What is atheism?

@hippyjoe1955 It’s an absence of religion. This may be to large an idea for some to process.

@AdmiralPrune Religion does not need a God. Religion is a world view held to with zeal. Many atheists are more evangelical about their faith than Christians or Jews or Muslims or ..... Atheism is a religion.

@hippyjoe1955 it's not enough to borrow everything that's bad in religion to call something a religion

@hippyjoe1955 I see you’ve invented your own definition of religion.

How lovely.

How many crayons did you eat while working on that?

@AdmiralPrune No I quoted Miriam Webster. You can look it up. it is the 4 the definition.

@hippyjoe1955 who is Miriam Webster?

@hippyjoe1955 I would define it as a religion, yes. A secular religion. There are atheistic religions of course. Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism. Many adherents of traditionally theistic religions are atheists. Jews, Christians, Muslims. Its also about community, and some Muslim countries compulsion or social incentive would suggest atheistic adherents.

@AdmiralPrune It's a very small idea considering it's so poorly constructed, Admiral, but it is large in the sense that most people subscribe to it.

@AdmiralPrune What about atheistic religions like Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism?

@hippyjoe1955 I agree atheism is a religion in the sense that a religion is defined, not only by Webster but also Oxford, as "a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion." Most people don't think that way though because they have an ideological proclivity either towards a simplified atheistic or theistic paradigm.

@PathwayMachine In the not too distant past atheism was more evangelical than most Christian. It has tamed down a bit since it can't offer any meaningful explanations about the big questions in life but it is still very very common.