Is atheism a religion

[Aquinas11]

In the absence of any god, something or someone will usually step up to fill that void.

Nietzsche Madman Parable

The madman jumped into their midst and pierced them with his eyes. “Whither is God?” he cried; "I will tell you. We have killed him —you and I. All of us are his murderers. But how did we do this? How could we drink up the sea? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? Whither is it moving now? Whither are we moving? Away from all suns? Are we not plunging continually? Backward, sideward, forward, in all directions? Is there still any up or down? Are we not straying, as through an infinite nothing? Do we not feel the breath of empty space? Has it not become colder? Is not night continually closing in on us? Do we not need to light lanterns in the morning? Do we hear nothing as yet of the noise of the gravediggers who are burying God? Do we smell nothing as yet of the divine decomposition? Gods, too, decompose. God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.

“How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? There has never been a greater deed; and whoever is born after us—for the sake of this deed he will belong to a higher history than all history hitherto.”

 

[Chicken_Pigeon]

Nah. It’s a philosophy. But not a religion. It’s the absence of a religion.

Bokbok

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

Atheists dont argue that religions coerce people to believe? Of course they do, its practically one of their major talking points.

This is hard to discuss politely. Children are compelled by parents (see suggestions on various family life threads). Religious formation attempts to instill belief such that as adults they choose to worship. Adults in free countries can decide to accept the social consequences of their choice without fear of gov consequences.

 

[Beryllos]

Some atheists really couldn’t care less about God or religion, just like you or I might not get worked up about football. Kind of like “Football? Oh, yeah, football. Sorry, I don’t care about football. I don’t even care who cares about football.” Then there are some outspoken atheists who make it their mission to convince others that there is no God or spirit. Their approach to atheism amounts to a religion.

 

[kainosktisis]

Yes, this is exactly what I had in mind.

 

[kainosktisis]

In some cases there can be compulsion with religious education, but ultimately one decides what one chooses to believe.

I experienced growing up. I had Religious Education (school curriculum) that was required learning in the Catholic schools where I’d attended, but I never felt compelled by anyone. I felt more like since I was in their schools, I was required to learn - at least on a superficial level - what they believe. I think it was a fair exchange: their house, their rules. I was never compelled to believe or accept any of it - only that this is what they believe so I had some understanding of it. It taught me as a then-Protestant that we shared some common beliefs, & I appreciate that.

On the other hand, my Dad was overly zealous of his faith as a Baptist, & his way of teaching about the faith - whether rightly or wrongly - was more a shove-it-down-their-throats approach - which didn’t bode well with any of us. I did have a couple of Sunday school teachers who taught with such a love for the Scriptures that they instilled that love for the Scriptures in me, too - & I am forever grateful for that.

 

[blackforest]

Hi everyone. So I was wondering if atheism is a religion. If not, what is it?

Because most definitions of religion involve supernatural elements, I wouldn’t call atheism a religion.

Atheism can most certainly be a faith bound by dogma, but I’ll let everyone explore definitions of those two words and see what they think.

 

[kainosktisis]

Children are compelled by parents (see suggestions on various family life threads).

I would say that parents try to introduce & instill that faith with their children. Some do it lovingly, while others may apply coercion - or choose to let a child handle their own spiritual life (which to me is illogical - if not lazy towards a person’s eternal well-being) or they don’t care at all about the children’s spiritual well-being.

 

[blackforest]

Ah ok. I see where this went south. Would it be fair to say that in your view there is always a “god slot” to be filled?

You weren’t addressing me, but I think that’s an articulate way to put it. I agree with philosophers who say that human beings are driven by seeking meaning in their lives, and that quest may or may not have a religious face on it.

I would consider scientism a faith-based and often dogmatic offshoot of atheism. Not all atheists espouse it, however, because like Christians, atheists aren’t a monolith.

 

[kainosktisis]

Ah ok. I see where this went south. Would it be fair to say that in your view there is always a “god slot” to be filled?

Edit: what’s the difference between God as presented by various denominations or groups vs stating man’s ideals and such in the language of religion?

I’m not sure I understand your 2nd question correctly so I’ll answer as best I can. If you clarify, perhaps I can elaborate further later, but…

I guess I tend to view it from the perspective that denominational differences aside, Christian denominations ultimately pursue a relationship with God. They seek communion with Him, & they seek to approach Him on His terms acknowledging their limitations as human beings. They seek their origin, purpose, meaning, morality, & ultimate destiny by knowing God & learning who they are through Him.

With atheism it boils down to personal preferences. It could have ideals, morals, & virtues in line with those of Christianity, or not - some are very much opposed to anything Christian or religious. It mainly deals with a person determining origin, purpose, meaning, morality, & ultimate destiny for themself in the absence of any supernatural Being(s) or fundamental relationship connecting that person to humanity.

