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Is atheism a religion? If yes, make your case

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No.

1.
Different atheists choose their position based on a variety of different factors:
Logic - a single god cannot be simultaneously omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and good.
Science - there is an overwhelming weight of physical evidence about how the universe and life came into existence.
Archeology - we now know there were never any Jewish slaves in Egypt. The idea of Yahweh grew slowly out of the son (& later consort) of the goddess Shekinah.
History - evidence now shows the Judaism is a relatively modern invention developing from around 1,000 BCE.
Comparative Religion - religions (other than those that grew out of the Bible) demonstrate that there are countless beliefs.
Emotional reaction - some atheists have grown up in a religious family and have rejected religion due to witnessing hypocrisy or experiencing child abuse and cruelty.
Ethics - it is not necessary to have faith of any kind in order to be an honest, kind and responsible person.

2.
Atheism has none of the essential features of any religion.
No authority in charge of a specific set of dogmas.
No commandments.
No threats or punishments.
No weekly meetings, rituals or life-stage celebrations.
No sects.
No capacity for excommunication.
Has never committed an inquisition or organised any war.
Does not collect money to fund its existence.