Atheism is a RELIGION

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Randomhero1982's picture
Not even close

Not even close

Matheist's picture
That's not even an argument.

That's not even an argument.

It is true, Atheism is a religion with 320,000,000 Gods

Officially

Rohan M.'s picture
Is unemployment a job where

Is unemployment a job where you work for countless different companies? Lol you're so close-minded that you can't even consider the possibility that one can not even believe in deities in the first place. I know that many of you theists like to pretend that faith is a fact secretly know by everyone on the planet, but that's bot the case; there's a reason why they call it "faith".

algebe's picture
@Matheist: Why 320 million?

@Matheist: Why 320 million?

Matheist's picture
Because the official

Because the official definition of Atheism merely says "God(s)". All gods.

arakish's picture
@ matheist

@ matheist

But since you also claim to be an animist, the number would actually be approximately 7.5e9. About 1.0e11 if including all past.

rmfr

Cognostic's picture
What the Fk>

What the Fk>

Do you have any idea at all what a premise is?
prem·iseDictionary result for premise
/ˈpreməs/Submit
noun
1.
LOGIC
a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.

"Who is an atheist?" Is not a premise.

Rohan M.'s picture
That's literally the dumbest

That's literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Going by your logic, I could say that "unemployment" is a job because it allegedly asserts that you are not working for countless companies, so therefore, you work to not work. Yeah, it makes perfect sense!

algebe's picture
@Matheist: Atheism is a

@Matheist: Atheism is a RELIGION

You're saying that one thing equals another, so really you need to define both terms to justify your claim.

Atheism is the state of being without a belief in any god. It doesn't necessarily imply a denial that gods exist, just a lack of belief that they do. I'm guessing that you're an atheist where the gods of Greece/Rome/Egypt/India/Japan/China, etc., are concerned.

"Religion" is derived from the Latin word "religare" meaning to "tie" or "bind". A religion is a system that binds people to certain beliefs, practices, rituals, etc. For example, Jews and Muslims feel bound by their religions to mutilate their children and avoid pork. Those ties are formed and maintained through childhood indoctrination, social pressure, fear, violence, tyranny, and other unwholesome and immoral mechanisms.

Atheists are people who grew up without these bonds, or who have managed to untie themselves from them. Atheism imposes no bonds of belief or ritual. So your claim that atheism is a religion is baseless. As you well know.

Matheist's picture
http://www.atheistrepublic

http://www.atheistrepublic.com/forums/debate-room/atheism-religion-0?pag...

______________
Pure Agnostic: God's existence and non-existence are exactly EQUIPROBABLE.
equiprobable
(of two or more things) equally likely to occur; having EQUAL PROBABILITY.

______________
Weak Atheist: I do not know whether God exists, but I'm declined to be SKEPTICAL.
skeptical
1. not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
2. relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.

______________
De-facto Atheist: I cannot know for certain, but I think God is very IMPROBABLE.
improbable
1. not likely to be true or to happen.
synonyms: unlikely, not likely, doubtful, dubious, debatable, questionable, uncertain;
More: unexpected and apparently inauthentic.

______________
Therefore the definition of Atheism asserts

1. The disbelief in 320,000,000 Gods
2. The belief in 320,000,000 Gods

Conclusion

Atheism is a religion with 320,000,000 Gods

Cognostic's picture
Matheist: You are not

Matheist: You are not making any sense at all. Did you forget to take your little blue pill this morning?

algebe's picture
@Matheist: Atheism is a

@Matheist: Atheism is a religion with 320,000,000 Gods

No. No. No. You're attempting (unsuccessfully I'm afraid) to define only one half of your equation. You've completely ignored the meaning of religion.

Any definition of that must include some reference to binding, tying, shackling, bondage... And atheism has none of that. So your equation is invalid.

And I still don't understand which orifice you pulled that figure of 320 million from.

comoke1024's picture
I'm going to just pop these

I'm going to just pop these terms into Google and go ahead based on these definitions. If you have different definitions that you want to discuss and can provide sources for those definitions, I am happy to discuss on those terms as well.

Here we go:

Religion definition:
1 - the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

2 - a particular system of faith and worship.

3 - a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

I think I can safely exclude number three as it doesn't seem to mesh with the point you are making as I understand it .

Atheism definition:
1 - disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

So, comparing to the first definition of religion... By definition, atheists have no belief in gods, personal or otherwise. No reasonable person would worship something or someone they do not believe exists, so the first definition of religion doesn't apply to atheists.

The second definition COULD apply, but it's unlikely. Atheism deals specifically with the god question, so it's not necessarily inconsistent to disbelieve the god claim, but also have faith in something else and/or worship someone or something else. For example, faith in the healing power of crystals is not inconsistent with atheism. I don't know of anything or anyone an atheist would worship such that they form a structured religion around it, apart from a god. I this this one is highly unlikely.

Atheism is NOT a religion.

Matheist's picture
Religion definition:1 - the

Religion definition:
1 - the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

2 - a particular system of faith and worship.

3 - a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

That is Atheism.

Matheist's picture
religion

religion
/rɪˈlɪdʒ(ə)n/
noun

1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
"ideas about the relationship between science and religion"

synonyms: faith, belief, divinity, worship, creed, teaching, doctrine, theology; More

2. a particular system of faith and worship.
plural noun: religions
"the world's great religions"

3. a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion.

toto974's picture
I think you are a troll.

I think you are a troll.

Matheist's picture
I "think" is trolling.

I "think" is trolling.

arakish's picture
@ matheist

@ matheist

You are the one trolling. I have visited that blog bullshit you have linked in your profile. I even sent two letters to you and yours.

OFFICIAL Definition of Atheism: "the LACK of or DISBELIEF in any claims for the existence of any deities."

Where in that definition do you see any religious belief?

