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sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...the point is it's not..
on the other hand you asshats think it is..
It's sad when people cannot hear things they don't agree with or don't like without feeling the need to silence the people expressing said things.
Who said that?
Only RWs want people silenced.
Bullshit. From protests that amount to shouting at the speaker when conservatives speak, to schools cancelling speeches due to threats, to accusations of every "ism" out there when a conservative/libertarian states their positions, and most vilely, to when a member of a group that trends left goes "off the plantation", the left can only win if it silences its opponents.
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...It's sad when people cannot hear things they don't agree with or don't like without feeling the need to silence the people expressing said things.
Who said that?
Only RWs want people silenced.
Bullshit. From protests that amount to shouting at the speaker when conservatives speak, to schools cancelling speeches due to threats, to accusations of every "ism" out there when a conservative/libertarian states their positions, and most vilely, to when a member of a group that trends left goes "off the plantation", the left can only win if it silences its opponents.
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
How many gay and lesbian are there in the United States? The 2010 census counted 308 million people living in the U.S. At the very least, 75% of the U.S. population identifies as Christian (it’s probably closer to 80%), which comes to roughly 231 million people. Using the most conservative estimate for the percentage of gays and lesbians in the population, which is 3.5 %, that means that there are, at the very least, 8 million gay and lesbian Christians in the United States alone. If the percentage is 4%, then the figure is 10 million.you got one out of three correct.daws is an idiot.more rationalizing ...it does not change their intent...
Perhaps, but I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three. Atheist, agnostic or gay. The polite "no thank you" convinced me.
where your bigotry and ignorance shines is lumping homosexuality in with atheism
Really, do you know how many homosexuals are Christians or believe in God? And I did leave out asshole.
falseNo shit Sherlock. The point is, had she been a Muslim and thanked god (Allah) the libs here wouldn't have blinked an eye.
Who else besides me has taken exception or even noticed the hypocrisy of these Christians?
Every time I read their garbage.
They are what I call fake christians.
What an atheist would say after recovering from Ebola:
"I want to thank the hospital staff and the American medical science community for saving my life and I can only wish that these fine people had been able to help the thousands of people in Liberia as they have helped me here in the States.
I am very fortunate to live in the United States, with all its faults and problems, and hope that the U.S. will become more proactive by sending more personnel and supplies into west Africa where the suffering from Ebola is beyond your average American's imagination. It is no less onerous than a dictator with chemical gas or a marauding army of militant jihadis and the victims are no less innocent."atheism is not a religion so conversion is not possibleOH, so you're trying to convert someone to be an atheist?"Just like 99% of the other posters here, you too have missed the point entirely.
And no, that's not what "Christians do". It's what they SAY they do"- ntp
I give up. He's too thick between the ears.
It took you 10 or 15 posts to explain why you're a bigot? Really?
You are too thick between the ears to understand. It's not their beliefs that offend me, it's their insinuation that those who died were children of a lesser god.
For someone who implies that they flew jets, things sure fly easily over your head.
Agnosticism is more than likely not a religion, i.e. an ambivalence to the possibility of a deity. Atheism, the active belief that there IS no deity, most assuredly is.
Atheism & Religion:
Many Christians seem to believe that atheism is a religion, but no one with a fair understanding of both concepts would make such a mistake. Because it's such a common claim, though, it's worth demonstrating the depth and breadth of the errors being made. Presented here are the characteristics which best define religions, distinguishing them from other types of belief systems, and how atheism utterly fails to even remotely match any of them.
Belief in Supernatural Beings:
Perhaps the most common and fundamental characteristic of religion is a belief in supernatural beings - usually, but not always, including gods. Few religions lack this characteristic and most religions are founded upon it. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods and thus excludes belief in gods, but it does not exclude belief in other supernatural beings. More important, however, is that atheism does not teach the existence of such beings and most atheists in the West do not believe in them.
Sacred vs Profane Objects, Places, Times:
Differentiating between sacred and profane objects, places, and times helps religious believers focus on transcendental values and/or the existence of a supernatural realm. Atheism excludes believing in things that are "sacred" for the purpose of worshiping gods, but otherwise has nothing to say on the matter - neither promoting nor rejecting the distinction. Many atheists probably have things, places, or times which they consider "sacred" in that they are venerated or esteemed highly.
Ritual Acts Focused on Sacred Objects, Places, Times:
If people believe in something sacred, they probably have associated rituals. As with the very existence of a category of "sacred" things, however, there is nothing about atheism which either mandates such a belief or necessarily excludes it - it's simply an irrelevant issue. An atheist who holds something as "sacred" may engage in some sort of associated ritual or ceremony, but there is no such thing as an "atheist ritual."
