Is atheism a religion?

I guess I am open to the possibility that there are gods or whatever, I just don't see it as a very likely explanation for things. Certainly not likely enough to spend a few hours a week "worshiping" them.

I just don't see how they would give a monkeys about people believing in them. If they are so enlightened and all, then I'm sure they have much better things to do than worry about whether people believe in them or not! They would probably prefer people to spend their time helping each other than singing songs of praise in a church.

I still think there is something much deeper going on. Far to deep for our primitive minds to comprehend. Religion seems to me to be a way to answer the big mystery of life.

Some people need something to believe in, but I am generally more comfortable simply not knowing. At least that way I won't look so stupid when I die and move-on. If indeed there is anywhere to move-on to.

:)
 
How about "Lapsed Agnostic": You believe in God, but you just don't trust Him.
 
Originally posted by LoneDeranger
Yeah Kadayi, you sound like a smart guy. How old are you?
Click to expand...

Man this thread filled up quickly since yesterday, so this will seem way out of context but for the record I'm 34 if my memory serves me correctly. I wouldn't say so much I'm a smart guy, I've just read up way too many books, absorbed way too many facts and had way too many late night discussions for my own good :naughty:
 
That Elf guy is poorly mistaken, yes while children believe in santa claus and the easter bunny, they have to be taught these things. When the child is born it knows nothing of a god, it is taught this.
 
Originally posted by iamironsam
Satanists are just Christians, Jews, or Muslims (or any other type of monotheist for that matter), they just root for the other team.
Click to expand...
That's my taking on it, that's what I've always thought. It's just as much a religion, just on the other side...
 
Insid, I think your sig is too long...
 
Insid: I thought I asked you to shorten your sig?
Would you please follow the rules?
 
Originally posted by Kadayi Polokov
Man this thread filled up quickly since yesterday, so this will seem way out of context but for the record I'm 34 if my memory serves me correctly. I wouldn't say so much I'm a smart guy, I've just read up way too many books, absorbed way too many facts and had way too many late night discussions for my own good :naughty:
Click to expand...

bah don't be so modest...that's what makes you smart. the more knowledge you have, the more connections you make between things...you realize everything is connected.

reading makes you smarter...it doesn't necessarily (though it can) make you faster or better at everything, but intelligence doesn't have anything to do with speed or proficiency imo.

out of all my friends, those willing to take part in those late night discussions and read tons of books are the ones who other people consider to be intelligent.

the guys who say stuff like "bah...just forget about it...things will never change" or things like that are usually the ones who end up with the most credit card debt or the job they hate.

don't sell yourself short :p
 
"the ones who end up with the most credit card debt or the job they hate"

LOL! So, being economically wise is the same as being intelligent? I disagree. There are some people who are too smart to be bothered by petty things like that. Look at any past "genius". Einstein wore the same clothes every day so he wouldn't have to be bothered by choosing what to wear. Their lives are in constant dissaray and chaos.... Yet they are some of the most intelligent people...
 
Hey Oldi1knoby, your sig is too long...might wanna change it...
 
"is atheism a religion"?????

what!?

muthafukka, does an empty dime bag get yo ass high?
 
well lets see, to answer this we will need 2 words defined. i went to webster.com for this:

religious - 1 : relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity <a religious person> <religious attitudes>
2 : of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances
3 a : scrupulously and conscientiously faithful

religion
1 a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith


----


So according to these definitions you can be religious without believing in a deity, but just an ultimate reality. atheists are devoted to the belief that there is no god, therefore they are being religious. if they are being religious then this belief system called atheism is a religion. so if you want to argue with webster.com thats your deal. but according to the definitive book of definitions atheism is a religion.
 
Originally posted by Lil' Timmy
"is atheism a religion"?????

what!?

muthafukka, does an empty dime bag get yo ass high?
Click to expand...

true dat for shizzle my nizlzlgllelzzleee.
 
I have three sets of pants, three sets of shirts, three sets of jumpers, and no fashion sense.
 
