Do you feel that atheism falls into the category of a religion? If yes, please explain. [Spirituality & Religion]

Well i have to disagree with that very broad, VERY liberal interpretation of what a religion is. A religion is usually a belief in god/gods and at least some kind of system of faith based belief and methods of worship.

@UnparalleledMonster: Your mileage may vary. I stand by what I wrote.

To be an atheist logically requires letting go of any belief in a rational universe

@jennypenny: I think I agree with you if by that you mean that atheism is based on irrationality aka the rejection of Reason.

@hippyjoe1955:

Well if we can't agree on definitions then i don't think we can proceed.
I have to say i think if you allow "religion"to be so loosely defined, you've watered it down to the point where it doesn't actually mean anything

@jennypenny:

What do you mean?

To be an atheist you must believe we exist by the activity of blind and unguided forces. There is no rationality or meaning behind it as even our own minds are a result of chance@UnparalleledMonster:

@UnparalleledMonster: I am a Christian. I don't worship like the Catholics and the Orthodox or the Coptics do. Doesn't mean they don't believe as I believe simply they have one way and I have another However we have broad agreement on our world view of how we came to be here. What we should do while we are here and where we are going after we leave this mortal coil. Thus our 'religion' like all religions including atheism is our world view.

@jennypenny:

Well "chance" is a bit of an inaccurate word. I think it is very rational though in that our universe is very consistent.
I agree that there is no meaning to it but you haven't convinced me that atheism is an irrational belief

@UnparalleledMonster: If there is no reason then we don't exist. Reason doesn't happen by random chance as many atheists believe.

@hippyjoe1955:

Well yes...but the fundamental thing you agree on is that there is a god, probably a personal god who created the universe and everything in it, yes?
And i imagine you both pray to that god.

Essentially you're pointing out that your religion is different from a slightly different religion and that somehow it follows then that world views like atheism can be a religion?
My apologies if i have misrepresented what you said.

What I believe is that there is more to existence than our material beings. As a former design engineer having spent countless hours designing simple processes I honestly can not understand how people can believe that random chance caused life to exist. The intricate inter-workings of systems in even the most basic life forms simply rules that possibility of that happening. Some call that the 'god of the gaps' I call it the only logical conclusion. If you see design and function in everything around you there is likely a Designer behind it all.

@hippyjoe1955:

Well i guess we're done with the other subject then.
I can't speak to your perception that the functionality of life indicates a design and a designer.