Moral Code With Supernatural Origins:
Most religions preach some sort of moral code which is typically based upon its transcendental and supernatural beliefs. Thus, for example, theistic religions typically claim that morality is derived from the commands of their gods. Atheists have moral codes, but they don't believe that those codes are derived from any gods and it would be unusual for them to believe that their morals have a supernatural origin. More importantly, atheism doesn't teach any particular moral code.
Characteristically Religious Feelings:
Perhaps the vaguest characteristic of religion is the experience of "religious feelings" like awe, a sense of mystery, adoration, and even guilt. Religions encourage these sorts of feelings, especially in the presence of sacred objects and places, and the feelings are typically connected to the presence of the supernatural. Atheists may experience some of these feelings, like awe at the universe itself, but they are neither promoted nor discouraged by atheism itself.
Prayer and Other Forms of Communication:
Belief in supernatural beings like gods doesn't get you very far if you can't communicate with them, so religions which include such beliefs naturally also teach how to talk to them - usually with some form of prayer or other ritual. Atheists don't believe in gods so obviously don't try to communicate with any; an atheist who believes in some other type of supernatural being might try to communicate with it, but such communication is completely incidental to atheism itself.
A Worldview & Organization of One’s Life Based on the Worldview:
Religions are never just a collection of isolated and unrelated beliefs; instead, they constitute entire worldviews based upon these beliefs and around which people organize their lives. Atheists naturally have worldviews, but atheism itself isn't a worldview and doesn't promote any one worldview. Atheists have different ideas about how to live because they have different philosophies on life. Atheism is not a philosophy or ideology, but it can be part of a philosophy, ideology, or worldview.
A Social Group Bound Together by the Above:
A few religious people follow their religion in isolated ways, but usually religions involve complex social organizations of believers who join each other for worship, rituals, prayer, etc. Many atheists belong to a variety of groups, but relatively few atheists belong to specifically atheistic groups - atheists are notorious for not being joiners. When they do belong to atheist groups, though, those groups aren't bound together by any of the above.
Comparing and Contrasting Atheism & Religion:
Some of these characteristics are more important than others, but none is so important that it alone can make a religion. If atheism lacked one or two of these characteristics, then it would be a religion. If lacked five or six, then it might qualify as metaphorically religious, in the sense of how people follow baseball religiously.
The truth is that atheism lacks every one of these characteristics of religion. At most, atheism doesn't explicitly exclude most of them, but the same can be said for almost anything. Thus, it's not possible to call atheism a religion. It can be part of a religion, but it can't be a religion by itself. They are completely different categories: atheism is the absence of one particular belief while religion is a complex web of traditions and beliefs. They aren't even remotely comparable.
So why do people claim that atheism is a religion? Usually this occurs in the process of criticizing atheism and/or atheists. It may at times be politically motivated because if atheism is a religion, they think they can force the state to stop "promoting" atheism by eliminating endorsements of Christianity. Sometimes the assumption is that if atheism is simply another "faith," then atheists' critiques of religious beliefs are hypocritical and can be ignored.
Since the claim that atheism is a religion is based upon a misunderstanding of one or both concepts, it must proceed from flawed premises. This isn't just a problem for atheists; given the importance of religion in society, misrepresenting atheism as a religion can undermine people's ability to understand religion itself. How can we sensibly discuss matters like the separation of church and state, the secularization of society, or the history of religious violence if we don't adequately define what religion is?
Productive discussion requires clear thinking about concepts and premises, but clear and coherent thinking are undermined by misrepresentations like this.
Is Atheism a Religion
countdown to some lame ass response like that was written by an atheist or a gay atheist..
bullshit "sin" like other unacceptable behavior can not be separated from the persons displaying that behavior.hate the sin, love the sinner.more rationalizing ...it does not change their intent...false fuck stick ....you know exactly what I mean when I say impose
also if you sent Christians to my house to force your pov on me you'd be doing the very thing you are whining about.
besides Christians already do come to people's homes uninvited to attempt to impose their belief system, they are call missionaries..
It's called politely telling them "no thank you" and closing the door. A whole 30 seconds of inconvenience.
That is certainly reasonable, but they were not there to impose anything on you. When you figure out the difference between impose and invite, you will see the light. All most Christians subscribe to hate the sin, love the sinner. It is a shame If you have a problem with that.
bigotry at it's finest it's a kind of shirking personal responsibility.
Hate the sin, love the sinner is the polar opposite of bigotry.
Full Definition of BIGOT
: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...It's sad when people cannot hear things they don't agree with or don't like without feeling the need to silence the people expressing said things.
Who said that?
Only RWs want people silenced.
Bullshit. From protests that amount to shouting at the speaker when conservatives speak, to schools cancelling speeches due to threats, to accusations of every "ism" out there when a conservative/libertarian states their positions, and most vilely, to when a member of a group that trends left goes "off the plantation", the left can only win if it silences its opponents.
