Is Atheism a Religion?

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

Theists have told me "Atheism is a religion." I read a bunch of responses to this but all of them missed the point. A poor response would be to say that atheism is not a religion because atheists don't have rituals and do not believe in gods. The response does not address that religion is a set of beliefs rather than a single belief there is this one deity. I think the best response is actually to point out that theism is not a religion just as much as atheism is not a religion, addressing the unabridged definition of religion. Atheism and theism are subsets of a person's theory about how the world works. Metaphysical Naturalism might be that theory that concludes or presumes there is no need for a deity. Now we can look at the definition of 'religion' and compare it to the definition of metaphysical naturalism which is an atheist world-view, among many other ways that this world view could be described.

[The Grand Nudger]

Think we had this thread very recently. Hopefully this one goes a little differently.

[Minimalist]

Theists have told me "Atheism is a religion."

Theists are generally shitheads.


So much for the thread going differently!

[Shell B]

Think we had this thread very recently. Hopefully this one goes a little differently.

Recently, in the past, in other unrelated threads, etc. This one will go exactly the same.

[Judas BentHer]

Why yes, yes it is.
Now send me money for the cause and I'll mail you a receipt for your taxes.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

I don't know how the last one went. I was going over a thread on facebook, and I thought that if we really wanted to get into the definitions of things, we should address the definition of theism which isn't a religion. Religion and theism might be the same thing according to some dictionaries. I just looked up "define religion" in Google and the first definition that pops up is "re·li·gion/riˈlijən/Noun 1. The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods."

However, when theists refer to religion they are usually referring to a 'set of beliefs' and theism is one of those beliefs. Atheism describes a single belief. I know atheists that believe in the afterlife, The Secret, and even atheists that believe in ghosts. I know atheists that don't believe in any of those things. I know theists that believe in many gods, and theists that believe in just one god. I know theists that believe in ghosts even when they aren't supposed to believe in ghosts or astrology. lol

[Shell B]

Having read several posts on here from atheists that seem to want to go out of their way to 'convert' others to think the same I can see the similarity in some cases.

Really? You do realize how attempts at conversion work, don't you? Arguing against a person's belief system isn't an attempt at conversion. Offering them salvation from an eternity of hellfire or offering them cookies is. As of yet, I have seen no atheist here offer either.

Oh, you deleted your post. Good thing I quoted it here.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

Having read several posts on here from atheists that seem to want to go out of their way to 'convert' others to think the same I can see the similarity in some cases.

Really? You do realize how attempts at conversion work, don't you? Arguing against a person's belief system isn't an attempt at conversion. Offering them salvation from an eternity of hellfire or offering them cookies is. As of yet, I have seen no atheist here offer either.

Oh, you deleted your post. Good thing I quoted it here.

I have never changed someone's world-view right after an argument. Several people that I have argued with in person have become atheist later. Atheists have a big problem with PR though. I've met several 'atheist' professors that would rather call themselves agnostics to avoid the arrogant and aggressive connotations that are associated with atheism.

[The Grand Nudger]

We should ask Hannah her opinion on the matter.

[Shell B]

I have never changed someone's world-view right after an argument. Several people that I have argued with in person have become atheist later. Atheists have a big problem with PR though. I've met several 'atheist' professors that would rather call themselves agnostics to avoid the arrogant and aggressive connotations that are associated with atheism.

I'm a little surprised at the stigma produced by atheism. I never expected that when I became vocal about atheism. Then again, I wasn't hiding my atheism from crazies to begin with, I just became more interested in the topic the more crazies I met.