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I've always assumed some sort of religious belief was required in order to qualify as a religion. Maybe I'm just old fashioned.
I suppose not, but the rhetoric of the anti orange sock cultists is insufferable.Wait, so rejection of wearing orange socks on Wednesday is not a religion?
My lack of belief regarding polka-dot shirts in Uzbekistan is not a religion?
I just want to get a clear picture on where people stand after it's been argued that any belief, any lack of belief and any rejection of belief constitutes a religion.
I believe that I will have another beer, but that is not a religion.
I do not believe that I will have another beer, but that is not lack of religion, simply my current state of mind.
I will never have another beer, well that is simply a lie.
This idea that atheism is a religion comes from certain theists who insist on putting a label they're familiar with on a philosophy that is completely alien to them. If it makes them feel better, who cares? I'm comfortable with my lack of belief. Let them call it whatever they want. It changes nothing to this fundamental aspect of my character.
I've noticed two distinct differences in atheists. One version seems to state the obvious that there's no observable proof of a supreme being and the other seems angry at anyone who believes different. Sort of the polar opposite of bible thumpers.
True enough. I am merely annoyed when someone feels they have the right to rudely tell me that my lack of belief in deities is a religion, just like any other, because they, the religious, say so. That is a complete lack of intellectual honesty. Oh, and adding that I'm going to hell for practicing the "religion of atheism" is just adding a cherry on top of their idiotic ideological dogma.
Arrogance combined with ignorance is profoundly irritating... and depressingly common.
I'm a firm believer in freedom of religion, and freedom of everyone to worship or not worship as they please. The only time I get angry is when I am told that the lack of belief in deities is, in fact, a religion... and I'm going to hell for it. Yeah, that gets me pissy.
This idea that atheism is a religion comes from certain theists who insist on putting a label they're familiar with on a philosophy that is completely alien to them.
True enough. I am merely annoyed when someone feels they have the right to rudely tell me that my lack of belief in deities is a religion, just like any other, because they, the religious, say so. That is a complete lack of intellectual honesty. Oh, and adding that I'm going to hell for practicing the "religion of atheism" is just adding a cherry on top of their idiotic ideological dogma.
Arrogance combined with ignorance is profoundly irritating... and depressingly common.
Indeed. And the only way they are able to include Atheism as a religion is if they define religion as any set of beliefs, lack of beliefs or rejection of beliefs. But that makes my rejection of wearing orange socks on Wednesday a religion. Does the word "religion" have any meaning at that point outside of being completely absurd?
Can I start a tax exemption for the Church of No Orange Wednesday Socks?
I just want to get a clear picture on where people stand after it's been argued that any belief, any lack of belief and any rejection of belief constitutes a religion.
You better beware the beer fans. Some of them take beer consumption to religious like levels. Them and Futboll Fans. Some of them may shank you.
Does worshiping beer constitute a religion? I guess so under these new criteria as to what's a religion.
Doesn't this make us all multi-denominationalist? We all have millions of beliefs, lack of beliefs and rejection of beliefs and since those are now "religions" we're all multi-denominationalist
This idea that atheism is a religion comes from certain theists who insist on putting a label they're familiar with on a philosophy that is completely alien to them. If it makes them feel better, who cares? I'm comfortable with my lack of belief. Let them call it whatever they want. It changes nothing to this fundamental aspect of my character.
I've noticed two distinct differences in atheists. One version seems to state the obvious that there's no observable proof of a supreme being and the other seems angry at anyone who believes different. Sort of the polar opposite of bible thumpers.
Where are you getting that argument from?
Part of religion is a spirituality. All religions have a spirituality but not everyone with a spirituality has a religion.
I just want to get a clear picture on where people stand after it's been argued that any belief, any lack of belief and any rejection of belief constitutes a religion.
This Thread. Later pages.
http://www.debatepolitics.com/polls/168711-atheism-religion.html
Fair enough. I was making a beer/hooligan joke.
I don't think it always does but it can. I do recall the federal courts once declared atheism as a religion in granting equal rights as other faith-based groups at a prison somewhere.
I think most thinking people believe something. In my opinion once that belief also engages in association with others of like beliefs and activism in some form, it might meet the criteria of being religious....maybe.
I've noticed two distinct differences in atheists. One version seems to state the obvious that there's no observable proof of a supreme being and the other seems angry at anyone who believes different. Sort of the polar opposite of bible thumpers.
Wasn't that more to ensure no discrimination happened on lack of religion? It was probably just easier to throw it in for legal writing sake.
What constitutes something? "Association with others of like beliefs and activism in some form" means alot of things can be religion. MEAT Clubs or Cooking/Culinary Clubs on high schools who share a love of meat/other foods and community service would be religions.
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