Posey- You do understand the concept of being without a belief right?
 
its a made up concept, insid

if someone has a brain and can formulate thoughts, then they have a belief system. end of story. atheism makes me laugh because of how closeminded it is. someone has yet to prove that a deity does exist or doesn't exist to me. and its much harder to prove a deity doesn't exist logically(lets face it, its impossible). so atheists are in essence a closeminded bunch that can't imagine certain possibilities and most likely bitter and can't think rationally and logically(some i know are very bitter)

now agnosticism is more on track logically, they admit that they dont know either way, which is a good view because its logical. who was it that said the more i know, the more i dont know. we really dont know if a deity exists. maybe some people are convinced one does. but whoever states that they know for a fact that a deity doesn't exist in the universe is just lying to themselves because its not a fact and CAN never be fact. and thats a fact.

anyone want to challenge it?
 
Originally posted by poseyjmac
atheism makes me laugh because of how closeminded it is. someone has yet to prove that a deity does exist or doesn't exist to me. and its much harder to prove a deity doesn't exist logically(lets face it, its impossible). so atheists are in essence a closeminded bunch that can't imagine certain possibilities and most likely bitter and can't think rationally and logically(some i know are very bitter)
Click to expand...
What in philosophical HELL does atheism have to do with rational and logical thinking?!

If you want to get logical and rational, why spend BILLIONS (cant even begin to imagine the number) on maintaining thousands and thousands of priests, churches and other christian factions? We could use that to make the world better instead. Such as feeding starving children. But noooo... We have to have churches in top condition! How narrowminded is that? Who cares about a big freakin building that is of no logical nor rational use?! Anyone with the slightest hint of humanity and compassion would rather choose to tear down the church. Those with 'faith' that votes to keep it, would go against everything they stand for (helping others, not kill people, blablablabla). The christian church is one big logical contradiction.

Btw, I'm a fundamentalistic atheist and buddhist justified by christianity :)
 
Originally posted by oldi1knoby
"the ones who end up with the most credit card debt or the job they hate"

LOL! So, being economically wise is the same as being intelligent? I disagree. There are some people who are too smart to be bothered by petty things like that. Look at any past "genius". Einstein wore the same clothes every day so he wouldn't have to be bothered by choosing what to wear. Their lives are in constant dissaray and chaos.... Yet they are some of the most intelligent people...
Click to expand...

you missed the point, bud.
you missed my "or"
i even said "usually the ones" which you conveniently forgot to quote.

i was also talking about my friends...wow you just didn't read my post except for that one sentence did you?
 
Originally posted by dawdler
What in philosophical HELL does atheism have to do with rational and logical thinking?!

If you want to get logical and rational, why spend BILLIONS (cant even begin to imagine the number) on maintaining thousands and thousands of priests, churches and other christian factions? We could use that to make the world better instead. Such as feeding starving children. But noooo... We have to have churches in top condition! How narrowminded is that? Who cares about a big freakin building that is of no logical nor rational use?! Anyone with the slightest hint of humanity and compassion would rather choose to tear down the church. Those with 'faith' that votes to keep it, would go against everything they stand for (helping others, not kill people, blablablabla). The christian church is one big logical contradiction.

Btw, I'm a fundamentalistic atheist and buddhist justified by christianity :)
Click to expand...

you missed the point as well :\

most atheists consider people who believe in god irrational, correct?
they don't see how they can believe in something which has no proof.

posey was saying that there isn't any proof either way...no proof that god(s) don't exist, so being an atheist is just as irrational.
 
I don't get what the big deal is. People who believe in god, or not, are fine... its the people that know there is a god that have problems.

The bottom line is that people will believe all kinds of stupid stuff, but most of us are open-minded enough to consider that other possibilites exist.

:)
 
Originally posted by MrD
I don't get what the big deal is. People who believe in god, or not, are fine... its the people that know there is a god that have problems.

The bottom line is that people will believe all kinds of stupid stuff, but most of us are open-minded enough to consider that other possibilites exist.

:)
Click to expand...

yes, everyone go read about Socrates....

he always said the most important thing in life is knowing that we don't know.

people who think they know everything are usually wrong...those that can admit they don't know are the smart ones.
 
knowledge and intelligence aren't the same thing...it takes both to be a genius...try again.
 
It's also an expression in common use.

