I've heard it said, on numerous occasions, that Atheism is just another type of religion, but that it doesn't have a God. In this description, religion is being used as a belief system.  Atheists assert that they are NOT are religion, and that no part of Atheism is based on beliefs.
Is it, that Atheists are part of a belief, and don't want to admit that it's a belief; or are the religious simply trying to group all Atheists together so that general statements can more easily be made?

What's your view?

I think it's that the religious are trying to lump all atheists together. There are atheistic religions, but simply being atheist is not a religion. It's not a set of beliefs. The only universal similarity amongst all atheists is that they don't believe in a god.

I've never heard of an Atheistic Religion.

Can you give some examples?

https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=20790&page=0
Theres a thread already, you can find the answers there

Cool, thanks!

Astynax27 : An example of an atheistic religion would be Buddhism. No god or gods are worshipped within Buddhism. Buddha himself is regarded as a regular man who was enlightened, not as a deity.

Well, there are two forms of Buddhism: Religious and Secular.

Religious Buddhism doesn't claim a God... but that's typically un-true. They have the same guardian deities of Hinduism, but use different names (the Tibetans, are a prime example).

Secular Buddhists see themselves as part of a philosophy or world-view rather than members of a religion. I, for instance, am a secular Buddhist. I have no interest in the religious Buddhist's prayers and guardian deities, and don't regard the very practical advice from Gautama to be religious.

Perhaps this is an issue of terms?

Well... would you consider someone that doesn't play sports an athlete? That's kind of the way I look at things.

No, I don't think that Atheism is a religion. The hate/disbelief of God, hmm? Well if you ask me it just proves God exists. They spend all their life hating Him, and trying to prove he doesn't exist, etc, etc. Well, they shouldn't have to try to prove Him wrong if he isn't there, they know He is there. Athiests are proof of God.

Klutch : i resent that. First, you make atheists sound like satanists or bad people by suggesting atheism is a hatred of god, 2nd, how can you hate something that dosent exist?since i, as an atheist, dont believe in god, its no more logical that i 'hate god', than it is that i hate agent smith for trying to destroy zion.

Incidentaly, thats flawed logic, if i try to prove there isnt a monster under a kids bed, i must actualy believe there is? The reason for trying to disprove something is to enlighten others.

If atheists are proof of god, then people that try to disprove aliens came from space just to probe humans up the jacksy are evidence it actualy happens...


Oh, and if atheism is a religion, static is a tv channel.

I have to agree with The#1 here. I would consider myself an Atheist/Buddhist (though any atheist has to admit Agnosticism -- b/c you can't disprove negatives, etc.), and I don't hate God -- I just don't believe he/she exists. I don't even hate MOST religious people (I think they're wrong, but I understand what can motivate them to believe, and what can make them NEED to believe that God is real).

My main problem is bigotry, and the arrogance of believing that religion is infallible and that it allows for unethical behavior (Slavery, the belittlement of women, abuse of homosexuals, etc.).

I would respect religion more if they would refine it. I feel like regulations and biblical (for example -- other religions do this too) contradictions are left in so that missionaries can cast a wider net and offer the buffet style approach to belief. Science has refined itself countless times. If religion wants to be respected, it needs to do the same. Jefferson tried to do this, others need to press for stronger and more modern reform. I digress. I just wanted to state that Atheists don't hate god... nor do most atheists hate religious people... it's the in-your-face and in-our-government religious people that tend to tick us off.

Sure, you can have a religion without a god - why not? The religion itself would be your god.

On another note, you say

"I would respect religion more if they would refine it. I feel like regulations and biblical (for example -- other religions do this too) contradictions are left in so that missionaries can cast a wider net and offer the buffet style approach to belief. Science has refined itself countless times. If religion wants to be respected, it needs to do the same."

As a Christian, I don't seek respect from others for my beliefs. Christ didn't seek respect when he allowed himself to be crucified for our sins.

Klutch :

Feel free to explain how the existence of skeptics somehow proves the existence of god. Right now you've simply made a baseless claim and expected it to be taken as fact.

tRIUNE :

The question was whether or not atheism was in itself a religion, not if a religion could be atheist. I don't think anyone would argue that you can't have a religion with no god.

soxfan849 : I fully understood the question. My point is if you're trying to say atheism is a religion, then yeah it is - you're religiously denying that a god exists. You can say "I don't believe there is a god", but why go to the extent of saying "I'm an atheist, and I'm going to study about whether or not there is a god", that study is your god then because you're devoting yourself to it 'religiously'.

Using the term "religiously" doesn't make something religious. It just refers to strong dedication to something. Look it up.

Atheism is in no way a religion because it says god doesn't exist. Since when is something a religion based on what it denies?

The only "religion" I think of that may claim no god (again, I assert that "religious Buddhism" is really just Hinduism 2.0), is the "Jedi" religion now recognized in the U.K. ; even then, I would say that the "force" is a lot like the "Tao" (I don't regard Taoism as a religion) -- which is really just a place holder for an idea that has no distinct name, but is given attributes.

Astynax27 : I know, I was being sarcastic - oh well, sorry.

Carry on

Atheism isn't really a religion. What it really means is that you have no beliefs.

Klutch :

I apologize, but please, refrain from posting things you have no idea about.

"a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

This is the definition of religion.

"the doctrine or belief that there is no God."

This is the definition of atheism.

What makes a religion a religion? Disbelief is a belief of it's own you know.

You may want to check this out Nice read.

thing1 :

Did you even read my post?

Relgion = Belief
Disbelief is a belief in itself.
Atheism = Disbelief

Atheism = Religion.