophical view" though.

If someone can think of a word that encompasses everyone then I'll be glad to change it.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

I think the problem with it is that if we called it anything else, the Christians here wouldn't have the correct category. Atheism is related to religion; it can be called a view on religion (or more a view on a certain religious claim). I wouldn't call Christianity a "philosophical view" though.

If someone can think of a word that encompasses everyone then I'll be glad to change it.

why wouldn't you call it a 'philosophical view' or position on the universe?

'philosophy'
1. noun: any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation ("Self-indulgence was his only philosophy")
2. ▸ noun: the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
3. ▸ noun: a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school

1. Metaphysical naturalists deal with situations by methodological naturalism. I'm not sure how I would define how Christians, for example, deal with situations beyond saying they deal with their situations with prayer.

2. I can understand how the second definition would not apply as most religions aren't exactly 'rational' but if you take into account that they believe they are indeed rational then their view fits into the second definition.

3. the third definition is somewhat universal.

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Perhaps I'm wrong but religious views are different than religion. My view on religion is that I do not believe in the gods that religions claim exist. I have no religion but my view on it is atheist.

I suppose 'religious views' works if you think of it that way: 'what's your view on religion?' opposed to 'what is your religion?'

Don't you think how many theists claim we are just as religious as they are and require even more faith than they do is a pain? I still think religious people may easily confuse us for calling atheism a religion by posting 'atheism' as a religious view.

[Minimalist]

I see TFS' point in the OP. Many of us deny that "atheism" is a religion and then fill in the question on religious views by saying "atheist." It doesn't follow.

When I answered the question I chose "none" but only because I was new to the board and didn't know how my first inclination (GOD IS BULLSHIT) would have gone over.

[Ryft]

If someone can think of a word that encompasses everyone then I'll be glad to change it.

"Worldview." Clear, simple, and encompassing. A person can identify their worldview as Secular Humanist, Atheist, Pastafarian, Nihilist, Christian, Agnostic—whatever their conviction or priority. It even allows for people like fr0d0, "Heretic."

[theblindferrengi]

If someone can think of a word that encompasses everyone then I'll be glad to change it.

As for that kind of thing, "Worldveiw" is good, but not really acurite towards the question. Perhaps something like "Views towards religion"

There are no words to define what category of individuals in such a way that are also precise and acurate.

Just as the question "what is the meaning of life?" has no meaning whatsoever (except to christians, who respond with bible bullshit). Rather the question is "what is the meaning of your life?".

[tackattack]

I think you already said it with "view of religion" Adrian.

[fr0d0]

It even allows for people like fr0d0, "Heretic."

Don't start hairball!

[Arminius]

What gets me is the fact that there are people here with christian or other religious views, I would no more go and join a religious forum than I can understand why they would come here.

I know that they cannot say a thing that I would find interesting when put from thier religious viewpoint, so why would they think for a minute that I would try to engage with them.

I think the old saying goes: 'you cannot change the views of someone that has allowed themselves to be persuaded by fantasy'.

Just my 2 cents/pence/centimes/pfennig....

Andreas