Forums → WEPR → (Answered) Atheism is [not]a religion

Blargh. No it is not.

Religion is, by your own linked definition, "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

Now, what is atheism? Not having a belief in a god. That is it. There is NO more meaning to it than that. It makes no claims. It doesn't propose a purpose. It doesn't require rituals, it does not propose a moral code, and it is no more a group than "male" "female" "human" "child" "adult" than anything else.

/end thread.

Well put, Kasic. It's absolutely infuriating that people try to argue this point. Although the question of what is a religion is an interesting question.
But this brings up a point - is classifying atheism as a religion (along these very loose terms) any sort of argument against atheism itself? It's not as if atheists don't believe that religion exists - that would be idiotic! So I'm not really even sure what arguments like this are trying to prove. It seems as though the proponent of this argument is trying to undermine atheism in some way, but in so doing only demonstrates his or her incompetence about the very argument they're presenting.
Yet another example of when atheists seem to have a much better grip on logic and reasoning in general than theists.

Break out the champagne and cheer for logic.....

Religion entails belief in a constructed system. Atheism is just a void. That's about it.

We should change this thread to Athiesm Vs. Nihilism. Those two are virtually the same thing. And well we're talking about the proclivities of athiesm we could address why more people are now self-identifying as Gnostic and not athiests. Interesting trend there two. But if y'all aren't done with the subject matter of this thread then don't let me impose.

We should change the thread theme to Atheism vs. Nihilism. Those two are vitually the same. I think it would make for a bountiful debate. But if y'all weren't done here then don't let me impose.

Sorry for two there, my computer is laggey.

No nihilism doesn't equate to atheism. I find it quite the insult actually, if people claim I have no meaning to life without God.

nihilism is kinda similar to atheism, but the only similarity is that neither believe in god. afterwards, atheism believes in finding their own meaning to life, while nihilism straightforward says "you have nothing to live for. what will you do now?". atheists can still be religious (because it simply means don't believe in god) while nihilists call all religion as pointless, and foolish. those are the major differences between the two.

-Blade

Nihilism and atheism aren't the same, but I get the feeling that it's exactly why atheism is considered so badly by many religious people; the only thing atheists lack belief of is a deity, but a deity is exactly what gives religious people sense to their lives. So for theists, an atheist is a sort of nihilist, but only for a theist. Objectively seen they're different.

Why more people are self-identiyfing as gnostic instead of atheists? It doesn't work like that. Gnostic and agnostic is only a qualitaive term that is additive to whether you're atheist or theist:

Atheism is not a religion.

THEISM is not a religion.

Neither one of these is a religion.

Theism describes people who follow a religion, but it is not, in itself, a religion.

Theism describes people who follow a religion, but it is not, in itself, a religion.

I think it depends; you could be a passive atheist that just lives life (in which case it's not religion) or you could be an atheist who is strongly opposed to religion (which can be a personal philosophy, which religion pretty much is...one's personal views).

I think it depends; you could be a passive atheist that just lives life (in which case it's not religion) or you could be an atheist who is strongly opposed to religion (which can be a personal philosophy, which religion pretty much is...one's personal views).

But this brings up a point - is classifying atheism as a religion (along these very loose terms) any sort of argument against atheism itself?

Also it does not make sense to call those who are against religions, religious. They'd be going against themselves.

There's one little difference.

Religion is defined as the belief in and worship of an extra-transient power.

And Atheism is...precisely. Not. That.

Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position; it's contradictory to pin them together.