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
funny coming from MR I hate everything.sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...Who said that?
Only RWs want people silenced.
Bullshit. From protests that amount to shouting at the speaker when conservatives speak, to schools cancelling speeches due to threats, to accusations of every "ism" out there when a conservative/libertarian states their positions, and most vilely, to when a member of a group that trends left goes "off the plantation", the left can only win if it silences its opponents.
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
So you admit its payback and not "fairness?"
Nice of you, you hateful little twat.
already been proven false but by all means let your ignorance flag fly.falseWho else besides me has taken exception or even noticed the hypocrisy of these Christians?
Every time I read their garbage.
They are what I call fake christians.
What an atheist would say after recovering from Ebola:
"I want to thank the hospital staff and the American medical science community for saving my life and I can only wish that these fine people had been able to help the thousands of people in Liberia as they have helped me here in the States.
I am very fortunate to live in the United States, with all its faults and problems, and hope that the U.S. will become more proactive by sending more personnel and supplies into west Africa where the suffering from Ebola is beyond your average American's imagination. It is no less onerous than a dictator with chemical gas or a marauding army of militant jihadis and the victims are no less innocent."atheism is not a religion so conversion is not possibleOH, so you're trying to convert someone to be an atheist?I give up. He's too thick between the ears.
You are too thick between the ears to understand. It's not their beliefs that offend me, it's their insinuation that those who died were children of a lesser god.
For someone who implies that they flew jets, things sure fly easily over your head.
Agnosticism is more than likely not a religion, i.e. an ambivalence to the possibility of a deity. Atheism, the active belief that there IS no deity, most assuredly is.
Atheism & Religion:
Many Christians seem to believe that atheism is a religion, but no one with a fair understanding of both concepts would make such a mistake. Because it's such a common claim, though, it's worth demonstrating the depth and breadth of the errors being made. Presented here are the characteristics which best define religions, distinguishing them from other types of belief systems, and how atheism utterly fails to even remotely match any of them.
Belief in Supernatural Beings:
Perhaps the most common and fundamental characteristic of religion is a belief in supernatural beings - usually, but not always, including gods. Few religions lack this characteristic and most religions are founded upon it. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods and thus excludes belief in gods, but it does not exclude belief in other supernatural beings. More important, however, is that atheism does not teach the existence of such beings and most atheists in the West do not believe in them.
Sacred vs Profane Objects, Places, Times:
Differentiating between sacred and profane objects, places, and times helps religious believers focus on transcendental values and/or the existence of a supernatural realm. Atheism excludes believing in things that are "sacred" for the purpose of worshiping gods, but otherwise has nothing to say on the matter - neither promoting nor rejecting the distinction. Many atheists probably have things, places, or times which they consider "sacred" in that they are venerated or esteemed highly.
Ritual Acts Focused on Sacred Objects, Places, Times:
If people believe in something sacred, they probably have associated rituals. As with the very existence of a category of "sacred" things, however, there is nothing about atheism which either mandates such a belief or necessarily excludes it - it's simply an irrelevant issue. An atheist who holds something as "sacred" may engage in some sort of associated ritual or ceremony, but there is no such thing as an "atheist ritual."
Moral Code With Supernatural Origins:
Most religions preach some sort of moral code which is typically based upon its transcendental and supernatural beliefs. Thus, for example, theistic religions typically claim that morality is derived from the commands of their gods. Atheists have moral codes, but they don't believe that those codes are derived from any gods and it would be unusual for them to believe that their morals have a supernatural origin. More importantly, atheism doesn't teach any particular moral code.
Characteristically Religious Feelings:
Perhaps the vaguest characteristic of religion is the experience of "religious feelings" like awe, a sense of mystery, adoration, and even guilt. Religions encourage these sorts of feelings, especially in the presence of sacred objects and places, and the feelings are typically connected to the presence of the supernatural. Atheists may experience some of these feelings, like awe at the universe itself, but they are neither promoted nor discouraged by atheism itself.
Prayer and Other Forms of Communication:
Belief in supernatural beings like gods doesn't get you very far if you can't communicate with them, so religions which include such beliefs naturally also teach how to talk to them - usually with some form of prayer or other ritual. Atheists don't believe in gods so obviously don't try to communicate with any; an atheist who believes in some other type of supernatural being might try to communicate with it, but such communication is completely incidental to atheism itself.
A Worldview & Organization of One’s Life Based on the Worldview:
Religions are never just a collection of isolated and unrelated beliefs; instead, they constitute entire worldviews based upon these beliefs and around which people organize their lives. Atheists naturally have worldviews, but atheism itself isn't a worldview and doesn't promote any one worldview. Atheists have different ideas about how to live because they have different philosophies on life. Atheism is not a philosophy or ideology, but it can be part of a philosophy, ideology, or worldview.
