Why Do Some People Think Atheism Is A Religion?

[fxfighter]

Atheism is a religion. And you have to be very narrow-minded to believe in it. You see, theists can look at something and see scientific coincidence, and something else as a supernatural occurance. No I'm not saying that the piece of toast was a supernatural occurance. I'm just illustrating the point that theists have the benefit of viewing things from multiple perspectives, and seeing things with multiple perspectives is considered by some to be the strongest attribute of true geniuses. Atheists unfortunately do not have that benefit, they only see scientific anomalies and coincidences...*snip*

 

...human intelligence is degenerating, and the religion of atheism is the accelerator drug for that phenomenon, as I've just shown you.

 

So very many things wrong with that @_@

I see this quite often where atheism is quoted as a "religion", why is this so?

[The-Captain]

Some people are rather stupid. Thats my theory

[florduh]

Theists have the benefit of being satisfied with making shit up.

 

Why do some think atheism is a religion? Because they're morons. They were taught that everyone serves either god or the devil. There is no allowance for the possibility that neither one actually exists.

 

- Chris

[hoosier]

I think its just a tactic they use to try to level the playing field, to try to bring atheism down to their level when we whip their ass logically. But I still dont see how the hell it works as an argument for their point of view.

[fxfighter]

I think its just a tactic they use to try to level the playing field, to try to bring atheism down to their level when we whip their ass logically. But I still dont see how the hell it works as an argument for their point of view.

Yep that makes sense, I can also see it as a "well god is so obvious (to me) that to not believe in god takes way more faith than to believe!".

Not sure if that's clear but I hope you can understand what I mean.

[MonolithTMA]

In my experience, most people don't know the difference between religion and Christian denomination. A lot of people I've met have asked me what religion I was when they really meant what denomination of Christianity I belonged to.

 

With some of the definitions of religion on Dictionary.com, I can see how some people would be confused.

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

[Grandpa Harley]

If there is a God, he must surely love idiots and blood sucking insects... he made so damned many of both.

[SWIM]

"why do some people think atheism is a religion?"

 

They are morons, thats why...

[fxfighter]

Heh he's still arguing with me.

 

Religion is the term for people's beliefs and the rules to which they adhere based on those beliefs.

 

So therefore how can a disbelief be counted as a religion?

Seeing as atheism is a disbelief in god(s)/supernatural beings and there are no "rules" to atheism, you simply don't believe in gods.

Is there a difference between disbelief in gods and believing in no gods? And atheism does have rules.

1. Everything can be explained scientifically, and if something comes up that cannot be it is because that specific field of science hasn't progressed far enough yet.

2. Laws of physics apply everywhere except for the big bang, in which an enormous amount of energy came into existence from nothing. But don't ask about that, just have faith.

3. When you have a discussion with a theist, make sure you use the words "imaginary friends" at least twice during the conversation.

4. There are several denominations to which the atheist can but does not have to belong. Such as environmentalism, agnosticism, scientology, and PETA.

5. Progressive evolution is real.

[Grandpa Harley]

rules?

 

No one told me there were RULEZ!!!

[MonolithTMA]

So, if Atheism is a religion, then what about targeted Atheism? Is non-belief in Zeus a religion? What about non-belief in Allah? Non-belief in Vishnu? If that is true then Christians practice thousands of religions on top of Christianity, because none of them believe in any other God. I guess they are Polyatheists.

[Grandpa Harley]

I like the cut of your jib young fella-me-lad!

[fxfighter]

rules?

 

No one told me there were RULEZ!!!

DISQUALIFIED!

 

In other news;

If I met an atheist who could accurately look at a situation from the perspective of a christian or a muslim or a shintoist, I would develop a sort of respect for that person because of his ability. I've never met an atheist like that, they seem to be dead set in their ways and refuse to consider the possibility of gods or supernatural phenomena.

There's that religious compassion and understanding again.

[MonolithTMA]

In other news;

If I met an atheist who could accurately look at a situation from the perspective of a christian or a muslim or a shintoist, I would develop a sort of respect for that person because of his ability. I've never met an atheist like that, they seem to be dead set in their ways and refuse to consider the possibility of gods or supernatural phenomena.

There's that religious compassion and understanding again.

 

He's totally eliminating those who once believed in those faiths and renounced them. Of course, to him, they were never true believers.

[florduh]

If I met an atheist who could accurately look at a situation from the perspective of a christian or a muslim or a shintoist, I would develop a sort of respect for that person because of his ability. I've never met an atheist like that, they seem to be dead set in their ways and refuse to consider the possibility of gods or supernatural phenomena.

 

 

 

And if I ever met a Christian who could think outside the Book, I would likely fart a show tune and spew nickels from my nose.

