Refuting Theist Arguments - Why Atheism is Not a Religion

Refuting Theist Arguments -- Why Atheism is Not a Religion

Often times, theists will make the claim that "Atheism is a religion."
Over the next few minutes I will show why this claim is absurd.

Lets' examine one definition of religion (this definition is fairly typical):
Religion: 1a. Belief in and reference for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator or governor of the universe b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief
-- American Heritage Dictionary (fourth edition)

Clearly atheists do not believe in a supernatural power or powers.
So, by this definition, atheism is not a religion.

That was too easy...

Let's broaden our search and examine the criteria that are common to most definitions of religion:
1.) Belief in one or more supernatural forces
-Atheists do not believe in any supernatural forces
2.) Belief in one or more gods and/or goddesses
-Obviously, atheists do not believe in any deities
3.) A system of shared beliefs and practices
-There are no beliefs or practices that are universal to all atheists
4.) A shared set of moral values
-Atheists do not have a shared set of moral values

As we can see, even when we broaden our criteria, atheism is not a religion.

Atheism is not a political, social, moral, or philosophical system...
There are no beliefs, practices, rituals, etc. that are inherently tied to atheism.

Atheism does not prescribe any beliefs, rituals, practices, morals, political values, etc
However, this in no way means that atheists do not have morals, political views, etc.

Each individual atheist develops their own moral philosophy, political views, etc.
The values of atheists are not based on ancient texts and archaic dogma; they are based on other factors that are more relevant to a constantly changing modern society.

Atheism is not a dogmatic presumption; it is a conclusion arrived at after meticulously, and critically, examining all of the evidence using logic.

As everyone can clearly see, atheism is NOT a religion.
Most theists who try to claim that atheism is a religion do not seem to know what atheism even is...
To theists who claim that atheism is a religion: go read up on the definitions of 'atheism' and 'religion'.

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[madhatter0719]

i'm an atheist, but think it's utterly absurd that any atheists would consider themselves part of a religion. seriously, as atheist we don't congregate toghether, worship anything, hell, we atheists don't ever even get toghether for a fuckin punch social. atheism is just a belief of no god in general. that's it. that's all it ever will be. period.

[ApostateChristian]

Yes, why DID you respond?

[dkthg]

@10YNWA10 1st) WHAT case for agnosticism? Agnostism says "I neither believe nor disbelieve." Atheism says "I reject the CLAIM until i see evidence" Where is the ignorance? ITS COMMON LOGIC. Haven't you ever heard of innocent until proven guilty? 2nd) Yes, the phrase "we cannot prove there is a meaning to the universe therefore there is no meaning" is indeed ignorant...what's your point? Are you quoting an Atheist? Who specifically?? I'VE never heard that.

[10YNWA10]

@dkthg im not arguing for the existence of god, im making a case for agnosticism. you seem to agree that blindly believing in a god is presumptuous and ignorant. however, i believe it is just as presumtuous and ignorant to simply declare that there is no meaning. the argument can be rephrased as "we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there is meaning to the universe. therefore, there is no meaning." this sounds like arguing from ignorance to me

[dkthg]

@10YNWA10 It's not a presumption. Atheism is the rejection of claims (there is a god) that haven't me their burdon of proof. Extraordinary claims (there is a god) DEMAND extraordinary evidence. It may sound harsh but what is more ignorant than believing in ANYTHING out of faith?

[10YNWA10]

atheism is based on a completely unsupported presumption that there is no greater power. many atheists say that people who believe in God do so out of ignorance, but can someone clarify how what they are doing is any different?

[mrfwest]

@Oktoberfesting " Atheism is a Religion, because you believe "

that's stupid. i believe i will wake up tomorrow, i dont believe unicorns. would that be considered a religion simply because i believe or not believe?

[pianokid54]

It's simple, really.

Actually, atheists CAN be religious (as long as their religion is not theistic). Atheism is simply the belief that there are no gods.

[Oktoberfesting]

Atheism is a Religion, because you believe, you have faith there is no God without proof. When you die, it is only then you see the truth.

Go back to the definition of faith. Faith is believing in something without proof. Religion is a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. Atheism is defined as the doctrine or belief that there is no God. Therefore Atheism is a religion.

.

Allen West 2012

[i6o4]

@UncomfortableSilence No point in talking to an idiot who can't make the difference between certainty, knowledge, belief, faith and assumption.

[UncomfortableSilence]

@i6o4 Final word other than my last comment because I have to point this out.

"Since when does believe mean "BE SURE"?"; You're dealing with "Certainty here

"When you don't believe something, it means YOU DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT IS REAL,": Also pertaining to Certainty.

"And if you "believe" your friend stole money from you and he confessed, that is no longer belief. It's knowledge."

How do you miss that you're quantifying belief as degrees or certainty here.

Believe is ambiguous. Done.

[UncomfortableSilence]

@i6o4 I'm trying to clear up the most ambiguous English language and I have asserted anything so far, just discussion.

But you sir, now you're just being a dick. Repeating what you said before doesn't make something true, neither does putting it in caps.

Look, this believe knowledge problem, it's because the English language is ambiguous.

It's also because people keep defining the word Atheist wrong.

Here's it, I don't believe in god, that's it. I'm an atheist and I don't want to talk to you.