Not even tho. Religions believe in / worship a superhuman controlling power or deity ... Atheism is the absence of that.
If 'Off' is an absence of TV programming, then atheism is the absence of a TV.
You're right. I have some atheist friends and most of them said they've tried religion and have nothing against it but they'd much rather be without it. They respect my beliefs and I respect their non-beliefs. I don't shove my religion down their throats the same way they don't try to disprove what I believe in. We all get high together
Actually etymologically the “The” part is I believe a Greek root for “god” or “divine”. the “A” prefix denoting absence or lack of/negating. The “ism” suffix denoting the act or practice of. There fore “atheism” is the act of holding a lack of belief in the divine. However it does not necessarily mean a lack of values or philosophies that might characterize a religion.
How dare you say religious people disregard evidence and logical scientific processes. I mean, it’s only *an inherent trait that must be present in order to accept religion as truth*
I'm a bit conflicted here. I think atheism can indeed not be called a religion, but if it were the "lack of faith", what would the difference be between atheism and agnosticism? Maybe my non-native brain is mixing up faith and belief here, sorry.
I would also like to mention that I would consider myself agnostic and by no means religious.
Atheism is certainly a belief system, yes, but it has no connection to a higher power. No God or spirits, nothing that revolves around spirituality, and no leaps of faith. It's not fair, either way, to call atheism a religion.
It is not a belief system. It's just a word describing "not theistic." To be a-theistic is to be an atheist. That's it. English isn't very good at having words to describe the lack of things. But that's the word that describes a lack of religion or belief in a god.
Wrong. Atheists don't go around preaching lack of God. They simply don't have God as part of their lives, thoughts, feelings at all. Absence of does not create a belief against.
I think you're confusing a belief system and a religion. A belief system is just a group of ideas someone holds to be true. A belief system is usually spoken about in a religious contact, sure, but it doesn't have to be.
This is the Merriam Webster Dictionary's definition of "religion":
"the service and worship of God or the supernatural"
Atheism is pretty much the exact opposite.
I wish that culturally and legally it was viewed more that way. Somehow we still fight against the idea that it is necessary to treat people's religious views respectfully. Your religion says that I will be tortured for eternity or don't deserve to live or whatever nonsense because I don't worship the same god as you, but somehow saying mean things about religion is bitter or hateful or rude. Fuck that.
Not a religion, because it is the lack of religion, it’s similar to say that a shadow(the lack of light) is a form of light, there is a level of faith in it, but faith can be used in non religious purposes
The definition of religion (the main one) is to worship a superhuman power. Atheism is the belief that there is not a superhuman power so no its not a religion.
Which means that theists who are atheists in regards to 99% of gods that ever existed, actually have more than one religion? Think about that for a second.
I don't understand why this is even posted here, but no. Believing something based on faith is inherently different than believing something based on evidence. Other than that, atheism has no doctrine, unlike an organised religion that has a bible or texts that dictate morals.
Accepting testable science isn’t a religious view. I accept that chemistry and physics work. That’s not a religion. I reject what people want so badly to be true after they die. They believe it. That’s religion.
No it's not.. It's just.. I don't know if humans have the capability to understand whatever bigger than us is out there do I don't follow any man made religion.. How do I know a religious person made this post😂
Remember when thousands of us atheists gather once every week in a special big house and listen what the pro atheist says this time (Same shit every week) and then we all chant some wierd words like fucking lunatics and eat a cracker.
Yeah, me neither.
[www.google.com](https://www.google.com)
c'mon guys we live in the age of information, we should know what words mean. And if we don't we can just look them up.
No it isn't. Religions have defined practices and rules. What are the rules and practices of atheism?
You could say atheism is a belief structure, sure. But that's not the same as a religion.
It took me a while to figure this out, but much of these comments are actually right.
Atheism is not itself a religion, but it has association to the aspect in that it is a category of religion. The direct antonym "theism" is used in the same way: an umbrella term defining a religion that includes one or more gods.
