OnTheThirdRail

From Websters dictionary

Main Entry: re·li·gion
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

premjan

not a religion or a faith

OnTheThirdRail

A fundamental tenet of the atheist religion is that God doesn't exist... can you prove that God doesn't exist?

premjan

religions are generally not built around nonbelief. They are based around believing in some particular object, person, et cetera. Skepticism is not a religion, it is a philosophy. Similarly atheism is not a religion but a philosophy. Philosophies are also generally without "proof". I don't think philosophies are always better than religions. In fact, philosophy is often termed the idolatry of the mind. I think it is better to be agnostic than atheist, since atheism seems an unnecessary intellectual commitment.

Godless Wonder

Another "fundamental tenet" is that leprechauns don't exist. Does it require faith to think that leprechauns don't exist? Nobody around here claims to be able to prove God does not exist. Theists claim that some sort of god or gods exist, and generelly claim to know some details about these gods. The burden of proof lies with the one making the claim. Atheists generally don't claim that no gods exist, they may claim that there is no evidence for any gods, and thus no reason to believe any gods exist.

Atheism is the simple absence of theism. Nothing more.

An agnostic is one who thinks that it is not possible to know whether any gods exist.

One can be an agnostic (think it is not possible to know whether any gods exist) and an atheist (lack any belief in gods (due to lack of evidence, most commonly)) at the same time, and very many atheists are also agnostics.

Stick around, you'll be guarnateed to learn something interesting here.

BTW, if atheism is a religion, why can't we have "churches" with tax-exempt status? Why can we not be considered "conscientious objectors" in times of war?

LittleGuy

So you are assuming that Atheism is a cause? A set of principles? A system of beliefs?
What makes you presume this?
How do you presume that we even hold our "religion of atheism" with any ardour or faith?

If you want to play semantics, I'm sure there are many here that would love to argue fine points and details.

However, you should consider some points:

Atheists don't actively convert people to "atheism".

Atheists don't have a holy scripture or book of principles all atheists refer to.

There is no deity in the Atheist "religion"

Now, if we took your religion, removed its doctrine of conversion, removed the Bible/Koran/Torah/holy scripture of importance from its revered status and also removed the deity, is it still a "religion"?
Is it even meaningful to call such a belief system a religion? If so, for what purpose other than for wordplay, or specifically to confuse people in the church/state separation debate?

premjan

I think Buddhism is a religion whereas atheism is not, because: Buddhism involves positive belief in a few things, such as reincarnation, nirvana and sunya, and the example of the Buddha.

OnTheThirdRail

Principle: a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

Beliefs:
1 : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2 : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

Does atheism not exhibit these qualities?

Do you seek to defend atheism as the correct view?

premjan

maybe atheism is just a defence mechanism against theism.

OnTheThirdRail

Agreed... I am speaking of atheists here not agnostics.