I've been asking many people this question, and theyre answers have varied greatly. Yes, Atheism is the belief of no higher power, but is that really a [i]lack of religion, or is it a religion? 1. This depends on peoples beliefs or what constitutes as a religion. 2. Is a lack of religion, a religion?
Crimson, the only thing that makes you athiest is not believing in god. There are no set rules of ethics or conscience with athiests. And there is no set as such. Just the singular belief that there is no god.
Atheism takes a lot of faith. Faith that the rest of the world is wrong and you are right is actually quite a big step to take. So you would need faith in your own decision to stand by it.
So my favorite color is blue, I BELIEVE that. I believe blue is the best color. This is a BELIEF. Does that make it a religion, no. Because all i think is that blue is the best color. Just like atheism because you believe something doesnt make it a religion.
@ Graham, your argument seems to be that Atheism requires faith and thus is a religion. I don't buy that. You don't need faith to not believe in something. Until there is scientific proof indicating the existence of a God, atheism requires 0 faith. Atheists don't have faith there is no God. They just believe there is no God, and beliefs do not equate to religion.
You don't need faith to not believe in something. Until there is scientific proof indicating the existence of a God, atheism requires 0 faith. Atheists don't have faith there is no God. They just believe there is no God, and beliefs do not equate to religion.
There is nothing that disproves the existence of god so they do need faith because god hasnt be disproven he/she/it just hasnt been proven.
graham is totaly right you have to have faith that you are right in the fact that there is no God which does make it a religion
There is truth that you need faith but I think Atheism is just to broad to be a religion. It doesnt tell you how to live your life. Atheism doesnt say sin because you wont go to hell or dont sin because it has a negative effect on you in the real world. If Atheism is a religion that would mean Theism is also a religion which it isnt, its just an aspect of most religions.
Graham, your argument seems to be that Atheism requires faith and thus is a religion. I don't buy that. You don't need faith to not believe in something. Until there is scientific proof indicating the existence of a God, atheism requires 0 faith. Atheists don't have faith there is no God. They just believe there is no God, and beliefs do not equate to religion.
Your saying that religion requires a god in order to be valid. I have faith that religion is wrong. I place everything in that, just like many people within religions place their faith in being right and there being a good. The statement beliefs don't equate to religion is a little off, because Buddhism is a religion, yet it doesn't have faith in a good. I think the problems not really whether Atheism is a religion or not, but what is religion?