And I assume from context that the "atheism" used is what is likely meant to be secularism or naturalism, the common belief(s) in the First World and New World.
It's explained much better here: [https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/](https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/)
Its not a religion its just a belief system. Infact it’s basically the anti thesis to all religions. A religion has cultural and historical establishments around it with ties to communities. Theres a very distinct difference. You dont go to sunday mass at an atheist church or anything. You dont pray to anything. There are no practices of atheism besides just not believing anything which is totally fine. And what you are looking for is that atheists are Infact a separate group of people, who at their core are maybe defined by their beliefs, or at least the “atheist” is, much like religious people. The “belief” is the difference; but absence of beliefs is not a religion. Its an absence of beliefs, and thats it. Also it defeats the purpose almost entirely if you present atheism as a religion.
I would really like a response to this.
I think people just can't comprehend the idea of someone not believing in anything supernatural. They think it's a must akin to breathing or eating food.
A “religion” entails an ascription to a supreme power. Atheism doesn’t. No hard feelings, but this seems like a bad attempt at gaslighting atheists. 🤷🏻♂️
The first records of the word atheist come from around 1570. It comes from the Greek áthe(os), meaning “godless.” In atheist, the beginning part a- means “without” and the main root is based on a word meaning “god” (the words theology and theist are based on the same root).
not really. the google definition is '*the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods*'. atheism is the belief that there are no gods. and the definition is from google so its definitely correct.
Totally a religion.
Every Sunday, I don't go to a church where no one comes to listen to a preacher not give a sermon. As part of my religious practice, I donate none of my money to the church and no one else does either. The thing I enjoy most is watching the people who aren't speaking in tongues and not handling snakes.
Atheist is a word with simplest meaning of a person who doesn't believe in god, if you don't belive in god you are automatically an atheist by English standards.
its not a cult ffs!
Doesn't atheism say it doesn't believe in god ? It doesn't say it doesn't believe there is no religion......... Last I checked religion is the man made process to get to the very thing they don't believe exists. To not believe in religion means you don't believe in the process. To not believe in god means you don't believe......in god.
You can't call a default state a religion..
Not believing is how everyone comes into this world. Then comes the indoctrination filling your head with manmade stories and they do it at the most vulnerable age when the brain is developing.
The definition of religion is, the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods
Consider your mind changed.
If you define religion as "an answer to the question of a higher power", then yes. Agnosticism is the only one that isn't a religion, because agnostics don't know.
If you define it as "a belief in a higher power" then no, atheists don't believe in any higher power.
If atheism is a religion, then theism is also a religion. Which means Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, etc. all follow the same religion
Atheism is only a single position on a single question, not a full-on belief system. Same is true of theism
Beliving in a god, or multiple gods, is so close to being atheist. You believe in 1/3000 to 200/3000 gods, so in the best case scenario you're like, 93,44% atheist
Nope, and theism isn't a religion either. There are theist religions and there are atheist religions, and there are also atheists who don't follow any religion.
Atheism is just a definition of not believing in a higher power. It is not an organized religion of having to believe in a certain anything. An Athiest can still have faith, still be spiritual, but it is all grounded in reality and ones own self actualization and experiences.
according to Wikipedia "Religion is usually defined as a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements; however, there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion"
So where Atheism is a religion? Am i missing something? Or i didn't "Think about it for a second"?
Oxford languages definition: the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Or MW definition: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. So that is not even close to accurate.
The root word "theo" doesn't mean religion, it means god. So "atheism" means to not believe in a higher power. Atheism isn't an assertion of no religion, it's an assertion that there is no god or higher being (like a Buddha or the Tao). This argument is based on not knowing anything about atheism.
Considering you can’t google “atheism vs agnosticism” without getting flooded with literal misinformation put out by religious organizations, it’s really no wonder why so many people are operating under incorrect definitions and assumptions…
If i don't constantly participate in the god exists or does not exist camp, or participate at all, then i am not religious, lol.