Atheism is NOT a religion. The "official" definition makes that a no-brainer.

Go back to school. This time around, do not skip classes to smoke those drugs you seem to be hooked on.

rmfr

algebe's picture
@Matheist Religion definition

@Matheist Religion definition:

Your definition is deficient. Religion is fundamentally a system of mental bondage. The bonds are applied by parents, priests, teachers, social pressures. They tie victims to systems of belief, meaningless rules about diet and dress, and pointless rituals. When the mind-forged manacles break, religions have historically used force, terror, and torture to reimpose them. All of this bondage exists to enrich a priestly elite and prop up tyrants.

None of this has anything to do with atheism. Can you name a single atheist ritual or rule?

comoke1024's picture
You seem to be saying:

You seem to be saying:

Atheism is the disbelief in all gods.
Religion is the belief in one or more gods.
Atheism is a religion.
QED bitches!

The terms are polar opposites. A child can tell you that "I believe in God" and "I do not believe in any gods" are mutually exclusive.

Matheist's picture
Pure Agnostic: God's

Pure Agnostic: God's existence and non-existence are exactly EQUIPROBABLE.
Weak Atheist: I do not know whether God exists, but I'm declined to be SKEPTICAL.
De-facto Atheist: I cannot know for certain, but I think God is very IMPROBABLE.

EQUIPROBABLE // SKEPTICAL // IMPROBABLE

Do you agree with these?

comoke1024's picture
I can agree with those terms,

I can agree with those terms, except in the case of Weak Atheist do you mean "inclined" instead of "declined"? As in "I am inclined to be skeptical"?

Matheist's picture
sceptical

sceptical

/ˈskɛptɪk(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: skeptical

2. relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.

Everyone ever lived is sceptical, religious and non-religious people.

#the only journey is one within

Sheldon's picture
"Pure Agnostic: God's

"Pure Agnostic: God's existence and non-existence are exactly EQUIPROBABLE."

No, this isn't remotely agnosticism. Agnosticism is defined as the belief that nothing is known or can be known about the nature or existence of a deity.

Thus agnostics can make no claims at all. They can however disbelieve the claim a deity exists. Indeed I can't imagine why someone would believe a claim they admit they can know nothing about.

It is now clear that you are as illiterate as you are dishonest.

"Weak Atheist: I do not know whether God exists, but I'm declined to be SKEPTICAL.
De-facto Atheist: I cannot know for certain, but I think God is very IMPROBABLE."

As you've already been told those are subjective opinions, they do not affect the definition of atheism.

Agnosticism is a statement about an absence of knowledge, while atheism is statement about the absence of belief.

Someone would need to be very stupid and or very dishonest to not see the difference.

Lastly they are not mutually exclusive. Indeed if a deity is defined in such a way as to be unfalsifiable, as they often are, then I'd say they are synonymous.

Matheist's picture
You should make your argument

You should make your argument against Richard Dawkins.

Sheldon's picture
"You should make your

"You should make your argument against Richard Dawkins."

It's hardly Professor Dawkins fault that you're dishonestly misrepresenting his opinion on how sure he is a deity doesn't exist, to dishonestly lie about what atheism means, just so you can troll an atheist site.

Matheist's picture
#1. the belief in and worship

@Algebe

#1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
synonyms: faith, belief, divinity, worship, creed, teaching, doctrine, theology;

Proof:

Pure Agnostic: God's existence and non-existence are exactly EQUIPROBABLE.
Weak Atheist: I do not know whether God exists, but I'm declined to be SKEPTICAL.
De-facto Atheist: I cannot know for certain, but I think God is very IMPROBABLE.

Premise 2: "Equiprobable, skeptical, improbable" means:

1. Disbelief in God(s)
2. Belief in God(s)

________________________
2. a particular system of faith and worship.
3. a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion.

Atheism not rooted in logic, philosophy, science etc but a religious claims.

1. It is a religious claim, and not rooted in science, logic, philosophy etc.
2. The claim for belief in God (The Dawkin's Scale)
3. The claim for disbelief in God
4. The claim for without belief in God
(vs. not making a choice when everything has its causes and effects, IS A CHOICE - Burden of Proof)

Therefore it is a system of faith pursued with great devotion.

The official definition of Atheism

atheism. n. disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

arakish's picture
@ matheist

@ matheist

My poor disturbed yungun. Your definitions are totally and utterly incorrect.

Pure Agnostic: God's existence and non-existence are exactly EQUIPROBABLE.
Weak Atheist: I do not know whether God exists, but I'm declined to be SKEPTICAL.
De-facto Atheist: I cannot know for certain, but I think God is very IMPROBABLE.

The correct definitions are as follows:

  • Agnostic – This means nothing more than "without knowledge." I am agnostic in there are many things I do not know. Thus, I am without that knowledge, thus agnostic. Everyone is agnostic to a certain point. I cannot put this any simpler.
  • Atheist – If translated literally, this means "without god." However, in today's terminology, atheism actually means "a lack of or disbelief in any claims for the existence of any deity."
  • Anti-theist – This one, in my definition, means exactly as it says; anti- = "against," theist = "belief in one god." Or better, "against belief in any deity."
  • Anti-religionist – This one is exactly as it says: "against religion."
  • Apistevist – lack of blind faith; one who does not rely on religious blind faith in order to discern true facts.

Please try going back to school and actually learning something.

rmfr

Matheist's picture
According to you, Richard

According to you, Richard Dawkins is incorrect?

Why don't you write a Book and correct him?

Sheldon's picture
Agnosticism makes no claims

Agnosticism makes no claims about probability.

No amount of lying on your part will change this.

Agnostic
noun

a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.

Again your risible and puerile attempts to dishonestly misrepresent basic word definitions says a lot about you and your hokum beliefs.

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