 

- Chris

[upstarter]

OMG Chris, I would pay to see that! Shame it will never come to pass.

 

Damnit I hate rules, do I have to stop being an atheist now? Shit, I hate having to find new labels every time some shithead decides to tell me what I am!

 

Okay, so now I'm an a-gnomeist, since I choose to label myself based on what I don't believe in. Are there rules for not believing in gnomes?

 

And can I just say WTF to the fact that atheism is the marker of the deterioration of intelligence???

 

I need a shower now.

 

Heather

[fxfighter]

This literally made me OMGWTF!!!!!!!!!

 

Postulating scientific theories isn't the same as having faith because they're acknowledged theories until proven. Can you really see no difference?

You're right, I don't see a difference. The theories about the ways black holes operate are prompting some people to figure out if wormholes are possible using black holes. There's no solid proof that they exist but they still work on their mathematical project. How is that different from faith?

[Piprus]

The person you're arguing with obviously hasn't met very many atheists. But he/she is certainly bigoted and prejudiced.

[Grandpa Harley]

They also are about 20 years behind on Astrophysics... ye gods...

[godlessgrrl]

I suspect a lot of religious people can't even conceive of the idea of a life without religion. Consequently, they have to put atheism in a framework that makes sense to them. So they call it what they know: a religion.

[Max]

...Polyatheists.

That's what I want to be!

 

 

My own take on the question is that one of the favorite dogma of the faithful is that people have a god-shaped hole, that belief is somehow innate, that if you don't belive in god you must believe in something else. This helps them to avoid questioning their faith, I guess. But once they've bought in, they can't then accept the absence of faith in others. Ergo, atheism must be a religion of some sort.

[MonolithTMA]

...Polyatheists.

That's what I want to be!

 

Well buy the T-Shirt then! http://www.cafepress.com/sirleetees.162314459

 

I actually thought of the term on my own, but then googled it to see if I alone had thought of it. Nope.

[Eccles]

If one looks at the state of Christianity in the United Christian States of America and note that there are 34,000 sects because it is so easy to register a Church to get the tax breaks.. That is why Scientology is called a "Church". It is a tax break. It does not believe in a "god". I'll bet it would not be possible to register Atheism as a religion. Atheists are the most hated group in the UCSA and suffer more than any other group. No Government department would allow Atheists to register. No Atheist can get into Government. So why do these people who have been poisoned by Christianity and regard themselves "holier than thou" regard Atheism as a religion? Because they are brain dead, dickheads.

[MonolithTMA]

If one looks at the state of Christianity in the United Christian States of America and note that there are 34,000 sects because it is so easy to register a Church to get the tax breaks.. That is why Scientology is called a "Church". It is a tax break. It does not believe in a "god". I'll bet it would not be possible to register Atheism as a religion. Atheists are the most hated group in the UCSA and suffer more than any other group. No Government department would allow Atheists to register. No Atheist can get into Government. So why do these people who have been poisoned by Christianity and regard themselves "holier than thou" regard Atheism as a religion? Because they are brain dead, dickheads.

I searched the US IRS department's web site to see if I could find a list of registered exempt religions, but I think they must do it on a church by church basis and that would be one big ass list. I did find tow interesting tidbits.

Meaning of "Religious Organization"

 

Because special tax rules apply to churches, it is important to distinguish churches from other religious organizations. Religious organizations that are not churches typically include nondenominational ministries, interdenominational and ecumenical organizations, and other entities whose principal purpose is the study or advancement of religion.

 

"Churches" Defined

 

The term church is found, but not specifically defined, in the Internal Revenue Code. With the exception of the special rules for church audits, the use of the term church also includes conventions and associations of churches as well as integrated auxiliaries of a church.

 

Certain characteristics are generally attributed to churches. These attributes of a church have been developed by the IRS and by court decisions. They include:

 

* Distinct legal existence

* Recognized creed and form of worship

* Definite and distinct ecclesiastical government

* Formal code of doctrine and discipline

* Distinct religious history

* Membership not associated with any other church or denomination

* Organization of ordained ministers

* Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study

* Literature of its own

* Established places of workshop

* Regular congregations

* Regular religious services

* Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young

* Schools for the preparation of its members

 

The IRS generally uses a combination of these characteristics, together with other facts and circumstances, to determine whether an organization is considered a church for federal tax purposes.

I think "Established places of workshop" should be "Established places of worship"

 

It would be nice if they wold publish the list of all of them, even if it is a huge list.

[Grandpa Harley]

If workshop is on the statute then garages, carpenty places, et al are tax exempt...:evil:

 

Does anyone know the history of Tax exemption of Churches in the US? After all they're really just another form of Glee Club...