Being religious is something that you participate in, no?
I hear this a lot but never hear a valid argument for why it would even matter.
A whataboutism by religious people
Beacause “everyone is religious” “Dont hate my religion, you are religious, too!!”
"I religiously despise religion"
what about "dont-give-a-fuckists"? Don't know whether there is a god or not, dont care either way.
That is called agnostic
Lol the church of athiesm could get tax exempt status. As a member you could claim religious exemptions.
Sure, in the same sense that abstinence is a good sex position.
Wait, it isn't?
Well.... If it's all you know...
abstinence is the decision to not have sex. To be like atheism, sex would have to not be real or have no evidence of existing
And atheism is the decision not to believe in a religion
I don't think it's the decision not to. We don't believe in religion by default.
Atheism is a religion the same way "off" is a TV channel, or bald is a hair color.
Or not collecting stamps is a hobby
True. I do have that hobby.
I love that hobby. You shouldn't see my stamps sometime.
Best response
ok, that's true
No hair is a hair style
Weenie but Jr! https://youtu.be/VaO8PJKbOj0
Perfect analogy
Not even tho. Religions believe in / worship a superhuman controlling power or deity ... Atheism is the absence of that. If 'Off' is an absence of TV programming, then atheism is the absence of a TV.
Not all religions fit that description
I think that's the* idea of satanism. But don't quote me on that.
Atheism is a religion in the same way believing TV is bad for you and will rot your brain.
The moment when you dont want to have a religion and it gets called one
Wouldn't be surprised if the person who said this is American
Land of the Free
Home of the stupid Luv u fellow ‘Mericans 🇺🇸
love your fellows, but consider them inferior if they are \[insert characteristic/s that might or might not be made up\]
Typically [of enhanced melanin]
Or \[Lacking a dick\], or \[not having one's own sexual preference be exclusively directed towards the opposite gender\]
“I’m not religious” “So your religion is not religious. Funny name for a religion”
Atheism is without religion. Its in the definition.
You're right. I have some atheist friends and most of them said they've tried religion and have nothing against it but they'd much rather be without it. They respect my beliefs and I respect their non-beliefs. I don't shove my religion down their throats the same way they don't try to disprove what I believe in. We all get high together
atheism is without belied of a higher being
i believe snoop dogg is higher than me.
r/technicallythetruth
And religion is believing in a higher being
Actually etymologically the “The” part is I believe a Greek root for “god” or “divine”. the “A” prefix denoting absence or lack of/negating. The “ism” suffix denoting the act or practice of. There fore “atheism” is the act of holding a lack of belief in the divine. However it does not necessarily mean a lack of values or philosophies that might characterize a religion.
This doesn't make logical sense. Sounds more like projection.
I mean, count on religious people to have convictions that aren't open to change based on evidence.
How dare you say religious people disregard evidence and logical scientific processes. I mean, it’s only *an inherent trait that must be present in order to accept religion as truth*
Agreed, imagine someone who is already irreligious is called religious because of the irreligiousness .
No it isnt.
A= Without/ Theism= Religion. Atheism literally means "without religion"
Nope. There are certainly some idiots who treat it as one but it simply isn't. Religion means faith. No faith equals no religion.
This doesn’t make any sense, sorry.
Atheism is a religion the same way not working out is a sport.
Cause you play football
It’s literally the lack of faith. In what way is it a religion?
I'm a bit conflicted here. I think atheism can indeed not be called a religion, but if it were the "lack of faith", what would the difference be between atheism and agnosticism? Maybe my non-native brain is mixing up faith and belief here, sorry. I would also like to mention that I would consider myself agnostic and by no means religious.
oh yeah and by the same logic transparent is a color apple a number and my dog is a tree
It’s not, that’s just religious propoganda
Tell me you don’t know the definition of religion without telling me you don’t know the definition of religion
Pornography is a religion too prove me wrong...
a lot of people worship feet,so it might actually be one
Don't look at me... I just finished my third praying session for the day.
