Do you think there is a difference between religion and God [Spirituality & Religion]

No it isn’t. @hippyjoe1955

So... what exactly? What does that prove? That everyone is actually religious? 😕 @hippyjoe1955

@Spoiledbrat Yes. A lot of people get organized religion with religion. If you adhere to a religion then you are religious. Atheism is a religion (belief system) no less than any of the other recognized religions.

Atheism is, in the broadest sense, an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. There is no “system”. All do respect. https://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/about-atheism/ @hippyjoe1955

@Spoiledbrat You just stated the system of beliefs then denied atheism has any.

Did you read the article? There are two sources. I don’t why it matters to you. The point is atheism is a lack of belief... you seem to want to prove that it's actually a belief but it doesn’t matter because that’s not the point. @hippyjoe1955

@Spoiledbrat No atheism is the belief that there is no God(s).

Did you read the article or not. If not, I’m busy. @hippyjoe1955

I absolutely hate to agree with hippyjoe but he is correct. Atheism is the belief that there is no God. It does not indicate an absence of belief. It is an absolute belief that God does not exist. @hippyjoe1955

Atheism is not an affirmative belief that there is no god nor does it answer any other question about what a person believes. It is simply a rejection of the assertion that there are gods. Atheism is too often defined incorrectly as a belief system. To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.

Older dictionaries define atheism as “a belief that there is no God.” Clearly, theistic influence taints these definitions. The fact that dictionaries define Atheism as “there is no God” betrays the (mono)theistic influence. Without the (mono)theistic influence, the definition would at least read “there are no gods.”

Atheism is not a belief system nor is it a religion.

While there are some religions that are atheistic (certain sects of Buddhism, for example), that does not mean that atheism is a religion. To put it in a more humorous way: If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Despite the fact that atheism is not a religion, atheism is protected by many of the same Constitutional rights that protect religion. That, however, does not mean that atheism is itself a religion, only that our sincerely held (lack of) beliefs are protected in the same way as the religious beliefs of others. Similarly, many “interfaith” groups will include atheists. This, again, does not mean that atheism is a religious belief.

Some groups will use words like Agnostic, Humanist, Secular, Bright, Freethinker, or any number of other terms to self identify. Those words are perfectly fine as a self-identifier, but we strongly advocate using the word that people understand: Atheist. Don’t use those other terms to disguise your atheism or to shy away from a word that some think has a negative connotation. We should be using the terminology that is most accurate and that answers the question that is actually being asked. We should use the term that binds all of us together.

If you call yourself a humanist, a freethinker, a bright, or even a “cultural Catholic” and lack belief in a god, you are an atheist. Don’t shy away from the term. Embrace it.

Agnostic isn’t just a “weaker” version of being an atheist. It answers a different question. Atheism is about what you believe. Agnosticism is about what you know.

@rhouse

Either read my reply and discuss or don’t. Don’t in between. That’s pointless. All respect.

@Spoiledbrat Since when does a belief system have to meet those requirements? Humans put up belief systems all the time. Atheism is just one more.

“ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby. “ All I’m saying is that atheists don’t practice anything. They sure don’t practice not believing in something. @hippyjoe1955

@Spoiledbrat Sorry you seem to have trouble with thinking. A belief system is not analogous to a hobby. Not even close. As an atheist you believe there is no God - right or wrong.

What I believe isn’t of concern. It is why. @hippyjoe1955

I have read the article and understand your point. I have a follow-on question:

If agnosticism is not knowing whether there is a God and atheism is "a lack of belief in god[s}, what is the belief that there is no god?

This may be a semantic argument but it is totally relevant to this discussion since you are having a semantic debate. @Spoiledbrat

@rhouse Well put. A belief in the positive or negative is still a belief.

I understand Puff's point but believe it opens an important question. @hippyjoe1955

@rhouse It does. However it is wrong to say that a negative belief is not a belief. Of course it is. negative or positive a belief is a belief.

I am not ‘wanting’. But atheism is not a religion and I originally said to him what does it matter. He kept driving the point without linking it. I am the keeps saying it’s just semantics. @rhouse

Atheism is a religion so .....
0 · Reply · 59 mins ago |

Puffieke · F
No it isn’t. @hippyjoe1955
2 · Reply · 50 mins ago | Edit ·

Puffieke · F
So... what exactly? What does that prove? That everyone is actually religious? 😕 @hippyjoe1955
1 · Reply · 44 mins ago | Edit ·

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@Puffieke Yes. A lot of people get organized religion with religion. If you adhere to a religion then you are religious. Atheism is a religion (belief system) no less than any of the other recognized religions.
0 · Reply · 41 mins ago |
I’m sorry but there is NO system. It’s a lack of. @hippyjoe1955

It is wrong? Who is arguing semantics. I think most atheists would say that they don’t have a practice. That’s it. @hippyjoe1955

@Spoiledbrat Of course atheism is a religion. A religion doesn't need a god or a temple or a ritual. A religion is simply something you believe very strongly. Atheists are more religious in their belief than many adherents of other religions. They are quite evangelical.

Do you have any literature to back this up? And again I ask, does this even matter. You know what you’re doing. You’re trying to link atheism to religion. Yes we are people. @hippyjoe1955

@Spoiledbrat Of course it is a system of beliefs. It even has a genesis story (evolution). it has a priesthood. (they wear lab coats).