A Social Group Bound Together by the Above:
A few religious people follow their religion in isolated ways, but usually religions involve complex social organizations of believers who join each other for worship, rituals, prayer, etc. Many atheists belong to a variety of groups, but relatively few atheists belong to specifically atheistic groups - atheists are notorious for not being joiners. When they do belong to atheist groups, though, those groups aren't bound together by any of the above.
Comparing and Contrasting Atheism & Religion:
Some of these characteristics are more important than others, but none is so important that it alone can make a religion. If atheism lacked one or two of these characteristics, then it would be a religion. If lacked five or six, then it might qualify as metaphorically religious, in the sense of how people follow baseball religiously.
The truth is that atheism lacks every one of these characteristics of religion. At most, atheism doesn't explicitly exclude most of them, but the same can be said for almost anything. Thus, it's not possible to call atheism a religion. It can be part of a religion, but it can't be a religion by itself. They are completely different categories: atheism is the absence of one particular belief while religion is a complex web of traditions and beliefs. They aren't even remotely comparable.
So why do people claim that atheism is a religion? Usually this occurs in the process of criticizing atheism and/or atheists. It may at times be politically motivated because if atheism is a religion, they think they can force the state to stop "promoting" atheism by eliminating endorsements of Christianity. Sometimes the assumption is that if atheism is simply another "faith," then atheists' critiques of religious beliefs are hypocritical and can be ignored.
Since the claim that atheism is a religion is based upon a misunderstanding of one or both concepts, it must proceed from flawed premises. This isn't just a problem for atheists; given the importance of religion in society, misrepresenting atheism as a religion can undermine people's ability to understand religion itself. How can we sensibly discuss matters like the separation of church and state, the secularization of society, or the history of religious violence if we don't adequately define what religion is?
Productive discussion requires clear thinking about concepts and premises, but clear and coherent thinking are undermined by misrepresentations like this.
Is Atheism a Religion
countdown to some lame ass response like that was written by an atheist or a gay atheist..
All that text that basically disproves NOTHING of what I said.
If you are ambivalent to the concept of a deity, you are agnostic, and can really claim you have no religion. If you actively believe there is no deity, guess what? religion.
false! you asshats really must learn to read.sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...Who said that?
Only RWs want people silenced.
Bullshit. From protests that amount to shouting at the speaker when conservatives speak, to schools cancelling speeches due to threats, to accusations of every "ism" out there when a conservative/libertarian states their positions, and most vilely, to when a member of a group that trends left goes "off the plantation", the left can only win if it silences its opponents.
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
I would like the name of those that were destroyed by conservative values. At least you admit that you want to restrict freedom of speech to a large segment of the world's population in the name of payback. That is a start.
you got one out of three correct.daws is an idiot.more rationalizing ...it does not change their intent...It's called politely telling them "no thank you" and closing the door. A whole 30 seconds of inconvenience.
Perhaps, but I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three. Atheist, agnostic or gay. The polite "no thank you" convinced me.
where your bigotry and ignorance shines is lumping homosexuality in with atheism
and? thanks mr obliviousyou got one out of three correct.daws is an idiot.more rationalizing ...it does not change their intent...
Perhaps, but I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three. Atheist, agnostic or gay. The polite "no thank you" convinced me.
where your bigotry and ignorance shines is lumping homosexuality in with atheism
One out of three. That is why I posted "I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three."
and? thanks mr obliviousyou got one out of three correct.daws is an idiot.
Perhaps, but I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three. Atheist, agnostic or gay. The polite "no thank you" convinced me.
where your bigotry and ignorance shines is lumping homosexuality in with atheism
One out of three. That is why I posted "I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three."
since I'm not a boy haven't been for many many years that just one more thing to add to the end less list of shit you're wrong about.and? thanks mr obliviousyou got one out of three correct.daws is an idiot.
Perhaps, but I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three. Atheist, agnostic or gay. The polite "no thank you" convinced me.
where your bigotry and ignorance shines is lumping homosexuality in with atheism
One out of three. That is why I posted "I prefer to think of DAWS as one of these three."
You bore me boy, as most bigots do.
already been proven false but by all means let your ignorance flag fly.falseEvery time I read their garbage.
They are what I call fake christians.
What an atheist would say after recovering from Ebola:
"I want to thank the hospital staff and the American medical science community for saving my life and I can only wish that these fine people had been able to help the thousands of people in Liberia as they have helped me here in the States.
I am very fortunate to live in the United States, with all its faults and problems, and hope that the U.S. will become more proactive by sending more personnel and supplies into west Africa where the suffering from Ebola is beyond your average American's imagination. It is no less onerous than a dictator with chemical gas or a marauding army of militant jihadis and the victims are no less innocent."atheism is not a religion so conversion is not possibleOH, so you're trying to convert someone to be an atheist?