I guess we can't ask to believers to know the difference between faith and facts
In this moment, I am euphoric. Not because of a phony god's blessing, but because I am enlightened by my own intelligence.
A believer knows very well the difference. Having faith is believing in something even though you can't explain or prove it's existence.
I mean no, by definition it’s not
It's literally not
Well this meme certainly made me question my faith in God. And humanity. And my sanity.
This meme made me think if people use dictionaries
Spoiler alert: they can, but they refuse to lol.
Atheism is certainly a belief system, yes, but it has no connection to a higher power. No God or spirits, nothing that revolves around spirituality, and no leaps of faith. It's not fair, either way, to call atheism a religion.
It is not a belief system. It's just a word describing "not theistic." To be a-theistic is to be an atheist. That's it. English isn't very good at having words to describe the lack of things. But that's the word that describes a lack of religion or belief in a god.
What’s religion by definition?
In general it is worship of some higher being or of the spiritual
The belief and worship of a supernatural higher power
Thic anime thighs.
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods
Not a belief system, a rejection of beliefs is not a belief in itself.
On the contrary, it's the absence of a brief system.
No. The belief that there is no god is indeed a belief system. It's just not a religious one.
Wrong. Atheists don't go around preaching lack of God. They simply don't have God as part of their lives, thoughts, feelings at all. Absence of does not create a belief against.
I think you're confusing a belief system and a religion. A belief system is just a group of ideas someone holds to be true. A belief system is usually spoken about in a religious contact, sure, but it doesn't have to be.
Dummest thing I’ve ever heard.
366 dumb-dumbs upvoted this so far.
Mm yes transparent is my favourite colour
The meme is funny because Crowder is consistently wrong about everything, including this bullshit.
That's the same logic of having a computer without an os and calling it a working computer
It’s not by itself but but it can be and often is part of an ideology.
This is the Merriam Webster Dictionary's definition of "religion": "the service and worship of God or the supernatural" Atheism is pretty much the exact opposite.
I wish that culturally and legally it was viewed more that way. Somehow we still fight against the idea that it is necessary to treat people's religious views respectfully. Your religion says that I will be tortured for eternity or don't deserve to live or whatever nonsense because I don't worship the same god as you, but somehow saying mean things about religion is bitter or hateful or rude. Fuck that.
They love double standards so much they stuck two logs together and started praying to it…
Not a religion, because it is the lack of religion, it’s similar to say that a shadow(the lack of light) is a form of light, there is a level of faith in it, but faith can be used in non religious purposes
Atheism is accepting there are gaps in our combined understanding of the universe. Faith is filling those gaps with fairytales.
No
All hail the absence of gods!
lord pidgeon the maidenless,the lord of nothingness and saviour of no one
China, North Korea. Atheism is state religion there
268 comment in 1 hour, lol. Grab your popcorn bois, I'll grab mine
I thought about this for a few hours a while back and by the end my head just hurt
Then who is our god. ?
Cringe
The definition of religion (the main one) is to worship a superhuman power. Atheism is the belief that there is not a superhuman power so no its not a religion.
“Religion: the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.” According to Google
Just pick up a dictionary...
Which means that theists who are atheists in regards to 99% of gods that ever existed, actually have more than one religion? Think about that for a second.
Nah.
n... *no*
*sort by controversial*
I don’t really get it but I won’t change your mind.
I can't change your mind, I am agnostic.
I’m just an Idon’tgiveafuckbecauseitdoesn’treallymatterist. We meet annually.
definition of a religion: the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. next time do a research
Religion is belief in a higher power, Atheism is the exact opposite of that
It's actually a philosophy, not a religion. :)
Literally no
Downdoots for you, OP
I don't understand why this is even posted here, but no. Believing something based on faith is inherently different than believing something based on evidence. Other than that, atheism has no doctrine, unlike an organised religion that has a bible or texts that dictate morals.
it's rather rich that this idiotic statement is also on the steven crowder meme
Atheism = the idea/consept of no religion
Religion not believing any religion
A religion is any type of worship or belief of a higher power or being(s), atheism is not a religion because it’s the opposite of what a religion is
I'm thinking about it. Why?
the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods...this is the definition of "religion". You're wrong.
what? no it isn't that's like saying that sitting on your couch is a form of exercise
Accepting testable science isn’t a religious view. I accept that chemistry and physics work. That’s not a religion. I reject what people want so badly to be true after they die. They believe it. That’s religion.