And it applies to so many people... *sigh*




:E
 
Originally posted by Maskirovka
you missed the point as well :\

most atheists consider people who believe in god irrational, correct?
they don't see how they can believe in something which has no proof.

posey was saying that there isn't any proof either way...no proof that god(s) don't exist, so being an atheist is just as irrational.
Click to expand...
Actually, atheism I think is one of the most logical and rational beleifs. That is BECAUSE I'm openminded!!! Think on it. Christianity is all about 'God created the world and everything', 'we are so special', 'we are his glorious fruit', 'we must pray and worship and honor Him', whatever. But me on the other hand, I beleive the world is very old. I beleive we populate just a tiny tiny tiny tiny piece of time, so tiny its invisible. The universe is enourmous, and I beleive that there is life out there. I think it would be illogical to say otherwise, afterall WE populate this tiny dirtball in space, someone else can populate others. What would care for us? Why are we special? I beleive in Nature, space, what has been formed from ancient suns or whatever you wish to call it. And thats it. Nothing controls it, nothing is behind our destinys, just simply Nature and Time, the physical world and progress. And this is so old we cant even put it into perspective, hence not comprehend it. The idea that somewhere in this mess of ideas and knowledge would be a 'God' in any way is ridiculous to me. It wouldnt make sense if you look at the whole picture. It would be like I had decided to become master of an African ant colony all of a sudden, and started creating an anthill in a way I like in Africa where I can decide their destiny, and possible write the Antible (TM) commanding that all ants shall worship me and that I am the only God for them.

Maybe you are right, atheism can be stupid if you are completely oblivious to any knowledge or simply wont accept other peoples ideas. But the same can be said about every other religion (where Christianity is a perfect example).
You might want to rephrase that to:
"most <insert religion here> consider people who believe in <insert another religion here or that religions god/gods> irrational, correct?"
 
Originally posted by dawdler
You might want to rephrase that to:
"most <insert religion here> consider people who believe in <insert another religion here or that religions god/gods> irrational, correct?"
Click to expand...

Well said :)
 
.. yup absence of proof is not proof of absence, as the saying goes..
that said, in the 'absence of proof', occam's razor would lead a "rational" person to conclude that the likely current state of affairs is such that any sort of 'god' is effectively non-existant. debate over.
 
"most <insert religion here> consider people who believe in <insert another religion here or that religions god/gods> irrational, correct?"
Click to expand...

they don't consider them irrational. they consider them infidel defilers that must drown in lakes of blood.
 
Originally posted by Brian Damage
Occam's razor must be nearly worn down to the shaft by now...
Click to expand...

phew, good thing the debate's over then.. in the nick of time!
 
Originally posted by king John I
there both religions, go atheist. Why are people afraid of being atheist?
Click to expand...
Why would you want to stop beleive?
Rather fun to think of. There isnt a point of 'atheism' really. Now when I think of it, isnt it the other religions that call them atheists? Its not like atheists can go around calling each other atheists, they havent got a reference to base it on! Only those that DO beleive in God/Gods/Buddha/The Holy Donut/Allah can call other people atheists!

Wow. I actually thought of something good for once. :eek:
Atheism is a religion invented by other religions :)

Guess the debate isnt over yet :bounce:
 
its not that good.

"do you belive in god?"
"no"
"so your an atheist"
"yes"

whoa! that was hard, atheits dont call themselves athieast because most poeple dont know what it means.

athesism is the belief that god deosn't exist. i was invented way before religions were so how was it invented by them?
 
how about

"do you belive in god?"
"no"
"so your an atheist"
"no"

?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

bbson john
Hi everyone. I am new to this forum!
Replies
11
Views
6K
Tollbooth Willie
Tollbooth Willie
MFL
Fascinating look at the ongoing psychological evolution of flat hieirarchies.
Replies
2
Views
2K
Tollbooth Willie
Tollbooth Willie
B
Community Interviews: Final Exchange development team
Replies
0
Views
5K
Barnz
B
V
I had a tour at the Valve HQ recently, this is what I found out.
Replies
8
Views
9K
UshankaCat
UshankaCat
B
Community Interviews: Tony Newton, co-creator of Redemption
Replies
0
Views
5K
Barnz
B
Back
Top