Agnosticism is more than likely not a religion, i.e. an ambivalence to the possibility of a deity. Atheism, the active belief that there IS no deity, most assuredly is.
Atheism & Religion:
Many Christians seem to believe that atheism is a religion, but no one with a fair understanding of both concepts would make such a mistake. Because it's such a common claim, though, it's worth demonstrating the depth and breadth of the errors being made. Presented here are the characteristics which best define religions, distinguishing them from other types of belief systems, and how atheism utterly fails to even remotely match any of them.
Belief in Supernatural Beings:
Perhaps the most common and fundamental characteristic of religion is a belief in supernatural beings - usually, but not always, including gods. Few religions lack this characteristic and most religions are founded upon it. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods and thus excludes belief in gods, but it does not exclude belief in other supernatural beings. More important, however, is that atheism does not teach the existence of such beings and most atheists in the West do not believe in them.
Sacred vs Profane Objects, Places, Times:
Differentiating between sacred and profane objects, places, and times helps religious believers focus on transcendental values and/or the existence of a supernatural realm. Atheism excludes believing in things that are "sacred" for the purpose of worshiping gods, but otherwise has nothing to say on the matter - neither promoting nor rejecting the distinction. Many atheists probably have things, places, or times which they consider "sacred" in that they are venerated or esteemed highly.
Ritual Acts Focused on Sacred Objects, Places, Times:
If people believe in something sacred, they probably have associated rituals. As with the very existence of a category of "sacred" things, however, there is nothing about atheism which either mandates such a belief or necessarily excludes it - it's simply an irrelevant issue. An atheist who holds something as "sacred" may engage in some sort of associated ritual or ceremony, but there is no such thing as an "atheist ritual."
Moral Code With Supernatural Origins:
Most religions preach some sort of moral code which is typically based upon its transcendental and supernatural beliefs. Thus, for example, theistic religions typically claim that morality is derived from the commands of their gods. Atheists have moral codes, but they don't believe that those codes are derived from any gods and it would be unusual for them to believe that their morals have a supernatural origin. More importantly, atheism doesn't teach any particular moral code.
Characteristically Religious Feelings:
Perhaps the vaguest characteristic of religion is the experience of "religious feelings" like awe, a sense of mystery, adoration, and even guilt. Religions encourage these sorts of feelings, especially in the presence of sacred objects and places, and the feelings are typically connected to the presence of the supernatural. Atheists may experience some of these feelings, like awe at the universe itself, but they are neither promoted nor discouraged by atheism itself.
Prayer and Other Forms of Communication:
Belief in supernatural beings like gods doesn't get you very far if you can't communicate with them, so religions which include such beliefs naturally also teach how to talk to them - usually with some form of prayer or other ritual. Atheists don't believe in gods so obviously don't try to communicate with any; an atheist who believes in some other type of supernatural being might try to communicate with it, but such communication is completely incidental to atheism itself.
A Worldview & Organization of One’s Life Based on the Worldview:
Religions are never just a collection of isolated and unrelated beliefs; instead, they constitute entire worldviews based upon these beliefs and around which people organize their lives. Atheists naturally have worldviews, but atheism itself isn't a worldview and doesn't promote any one worldview. Atheists have different ideas about how to live because they have different philosophies on life. Atheism is not a philosophy or ideology, but it can be part of a philosophy, ideology, or worldview.
A Social Group Bound Together by the Above:
A few religious people follow their religion in isolated ways, but usually religions involve complex social organizations of believers who join each other for worship, rituals, prayer, etc. Many atheists belong to a variety of groups, but relatively few atheists belong to specifically atheistic groups - atheists are notorious for not being joiners. When they do belong to atheist groups, though, those groups aren't bound together by any of the above.
Comparing and Contrasting Atheism & Religion:
Some of these characteristics are more important than others, but none is so important that it alone can make a religion. If atheism lacked one or two of these characteristics, then it would be a religion. If lacked five or six, then it might qualify as metaphorically religious, in the sense of how people follow baseball religiously.
The truth is that atheism lacks every one of these characteristics of religion. At most, atheism doesn't explicitly exclude most of them, but the same can be said for almost anything. Thus, it's not possible to call atheism a religion. It can be part of a religion, but it can't be a religion by itself. They are completely different categories: atheism is the absence of one particular belief while religion is a complex web of traditions and beliefs. They aren't even remotely comparable.
So why do people claim that atheism is a religion? Usually this occurs in the process of criticizing atheism and/or atheists. It may at times be politically motivated because if atheism is a religion, they think they can force the state to stop "promoting" atheism by eliminating endorsements of Christianity. Sometimes the assumption is that if atheism is simply another "faith," then atheists' critiques of religious beliefs are hypocritical and can be ignored.
