Sorry to disappoint you, but atheism is NOT a religion. it is a theistic position, that is all.

asanta - 12 December 2009 06:31 PM

Sorry to disappoint you, but atheism is NOT a religion. it is a theistic position, that is all.

 

Sorry to disappoint you as well, but one can say the same thing for a religion.

It too is a theistic position. Thats all.

ray - 14 December 2009 06:22 AM

Sorry to disappoint you as well, but one can say the same thing for a religion.

It too is a theistic position. Thats all.

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Ray, a religion is far more than just a belief in a god.  It includes codes of morality, ritual, acceptance of the authority of the hierarchy, etc.  To claim that atheism is a religion just because religions include a belief in god is irrational. 

Using a different approach, Doug’s example is extremely clear and excellent.

Occam

dougsmith - 14 December 2009 07:30 AM

ray - 14 December 2009 06:22 AM

Sorry to disappoint you as well, but one can say the same thing for a religion.

It too is a theistic position. Thats all.

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

I like that line!!

Jackson - 14 December 2009 04:20 PM

dougsmith - 14 December 2009 07:30 AM

ray - 14 December 2009 06:22 AM

Sorry to disappoint you as well, but one can say the same thing for a religion.

It too is a theistic position. Thats all.

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

I like that line!!

I can’t take credit for it ... not sure who it’s from, though.

dougsmith - 14 December 2009 07:30 AM

ray - 14 December 2009 06:22 AM

Sorry to disappoint you as well, but one can say the same thing for a religion.

It too is a theistic position. Thats all.

 

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

 

Atheism may not be collecting stamps, but its still a religion because it is collecting something.

Sorry for delving into your hobbies.

ray - 15 December 2009 05:18 AM

Atheism may not be collecting stamps, but its still a religion because it is collecting something.

That makes no sense at all.

What does atheism “collect”?

More centrally, is anything that involves collecting a “religion” then? Is stamp collecting a religion?

Doug, may I request that you create a new topic for this.

I suggest you start a new topic ” Is Atheism Religion “, and then we can take it there?

Please split it from member asanta’s comment number 70.

ray - 15 December 2009 05:18 AM

dougsmith - 14 December 2009 07:30 AM

ray - 14 December 2009 06:22 AM

Sorry to disappoint you as well, but one can say the same thing for a religion.

It too is a theistic position. Thats all.

 

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

 

Atheism may not be collecting stamps, but its still a religion because it is collecting something.

Sorry for delving into your hobbies.

      This is the guy who did alot of “research”. He then chose islam after doing alot of research.
Did you do that research in prison Ray? Did you become a muslim in prison?

ray - 15 December 2009 06:21 AM

Doug, may I request that you create a new topic for this.

I suggest you start a new topic ” Is Atheism Religion “, and then we can take it there?

Please split it from member asanta’s comment number 70.

Done. This has been split off from the “Good Reference: Annotated Bible, Koran, Book of Mormon” thread.

Thanks Doug.  Now we might do it properly.

dougsmith - 15 December 2009 06:01 AM

ray - 15 December 2009 05:18 AM

Atheism may not be collecting stamps, but its still a religion because it is collecting something.

 

That makes no sense at all.

What does atheism “collect”?

More centrally, is anything that involves collecting a “religion” then?

Is stamp collecting a religion?

 

Not everything.

But yes. If done zealously. Why not.  Think about it.

Devotion to “holy” books or devotion to “holy” stamps. Either way, its a life spent. Whats the difference.

I don’t think you understand Doug’s stamp analogy, Rey. Who cares if the stamps are holy? An “a-stamp-hobbyist” (or a “non-stamp-hobbyist”) certainly doesn’t.

Atheism is a religion only if you define “religion” in such a broad sense that it bears no relation to its common meaning, and indeed becomes indistinguishable from, e.g., irreligion.

Nothing stops one from defining “religion” in such an unusual fashion, of course; but doing so precludes any intelligent, or interesting, debate.

Unusual fashion? Common meaning?

Whose common is common?

Is this a democracy issue?

George, I was speaking from the point of view of the fanatical stamp collector.

Stamps are holy to such a person. We ought to resepect him.

Its blasphemy to mock his stamps.