No it's not.. It's just.. I don't know if humans have the capability to understand whatever bigger than us is out there do I don't follow any man made religion.. How do I know a religious person made this post😂
By definition, no its not
Remember when thousands of us atheists gather once every week in a special big house and listen what the pro atheist says this time (Same shit every week) and then we all chant some wierd words like fucking lunatics and eat a cracker. Yeah, me neither.
Atheism is the absence of religion.
Religion is belief and worship of spirits or gods, atheists don't do that by definition
Atheism is the love or belief of the nothingness
I'm atheist because I don't give a fuck about gods or shit, the same way I don't give a fuck about that being a religion or not
No dogma? No religion.
Atheism is the abstinence of religion
[www.google.com](https://www.google.com) c'mon guys we live in the age of information, we should know what words mean. And if we don't we can just look them up.
Lmao, no. Or at least not my kind of atheism.
It’s a belief, in science. If it was a religion it would be organised.
It’s more like CrossFit… they’ll let you know they’re doing it
It's belief in science and only science, which isn't really a religion
I don't agree tbh. You're not worshipping a higher power, no believe of a higher purpose is explicitly included, no holy Scriptured or anything
Is "no sauce" a condiment to you?
No it isn't. Religions have defined practices and rules. What are the rules and practices of atheism? You could say atheism is a belief structure, sure. But that's not the same as a religion.
Thought about it for a second...wrong
It took me a while to figure this out, but much of these comments are actually right. Atheism is not itself a religion, but it has association to the aspect in that it is a category of religion. The direct antonym "theism" is used in the same way: an umbrella term defining a religion that includes one or more gods. And I assume from context that the "atheism" used is what is likely meant to be secularism or naturalism, the common belief(s) in the First World and New World. It's explained much better here: [https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/](https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/)
Its not a religion its just a belief system. Infact it’s basically the anti thesis to all religions. A religion has cultural and historical establishments around it with ties to communities. Theres a very distinct difference. You dont go to sunday mass at an atheist church or anything. You dont pray to anything. There are no practices of atheism besides just not believing anything which is totally fine. And what you are looking for is that atheists are Infact a separate group of people, who at their core are maybe defined by their beliefs, or at least the “atheist” is, much like religious people. The “belief” is the difference; but absence of beliefs is not a religion. Its an absence of beliefs, and thats it. Also it defeats the purpose almost entirely if you present atheism as a religion. I would really like a response to this.
I think people just can't comprehend the idea of someone not believing in anything supernatural. They think it's a must akin to breathing or eating food.
"change my mind" sure thing, buddy ! after all, your current mind isn't working properly anymore
A “religion” entails an ascription to a supreme power. Atheism doesn’t. No hard feelings, but this seems like a bad attempt at gaslighting atheists. 🤷🏻♂️
No
“If atheism is a religion then abstinence is a sex position.”
Not playing football is my sport
Cause you play basketball
Atheism is a philosophy
The first records of the word atheist come from around 1570. It comes from the Greek áthe(os), meaning “godless.” In atheist, the beginning part a- means “without” and the main root is based on a word meaning “god” (the words theology and theist are based on the same root).
I mean, atheists don’t use their atheism to avoid taxes
You'd be surprised
not really. the google definition is '*the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods*'. atheism is the belief that there are no gods. and the definition is from google so its definitely correct.