Since the claim that atheism is a religion is based upon a misunderstanding of one or both concepts, it must proceed from flawed premises. This isn't just a problem for atheists; given the importance of religion in society, misrepresenting atheism as a religion can undermine people's ability to understand religion itself. How can we sensibly discuss matters like the separation of church and state, the secularization of society, or the history of religious violence if we don't adequately define what religion is?
Productive discussion requires clear thinking about concepts and premises, but clear and coherent thinking are undermined by misrepresentations like this.
Is Atheism a Religion
countdown to some lame ass response like that was written by an atheist or a gay atheist..
All that text that basically disproves NOTHING of what I said.
If you are ambivalent to the concept of a deity, you are agnostic, and can really claim you have no religion. If you actively believe there is no deity, guess what? religion.
funny coming from MR I hate everything.sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...Bullshit. From protests that amount to shouting at the speaker when conservatives speak, to schools cancelling speeches due to threats, to accusations of every "ism" out there when a conservative/libertarian states their positions, and most vilely, to when a member of a group that trends left goes "off the plantation", the left can only win if it silences its opponents.
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
So you admit its payback and not "fairness?"
Nice of you, you hateful little twat.
you really should learn to read English.
I admitted nothing I stated fact.
what you laughingly call fairness is in fact dodge around justice.
there can be no fairness without it.
are you this delusional all the time.?already been proven false but by all means let your ignorance flag fly.falseWhat an atheist would say after recovering from Ebola:
"I want to thank the hospital staff and the American medical science community for saving my life and I can only wish that these fine people had been able to help the thousands of people in Liberia as they have helped me here in the States.
I am very fortunate to live in the United States, with all its faults and problems, and hope that the U.S. will become more proactive by sending more personnel and supplies into west Africa where the suffering from Ebola is beyond your average American's imagination. It is no less onerous than a dictator with chemical gas or a marauding army of militant jihadis and the victims are no less innocent."atheism is not a religion so conversion is not possible
Agnosticism is more than likely not a religion, i.e. an ambivalence to the possibility of a deity. Atheism, the active belief that there IS no deity, most assuredly is.
Atheism & Religion:
Many Christians seem to believe that atheism is a religion, but no one with a fair understanding of both concepts would make such a mistake. Because it's such a common claim, though, it's worth demonstrating the depth and breadth of the errors being made. Presented here are the characteristics which best define religions, distinguishing them from other types of belief systems, and how atheism utterly fails to even remotely match any of them.
Belief in Supernatural Beings:
Perhaps the most common and fundamental characteristic of religion is a belief in supernatural beings - usually, but not always, including gods. Few religions lack this characteristic and most religions are founded upon it. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods and thus excludes belief in gods, but it does not exclude belief in other supernatural beings. More important, however, is that atheism does not teach the existence of such beings and most atheists in the West do not believe in them.
Sacred vs Profane Objects, Places, Times:
Differentiating between sacred and profane objects, places, and times helps religious believers focus on transcendental values and/or the existence of a supernatural realm. Atheism excludes believing in things that are "sacred" for the purpose of worshiping gods, but otherwise has nothing to say on the matter - neither promoting nor rejecting the distinction. Many atheists probably have things, places, or times which they consider "sacred" in that they are venerated or esteemed highly.
Ritual Acts Focused on Sacred Objects, Places, Times:
If people believe in something sacred, they probably have associated rituals. As with the very existence of a category of "sacred" things, however, there is nothing about atheism which either mandates such a belief or necessarily excludes it - it's simply an irrelevant issue. An atheist who holds something as "sacred" may engage in some sort of associated ritual or ceremony, but there is no such thing as an "atheist ritual."
Moral Code With Supernatural Origins:
Most religions preach some sort of moral code which is typically based upon its transcendental and supernatural beliefs. Thus, for example, theistic religions typically claim that morality is derived from the commands of their gods. Atheists have moral codes, but they don't believe that those codes are derived from any gods and it would be unusual for them to believe that their morals have a supernatural origin. More importantly, atheism doesn't teach any particular moral code.
Characteristically Religious Feelings:
Perhaps the vaguest characteristic of religion is the experience of "religious feelings" like awe, a sense of mystery, adoration, and even guilt. Religions encourage these sorts of feelings, especially in the presence of sacred objects and places, and the feelings are typically connected to the presence of the supernatural. Atheists may experience some of these feelings, like awe at the universe itself, but they are neither promoted nor discouraged by atheism itself.
Prayer and Other Forms of Communication:
Belief in supernatural beings like gods doesn't get you very far if you can't communicate with them, so religions which include such beliefs naturally also teach how to talk to them - usually with some form of prayer or other ritual. Atheists don't believe in gods so obviously don't try to communicate with any; an atheist who believes in some other type of supernatural being might try to communicate with it, but such communication is completely incidental to atheism itself.