 

[QwertyGirl]

When I speak of man as his own god, I speak of one who puts his own ideals, morals, virtues/vices intellect above God.

They aren’t putting anything above God. They can’t put anything above something that doesn’t exist.

 

[kainosktisis]

They aren’t putting anything above God. They can’t put anything above something that doesn’t exist.

I think that’s an excuse.

 

[MPat]

Catholics are people who don’t believe in nearly all Gods.

Thank you for demonstrating this atheistic doctrine I have mentioned:

There is also a doctrine that people of different religions do not believe that gods of other religions exist.

I do not consider any government a god. I suspect most atheists say the same.

Sure, no atheist is going to say that he is worshipping some god.

But when we can see an atheist talking about something impersonal (for example, Science, Nature) as if that was a person (“Science tells us so!”), when we can see him demanding or offering sacrifices for that something (funding, taxes) or demanding or offering praises for that something (marches, parades) to ensure that this something would further give us some good things…

Well, if the same things were done by some Greeks in ancient times with respect of Sea, we’d easily notice that Sea (Poseidon) is being worshipped as a god. Likewise, here we can notice that this “something” (Science, Nature or something else) is being worshipped as a god. And it doesn’t matter if those worshippers keep denying that.

Of course, Ancient Greeks were much better at this, not having to pretend not to worship their gods.

And sure, if atheists would offer some specific natural mechanism by which their “sacrifices” and “praises” are going to result in getting good things, that would make a difference. But too often they leave that part suspiciously vague. And all that is left is things like this: “We will give Science funding, and in exchange Science will give us beer!”. And the Science (or something else) ends up being treated as a god.

 

[QwertyGirl]

(which to me is illogical - if not lazy towards a person’s eternal well-being

I was raised Catholic and taught the Church was the be-all and end-all in truth. I didn’t question it until I was older, because I trusted the adults in my life. Then I matured and realized I was lied to. Instead of saying “We, as Cathlics, believe XYZ”, I was taught by parents, teachers, cleragy that “XYZ is the truth”. I had a lot of catching up to do in figuring out what really was true and what wasn’t.

I was one of those “illogical” or “lazy” parents who let my kid come to her own conclusions. I didn’t raise her in any particular religion or faith. We had regular conversations about the benefits and drawbacks of believing in a God or higher power. As she grew up we talked about all kinds of ideas and possibilities. I didn’t claim to know the “truth” about things nobody can know. I did a good job. As an adult, she is well-adjusted and balanced and far more comfortable in her spirituality than many religious folks I know.

People who don’t do things like you think they should are not necessarily illogical or lazy.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

But when we can see an atheist talking about something impersonal (for example, Science, Nature) as if that was a person (“Science tells us so!”), when we can see him demanding or offering sacrifices for that something (funding, taxes) or demanding or offering praises for that something (marches, parades) to ensure that this something would further give us some good things…

Then most Christians in the US and beyond are polytheists.

 

[blackforest]

Then I matured and realized I was lied to.

Respectfully, I don’t think that anyone can lie to you if they genuinely believe what they’re saying.

I don’t consider your parenting approach lazy. Laziness comes from outsourcing the “dirty” work of raising children by one’s faith and values to churches, schools, the culture, etc. I know Catholic parents, for example, who don’t do much to reinforce the faith in their homes; they simply hope that Sunday Mass, religious ed, and perhaps the parochial school all do that work for them. It’s our responsibility as parents to do the primary legwork on this. And when difficult questions and challenging issues arise, it’s not an easy task.

 

[blackforest]

In some senses, that’s not entirely inaccurate. One broad-ranging definition of idolatry is simply making something else - money, ego, career, etc. - more important than God.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Respectfully, I don’t think that anyone can lie to you if they genuinely believe what they’re saying.

Perhaps you are correct. But these were all educated people…people who knew the difference between fact and faith, yet they presented faith issues as fact issues. It has been a sticking point for me my entire life. I feel like it was intellectually dishonest, and they knew better.

 

[MPat]

Then most Christians in the US and beyond are polytheists.

Maybe they are.

Or, to be more precise, it might be that many people who are Christians in one sense are polytheists (or atheists, for that matter) in another sense.

It is not exactly unheard of. For example, Stalin was a Christian in the sense that he was baptised, and he was an atheist in the sense that he believed that God doesn’t exist.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

I’m not sure I understand your 2nd question correctly so I’ll answer as best I can. If you clarify, perhaps I can elaborate further later, but…

Some doctrines of many churches sound like something a person or group of people would dictate. But they say it is God’s will. I’m not calling them liars but from my pov “God” often sounds like them.