My opinion - Atheism isn't a religion. Religion is spiritual and focuses on a deity or -self (i.e. Buddhism) with an end goal in mind - whether that's heaven, enlightenment, reincarnation or becoming Godly themselves. In terms of the way I personally think I don't see them as realistic end goals. I believe I've got one life and then that's the end of it. Nothing follows this and the basis of religion is that something does follow. Therefore I don't see atheism as a religion - I just see it as a way of thinking.
Religion gives you a hub of information with regards to how to act in life. We atheists don't have that but we base our morals on life, not a book written by old sheep herders.
1) They worship a Deity. . . . wait, no they don't
2) They have a holy book. . . . . oops, no that's not right
3) They have rituals and temples. . . . . actually, not that either
1.In the scientific community, the concept of government secrets is taboo, and is the "pink elephant in the living room" that scientists and atheists refuse to acknowledge. Scientists and atheists do not want to admit such a simple and obvious fact: If all government secrets were exposed today, then all of the truth about reality would finally be revealed--and thus, society would fall apart, science would fall apart, all religions would fall apart, the mass media would fall apart, and there would be no more need for websites such as this.
2.Whereas a religion has faith in the existence of an imaginary god, science has faith in the trustworthiness of the government--something which real truth seekers would never dare have.
Mind you that the scope of "trusting the government" covers trusting mass media information, trusting what is told in history books, and, basically, trusting anything else that is considered to be "official" (such as the "official" version of history). People never ask for proof or evidence when information comes from an official source. Instead, they simply rely on their faith in the trustworthiness of the source.
3.Evolution is a theory, they still need to find the missing link. for it to be TRUE.
Atheism has nothing to do with religion, atheism supports scientific facts and religion supports faith which is holding something to be true that hasn't been pr oven.
"A religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."
Wikipedia's definition.
I don't think Atheism is a religion. Its not the lack of religion, either, as some have confused it. It is simply the lack in the belief of a God or gods.
The only people who see atheism as a religion are Christians....that is really weird. For atheists it is just the fact that they don't believe in god, gods or goddess's!!
at he?ism noun \A-th?-?i-z?m\
Definition of ATHEISM
2a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity
1- its a belief in no Deity.
2- it has doctrine
3- Middle French atheism, from Arther atheist, from Greek ethos godless, from a- + Theo's god. Still has to do with a god...its a system that is followed. Religion DOES NOT have to do with a god. its simply a system of beliefs. Following baseball closely can be a religion if it takes up most of your brain. Baseball is a system.
Whoever gave you the essay question is a dumb ass because Atheism is not a religion. Maybe you should give the reasons why it is NOT a religion and then debate with your teacher
Atheism is not a religion... Atheism is the disbelief in any god or higher being. I'm Atheist. I do not believe in any creator, I don't believe in life after death, we don't have souls, I don't agree with religion. In fact, I just don't think about it anymore until someone asks. I just live my life.
1 It is founded on beliefs, not absolute proof. It is just as hard to "prove" there is absolutely NO god whatsoever anywhere as to "prove" his existence. Atheists BELIEVE there is no god.
2 It espouses an ethical stance. Most atheists report having a set of ethical standards even if they are loosely defined.
3 It seeks to answer the questions that science(at this point) is not good at answering. The why and how should we act questions are very difficult for science. Cold logic is not that good for dealing with other human beings.
Religion is (truly) just dogma.
L. Ron Hubbard created a religion and called it Scientology.
Anton LaVey created the modern Church of Satan.
Claude Vorilhon created a belief in UFOs seeding the earth and calls it Ra?lism.
So there are many religions. But most are dogma.
Secondly, when anyone takes any belief system and stretches it to its extremes it exhibits terrorist qualities. So I refuse to take an religion as the end-all-be-all belief system for which it claims to represent. To do so is to make man above God, which he is not.
Lastly, Lucifer/Satan thought his belief system to be better than God and was thrown out of Heaven. I caution any man to believe that his beliefs are irrefutable and inescapably true. To do so is to question God, which would be a curse for eternity. No one knows more than God. No one can question his creation and say they know how/why it came about. No scientist, no man, no human.
1. It states as fact that which cannot be proved - somewhat accurate, but in no way unique to religions
2. It follows an agenda of humanism which rules over logic - uh, what? Even if I accepted this, how is that indicative of a religion?
3. It has a god.....the atheist them self - The only truly applicable reason...too bad it's a load of crap.
As far as I know, the only legitimate (albeit, wafer-thin) reason for thinking atheism is a religion is that it has at least one church in existence
Well if I were doing this essay my first action would be to seek out the best definition of Religion in the largest dictionary which I could find in a library or elsewhere and test if any of its meanings could apply to a person who has no belief in god but does believe that it is a sin to corrupt young people' minds before they have a chance to think. If a child is not old enough to ask the question "Where did I come from" and be given a simple answer which is truth based and understandable, (s)he should be spared the falsehoods about imaginary bogeymen.
Give me 3 reasons why Atheism is a religion?