A Worldview & Organization of One’s Life Based on the Worldview:
Religions are never just a collection of isolated and unrelated beliefs; instead, they constitute entire worldviews based upon these beliefs and around which people organize their lives. Atheists naturally have worldviews, but atheism itself isn't a worldview and doesn't promote any one worldview. Atheists have different ideas about how to live because they have different philosophies on life. Atheism is not a philosophy or ideology, but it can be part of a philosophy, ideology, or worldview.
A Social Group Bound Together by the Above:
A few religious people follow their religion in isolated ways, but usually religions involve complex social organizations of believers who join each other for worship, rituals, prayer, etc. Many atheists belong to a variety of groups, but relatively few atheists belong to specifically atheistic groups - atheists are notorious for not being joiners. When they do belong to atheist groups, though, those groups aren't bound together by any of the above.
Comparing and Contrasting Atheism & Religion:
Some of these characteristics are more important than others, but none is so important that it alone can make a religion. If atheism lacked one or two of these characteristics, then it would be a religion. If lacked five or six, then it might qualify as metaphorically religious, in the sense of how people follow baseball religiously.
The truth is that atheism lacks every one of these characteristics of religion. At most, atheism doesn't explicitly exclude most of them, but the same can be said for almost anything. Thus, it's not possible to call atheism a religion. It can be part of a religion, but it can't be a religion by itself. They are completely different categories: atheism is the absence of one particular belief while religion is a complex web of traditions and beliefs. They aren't even remotely comparable.
So why do people claim that atheism is a religion? Usually this occurs in the process of criticizing atheism and/or atheists. It may at times be politically motivated because if atheism is a religion, they think they can force the state to stop "promoting" atheism by eliminating endorsements of Christianity. Sometimes the assumption is that if atheism is simply another "faith," then atheists' critiques of religious beliefs are hypocritical and can be ignored.
Since the claim that atheism is a religion is based upon a misunderstanding of one or both concepts, it must proceed from flawed premises. This isn't just a problem for atheists; given the importance of religion in society, misrepresenting atheism as a religion can undermine people's ability to understand religion itself. How can we sensibly discuss matters like the separation of church and state, the secularization of society, or the history of religious violence if we don't adequately define what religion is?
Productive discussion requires clear thinking about concepts and premises, but clear and coherent thinking are undermined by misrepresentations like this.
Is Atheism a Religion
countdown to some lame ass response like that was written by an atheist or a gay atheist..
All that text that basically disproves NOTHING of what I said.
If you are ambivalent to the concept of a deity, you are agnostic, and can really claim you have no religion. If you actively believe there is no deity, guess what? religion.
Awww, did i hurt your little atheistic feewings???
false! vindictive is your middle namefunny coming from MR I hate everything.sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...bullshit...
Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
So you admit its payback and not "fairness?"
Nice of you, you hateful little twat.
you really should learn to read English.
I admitted nothing I stated fact.
what you laughingly call fairness is in fact dodge around justice.
there can be no fairness without it.
So you are a vindictive little twat, thanks for clarifying.
Really?How old are you ?
You realize this is something people have done for centuries, right ?
Wow, try reading more.
Wow, try critical thinking skills.
So people have been thanking god for mysteriously saving their lives while other innocents died around them. I take it logic is not your specialty.
false! vindictive is your middle namefunny coming from MR I hate everything.sure it did however it's a false comparison to the millions of people and cultures destroyed by so called conservative values...Nice retort. So NONE of the things i listed have EVER happened, right?
Your side seeks to constantly silence opponents, either through intimidation before they speak, drowning them out while they speak, and punishing them after they speak.
btw the shit you speak of was happening to "liberals and minorities long before and far more often then to conservatives.
in other words pay back's a bitch.
So you admit its payback and not "fairness?"
Nice of you, you hateful little twat.
you really should learn to read English.
I admitted nothing I stated fact.
what you laughingly call fairness is in fact dodge around justice.
there can be no fairness without it.
So you are a vindictive little twat, thanks for clarifying.
are you this delusional all the time.?already been proven false but by all means let your ignorance flag fly.falseAgnosticism is more than likely not a religion, i.e. an ambivalence to the possibility of a deity. Atheism, the active belief that there IS no deity, most assuredly is.
Atheism & Religion:
Many Christians seem to believe that atheism is a religion, but no one with a fair understanding of both concepts would make such a mistake. Because it's such a common claim, though, it's worth demonstrating the depth and breadth of the errors being made. Presented here are the characteristics which best define religions, distinguishing them from other types of belief systems, and how atheism utterly fails to even remotely match any of them.
Belief in Supernatural Beings:
Perhaps the most common and fundamental characteristic of religion is a belief in supernatural beings - usually, but not always, including gods. Few religions lack this characteristic and most religions are founded upon it. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods and thus excludes belief in gods, but it does not exclude belief in other supernatural beings. More important, however, is that atheism does not teach the existence of such beings and most atheists in the West do not believe in them.