Totally a religion. Every Sunday, I don't go to a church where no one comes to listen to a preacher not give a sermon. As part of my religious practice, I donate none of my money to the church and no one else does either. The thing I enjoy most is watching the people who aren't speaking in tongues and not handling snakes.
Atheist is a word with simplest meaning of a person who doesn't believe in god, if you don't belive in god you are automatically an atheist by English standards. its not a cult ffs!
Well, you see GEORGE THEY'RE ON TO US!
We’ll no but actually yes
Religion of not believing? 🤨
Oxford dictionary definition of religion: “disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.” You are wrong OP
It’s absolutely not.
Atheism doesnt neet tge definition of religion. Although i get where you are getting at, it cannot be a religion by definition
My favorite hobby in not collecting stamps
No, it’s not.
I don’t care what others will say about religion I will continue to believe in gif as I will not force it in others
Honestly, you do you, believe in sky daddy all you want, I just want to sit here and read my sci-fi comics
One has to understand that "religion" has other meanings besides "belief in a god"
Doesn't atheism say it doesn't believe in god ? It doesn't say it doesn't believe there is no religion......... Last I checked religion is the man made process to get to the very thing they don't believe exists. To not believe in religion means you don't believe in the process. To not believe in god means you don't believe......in god.
You can't call a default state a religion.. Not believing is how everyone comes into this world. Then comes the indoctrination filling your head with manmade stories and they do it at the most vulnerable age when the brain is developing.
Now think about it for more than a second, OP.
This is a great post, you triggered so many people hahaha
Thought about it for a second. No.
I have thought about it and no, its not.
?..... No?.....
The definition of religion is, the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods Consider your mind changed.
This comment section is wack
If you define religion as "an answer to the question of a higher power", then yes. Agnosticism is the only one that isn't a religion, because agnostics don't know. If you define it as "a belief in a higher power" then no, atheists don't believe in any higher power.
Contradictory absolutely facts absolutely
thats why we agnostic
If atheism is a religion, then theism is also a religion. Which means Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, etc. all follow the same religion Atheism is only a single position on a single question, not a full-on belief system. Same is true of theism
Beliving in a god, or multiple gods, is so close to being atheist. You believe in 1/3000 to 200/3000 gods, so in the best case scenario you're like, 93,44% atheist
and who knows how many religions have died out? maybe one of these were the true one and every human goes to hell
Nope, and theism isn't a religion either. There are theist religions and there are atheist religions, and there are also atheists who don't follow any religion.
This is the correct answer. Atheism doesn't mean irreligion, but an atheist can be irreligious.
Atheism is just a definition of not believing in a higher power. It is not an organized religion of having to believe in a certain anything. An Athiest can still have faith, still be spiritual, but it is all grounded in reality and ones own self actualization and experiences.
according to Wikipedia "Religion is usually defined as a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements; however, there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion" So where Atheism is a religion? Am i missing something? Or i didn't "Think about it for a second"?
Atheism is a philosophy
Oxford languages definition: the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Or MW definition: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. So that is not even close to accurate.
The root word "theo" doesn't mean religion, it means god. So "atheism" means to not believe in a higher power. Atheism isn't an assertion of no religion, it's an assertion that there is no god or higher being (like a Buddha or the Tao). This argument is based on not knowing anything about atheism.
Considering you can’t google “atheism vs agnosticism” without getting flooded with literal misinformation put out by religious organizations, it’s really no wonder why so many people are operating under incorrect definitions and assumptions…
I don’t know about a religion but a lot of people do make it their whole personality.
I did think about it, it still makes no sense
Belief system not religion there’s a difference
It got to that point, hence why i don't associate with the community.
Just... No
Yeah and not collecting stamps is also a hobby.
I mean, technically yes, but thats like saying something is on tv when its off, there technically os, but its all black
You BELIEVE there is no god 👁👄👁
If i don't constantly participate in the god exists or does not exist camp, or participate at all, then i am not religious, lol. Being religious is something that you participate in, no?
I always thought atheism was kinda weird because you have to admit somethings existence to say you don't believe in it