The definition of an Athiest

[sherminator]

Hi guys can you help please? Waldo if you still come on here would love your take on this.

Am on a site which claims that Athiesm is now a religion and whilst I know this to be not true, Someone such as yourself(anyone else plese post as well!) can put it far more eloguently than me!

Thank you

[Mike25]

Maybe it should be a religion, it is a persons belief just like a person believes in Christ. Same thing if you ask me only there is more proof that religion is fake.

[Davethedog]

An athiest doesn't belive in anyform of Diety or afterlife. They apply critical thinking to all things religious.

Its not a religion, never will be. Theists would life to compartmentalise it because then they could attack it, hence make it a religion.

Just as when they had to re-invent "god" into creationism they try to re-invent athiesm to attempt to support thier own beliefs, i.e. our god is better tahn your ??

[woofgang]

I guess the answer is how the concept of religion is defined...if its a belief set by which you run your life then yes, if there has to be a god or gods involved then no.......
Rule one of debate, first define your terms......

[andy-hughes]

I would concur with Davethedog on this.

A religion is a belief in a deity and attendent rituals, aetheism is the absence of such a belief, so by definition it cannot in itself be a religion, since it is the direct opposite of religion - the absence of a a belief.

[woofgang]

well but andy, that's your definition of religion, which is why you first have to define what is meant in this context by religion......

[brionon]

Someone once said to an Xtian-'WE are All atheists,I just believe in one less religion than you.''

[Davethedog]

Woofgang fair point - but to run your life by a set of rules you first have to belive.

However if those rules are common decency, common sense, fairplay and the rule(s) of law, then yes but all should follow those Athiest or not.

I. e I do not believe in God, however I have never murdered anyone or intend to and it hanoyhing to do with the rules of god. But if my next door neighbour had an Ox who knows there may be a bit 'o' coveting

[andy-hughes]

woofgang - thanks, it is indeed 'my' definition, but i would suggest that in its simplest terms, there is no other definition that embraces all the factors involved.

I am als always ready to be corrected if my point is invalid.

[Garmard]

But isn't Christainity among other religions a belief in something we can neither see, touch or communicate with...like Atheism in a sense?
What's your thoughts?

[LeMarchand]

I do think that some atheists do work themselves into an almost religious fervour, and I think that this may be what the site is referring to.

I'm an atheist myself, however I don't have any issues with most organised religions and can see that many of them are a great source of comfort to their adherents. There was someone on here a while back asking for prayers for something or other. Do I think the prayers did anything concrete? Of course not; but the thought that people were praying on their behalf certainly gave comfort to the OP. I'm also constantly amazed that on some forums any films with a spiritual aspect (like "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe") are excoriated for their Christian aspects. So what? It's an enjoyable family movie. (It's also generally the sort of people who LOVE "The Exorcist" - surely a much more blatantly Christian film? - who hate any "Christian" films).

On the other hand the "Dawkins" type of atheist goes to meetings and is constantly harping on about the dangers of religion. Substitute in church and godlessness and you can see why people are beginning to think atheism is becoming a religion. (Not to mention that such people seem to draw comfort from their assumed intellectual superiority in the same way that a "proper" religious person would from their faith.

[LoftyLottie]

I would agree with Dave the Dog. Simply, in my opinion

"Someone who does not believe in any God or gods"

[Davethedog]

Garmand that is illogical totaly.

There is nothing there, no creator, no god of the sun, no happy garden for you soul. So what do I believe in? Of course I mean in religious terms hint: nothing

[China Doll]

Very sensible answer LeMarchand, I agree.

[Old_Geezer]

The definition of an atheist seems to vary depending on who you ask. For me it is the simple version I was always taught, and that is someone who does not believe in a God. This has to be an act of faith since there is no proof there is no God, which may be why some consider it to be just another religion, but in fairness many atheists will say the onus of proof isn't on them, they are trying to take the simplest explanation.

However ask many of them what an atheist is and they will tell you it is someone who thinks there may be a God but they don't think there is. A better description of an agnostic you could not wish to see. So I suspect there are quite a few who claim to be atheist because admitting to being an agnostic sounds weak and has less kudos.

[Garmard]

But isn't Athiesm a kind of acknowledgement of your own belief...like Christianity?
Are we not still dwelling on what is or isn't?

[woofgang]

Of course i don't want to correct you Andy, i am just suggesting that the OP needs to ask what that website's definition of a religion is (mine was just an example). She (or he, haven't checked gender) can then answer based on what that definition is, or state a different definition and answer based on that. I do agree with le Marchand in that some folks' "atheism" is taking on aspects of some folks' "religion".

[LoftyLottie]

I believe I am an agnostic, because I really don't believe in a god or gods but can't be sure because I haven't the ability to really know. I don't believe anybody has ability to really be sure.

[Davethedog]

LeMarchand - I disagree, intodays society we are becoming more and more secular, however we still have to live under the religious yoke. Across the world there is still a huge loss of life due to religion.

The fact that Dawkins was prepared to stand up and be counted shouldn't be seen as fervour but outrage that we should still have to be guided, by what more and more of us see as nothing more than superstious hokum.

As more and more take the secular path, those of religion are scared and so they become more vocal. They try to impose the rules of thier religion not only on the secular but other religions.

"Substitute in church and godlessness" sorry I don't understand that, but I do know that religion suppressed the Athiest for centuries and given the chance would do so now. The fact that we speak should bee seen as us wanting to be part of a different parasitic group

[Davethedog]

**SHOULDN'T**

[beso]

A religious belief is one held beyond question because it only need the support of faith. A religious person does not question their faith even if evidence to the contrary is provided.

Atheism is a belief held as a result of observing collected evidence and that evidence remains open to question at any time. An atheist can change their opinion.

Atheism is not a religon.