Sacred vs Profane Objects, Places, Times:
Differentiating between sacred and profane objects, places, and times helps religious believers focus on transcendental values and/or the existence of a supernatural realm. Atheism excludes believing in things that are "sacred" for the purpose of worshiping gods, but otherwise has nothing to say on the matter - neither promoting nor rejecting the distinction. Many atheists probably have things, places, or times which they consider "sacred" in that they are venerated or esteemed highly.
Ritual Acts Focused on Sacred Objects, Places, Times:
If people believe in something sacred, they probably have associated rituals. As with the very existence of a category of "sacred" things, however, there is nothing about atheism which either mandates such a belief or necessarily excludes it - it's simply an irrelevant issue. An atheist who holds something as "sacred" may engage in some sort of associated ritual or ceremony, but there is no such thing as an "atheist ritual."
Moral Code With Supernatural Origins:
Most religions preach some sort of moral code which is typically based upon its transcendental and supernatural beliefs. Thus, for example, theistic religions typically claim that morality is derived from the commands of their gods. Atheists have moral codes, but they don't believe that those codes are derived from any gods and it would be unusual for them to believe that their morals have a supernatural origin. More importantly, atheism doesn't teach any particular moral code.
Characteristically Religious Feelings:
Perhaps the vaguest characteristic of religion is the experience of "religious feelings" like awe, a sense of mystery, adoration, and even guilt. Religions encourage these sorts of feelings, especially in the presence of sacred objects and places, and the feelings are typically connected to the presence of the supernatural. Atheists may experience some of these feelings, like awe at the universe itself, but they are neither promoted nor discouraged by atheism itself.
Prayer and Other Forms of Communication:
Belief in supernatural beings like gods doesn't get you very far if you can't communicate with them, so religions which include such beliefs naturally also teach how to talk to them - usually with some form of prayer or other ritual. Atheists don't believe in gods so obviously don't try to communicate with any; an atheist who believes in some other type of supernatural being might try to communicate with it, but such communication is completely incidental to atheism itself.
A Worldview & Organization of One’s Life Based on the Worldview:
Religions are never just a collection of isolated and unrelated beliefs; instead, they constitute entire worldviews based upon these beliefs and around which people organize their lives. Atheists naturally have worldviews, but atheism itself isn't a worldview and doesn't promote any one worldview. Atheists have different ideas about how to live because they have different philosophies on life. Atheism is not a philosophy or ideology, but it can be part of a philosophy, ideology, or worldview.
A Social Group Bound Together by the Above:
A few religious people follow their religion in isolated ways, but usually religions involve complex social organizations of believers who join each other for worship, rituals, prayer, etc. Many atheists belong to a variety of groups, but relatively few atheists belong to specifically atheistic groups - atheists are notorious for not being joiners. When they do belong to atheist groups, though, those groups aren't bound together by any of the above.
Comparing and Contrasting Atheism & Religion:
Some of these characteristics are more important than others, but none is so important that it alone can make a religion. If atheism lacked one or two of these characteristics, then it would be a religion. If lacked five or six, then it might qualify as metaphorically religious, in the sense of how people follow baseball religiously.
The truth is that atheism lacks every one of these characteristics of religion. At most, atheism doesn't explicitly exclude most of them, but the same can be said for almost anything. Thus, it's not possible to call atheism a religion. It can be part of a religion, but it can't be a religion by itself. They are completely different categories: atheism is the absence of one particular belief while religion is a complex web of traditions and beliefs. They aren't even remotely comparable.
So why do people claim that atheism is a religion? Usually this occurs in the process of criticizing atheism and/or atheists. It may at times be politically motivated because if atheism is a religion, they think they can force the state to stop "promoting" atheism by eliminating endorsements of Christianity. Sometimes the assumption is that if atheism is simply another "faith," then atheists' critiques of religious beliefs are hypocritical and can be ignored.
Since the claim that atheism is a religion is based upon a misunderstanding of one or both concepts, it must proceed from flawed premises. This isn't just a problem for atheists; given the importance of religion in society, misrepresenting atheism as a religion can undermine people's ability to understand religion itself. How can we sensibly discuss matters like the separation of church and state, the secularization of society, or the history of religious violence if we don't adequately define what religion is?
Productive discussion requires clear thinking about concepts and premises, but clear and coherent thinking are undermined by misrepresentations like this.
Is Atheism a Religion
countdown to some lame ass response like that was written by an atheist or a gay atheist..
All that text that basically disproves NOTHING of what I said.
If you are ambivalent to the concept of a deity, you are agnostic, and can really claim you have no religion. If you actively believe there is no deity, guess what? religion.
Awww, did i hurt your little atheistic feewings???
