"Atheism is not a religion, it's a personal relationship with reality."
I wish I could take credit for writing it but I can't.
Personally I really hate it when people call Atheism a "religion," as it shows not only a profound misunderstanding of Atheism but also of religion.
I am impressed by the knowledge of atheism and religion by many of the commentors here. Unfortunately, Gryphen is not one of them.
ReplyDeleteHe posted an extremely clever description of atheism and this is your response? I don't agree with everything Gryphen writes, but he's a very bright guy who has shared some fascinating stories of his experiences with religions and atheism. You want knowledge? The Old Testament is folklore and public service announcements woven together. Why couldn't they eat pork or shellfish? My guess is that people were getting sick from them, so they claimed a God said it. They were trying to build and control a society. History is full of this. The New Testament seems a bit more like a scam, but hey, if people actually followed the teachings of the character called Jesus, I think I would probably like Christians. Most Christians these days seem to prefer the Code of Hammerabi. Look it up. Knowledge being so important, and all. And Gryphen, thank you, that's my favorite new quote.
DeleteA snappy rebuke is not needed for your comment other than F U C K Y O U!
Delete2:03? Opinions are like assholes - everyone has one. And some smell like them, too.
DeleteA hint: It isn't MINE I'm talking about. Nor is it anyone's who has a modicum of intelligence and/or manners, which apparently does NOT include you.
I call myself a Secular Humanist, but first and foremost I have spend the majority of my life being a Realist.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked the saying, "Atheism is a religion like "bald" is a hair color."
ReplyDeleteAtheism often can share aspects of religious fervor such as the followers "knowing" what is true or right. Other than that I have no issues with most atheists. I'm an agnostic.
ReplyDeleteSo, 2:03 is impressed by the knowledge many IM readers have about atheism and religion, but somehow thinks Gryphen isn't one of them. Who made you judge and jury on atheism? Are you an atheist? I think all us atheist decide for ourselves what our reality is. It's not up to you to decide Who is a "good" atheist or not. Maybe that's how religion works for you - excluding people who don't think like you do, but atheists don't bother with that. Atheism is not a religion.
ReplyDeleteBy your argument "reality" is an individual thing, therefore Christianity is as valid as atheism. Atheism is not an indication of fact or truth any more than ones pick of religious sects or denominations. The whole "I know better than you do" is what turns people off about these things.
DeleteSigned,
A Humble Agnostic
Actually, I didn't say a religion couldn't be ones reality. I said it wasn't up to anyone including 2;03 to say what atheism was to anyone. BTW, You come across smug, not humble IMO.
DeleteReligion is a system of taught beliefs. The -ism of atheism is a misnomer; atheism is not a system and has no taught beliefs. It's actually a state of absence of religious beliefs.
ReplyDeleteSomeone will probably come up with a new -ism for that. I will. I'll call it freedomism. Or even better, realism.
Best comment here. Imagine not attacking other posters! What a concept!
DeleteI'm not sure that religion is a system of taught beliefs. I think religion can be simply defined as a "system of beliefs". Under that definition, atheism is a system of belief that consists of "I only believe what can be proven".
DeleteOther than that, I think it is funny how touchy atheists get when you call it a religion; the more religious-like the atheist the more quickly they're riled when you call it a religion.
Why would you call it a religion when it's not a religion?
DeleteAtheism is not a misnomer. It's just the way the English language works.
Delete"A" is a formative prefix meaning non or not. Theism is the root word, meaning belief in God. So atheism means nonbelief in God. It's just that simple.
Thanks, Jude.
DeleteAtheism is being religious just like
ReplyDeleteNOT playing guitar makes one a musician.
I think I prefer to call myself a non-theist (meaning I don't believe in an omnipotent deity). That is not to say that I don't agree with many of the teachings of Jesus, Buddha etc. Having grown up in a progressive protestant church, I've since discovered that many of its ministers agree with me! I've also discovered (to my surprise, and after having some serious discussions with them) that many regular church-goers participate because of the conviviality and music, rather than a belief in God. There's nothing wrong with learning about the tales and allegories which the Christian bible contains. It's recognizing them for what they are that's critical....But I have to add that I dearly wish the so-called Christian evangelicals would obey one of Jesus' most important teachings -- to pray in private and keep your relationship with God private also. If only....
ReplyDeleteMaple, that IS what Atheism means. See Jude's comment above.
DeleteCall it what you want. They have a national group, staffed, and sending out propaganda. They aggressively seek donations to keep that hierarchy going. They stick together as a group like Catholics on a Sunday morning. They have their big red seal, which every member flies and you see it on many blogs, so they identify not only as a group, but as the guardians of an ideology, a non-religious ideology. They worship their non-religion as a religious person worships their God. They denounce believers as stupid and brainwashed, just as believers denounce non-believers as stupid sinners. The comparisons are eerily similar. Newcomers are enthusiastic and bombastic. Their arguments with believers are condescending and dismissive. If they don't want to be mistaken as a cultist (religious) group, than they should not act like one.
ReplyDeleteWho are 'they'?
DeleteNothing to say to such ignorance.
Delete10:24, the biggest problem with your argument -some of which is actually true - is simple. SOME atheists do that. I will say that NONE of those I personally know are like that.
Delete"Who made you judge and jury on atheism? Are you an atheist?"
ReplyDeleteWho made you judge and jury on Catholicism? Are you Catholic?
Sounds condescending and dismissive to me.
That's right Christians keep your prayers quiet!
ReplyDeleteBut atheists aren't quiet at all. Their numbers are growing because they believe in the non-religious ideology presented. It has every symptom of a cult, a religion.
@10:55 -- So their numbers are growing because they believe in the non-religious ideology presented? Guess what? Zero times zero is zero. Atheists don't "believe" in non-religion. They simply do not "believe" in a god (of whatever religion you choose). You say this non-belief has every symptom of a cult, a religion. You talk nonsense.
DeleteThe nonsense is yours Maple. Read their national blog, their goals, etc..
DeleteWow! You're really missing the point, aren't you?
DeletePolitical parties have ideologies, and try to get everyone to support them and agree with them. Do you call them cults, religions too?
So now your ridiculous come back is to compare political parties to religion? You obviously did not read their website, so any discussion with you is useless.
DeleteThe real question is: Why did you? Perhaps you fear competition for your own (cultish) religious beliefs and are checking out the "enemy". Too bad for you.
DeleteYou wouldn't even read the atheist web site. Your dishonesty is obvious.
DeleteAt the risk of beating a dead horse, I'm curious to know your reason for calling me dishonest. I've never posted any lies. I've simply posted my opinion, as well as the truth about my non-belief. Poor you, calling people dishonest, simply because they disagree with you and your own opinion. My heart bleeds......
Deletehttps://www.atheists.org/
ReplyDeleteread for yourself.
I did and I agree with anon. 10:24.
DeleteIf atheism is a religion, then it is protected by the first amendment!
ReplyDeleteI consider myself an atheist/ non prophet. That whole "atheist church" thing, when I hear it, is justified by "Well, everyone's gotta believe in something, somewhere". I usually smile and say I'm exorcising my free will.
ReplyDeleteMine is a bit long for here. Bottom line is I am an Apathist! I don't care about your religion until you try and force it on me. And while I am sure some of the theists in here will whine about what they want to call the atheist agenda . . . they really should remember who pushed their belief set on everyone else first. After all 'under God' was not in the original Pledge of Allegiance, America was not established as a Christian Nation, and teaching Creationism in science class is not science. (Is Atheism a Religion?)
ReplyDelete