Atheism and Agnosticism - Religions?

According to the dictionary, an atheist is "a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings", while an agnostic is "a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience".

According to the dictionary religion is
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

It seems to me that Atheists and Agnostics are people who hold "A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe" and thus Atheism and Agnosticism qualify as religions.

 

was you born stupid or do you have to work on it?

i'm atheist i don't believe in Santa, the tooth fairy, the easter bunny (my rabbit rules) or any other thing thats from a fantasy or some book full of crap

 

I reject the premise of the question.

That's not at issue here. The question is whether you hold a belief regarding the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe that includes "There is no god". If you hold a belief regarding the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, then, by the dictionary definition provided above, you have a religion.

 

i think it means you have to have all 3 of them points.

i personally think we are on a rock floating in space,. and have about 80 years to enjoy the ride.

now if you can make that into a religion, you're a crackpot.

(take me to your leader)
so i can kick his his nuts back into his head, where the brain should be.

 

Nature: we are on a rock floating in space
Purpose: [we] have about 80 years to enjoy the ride
Cause: Do you have a particular theory about how we got on the rock, and how the rock got here?

 

and why is it so important to you to make atheist a religion? that is just as offensive to me as it is me calling you stupid
idiot

 

I believe they are in their own way, nice thought!

 

Pia: It's not important for me to "make" anyone anything. I'm merely trying to discuss if Atheism and Agnosticism are religions or not. And I don't see why such a discussion would be offensive to you.

Thanks NashTax! Any particular reason you feel or think that way?

 

offensive because you are trying to link the word "religion" something i blame for 90% of the worlds problems, and that i have no understanding why anyone would kill in the name of god, why you have to use "fear" to force people to follow a religion, and why you are calling my stand and thoughts, on my non belief, "a religion"
thats what i find offensive, i dont know any atheist that has killed or started a war in the name of god.
but i know every religion has killed and started wars in the name of god.

so it's offensive to me how you are trying to link something to your crackpot "religions" (note the "s" i mean all of them) by claiming i'm a member of a religion.

 

Your conclusion is invalid. An athiest simply denies the existence of a deity. The word "atheism" literally means "without God."
A belief that a deity does not exist is not "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe."

 

I have never killed in the name of God. I have not used fear to convert someone to my religion. I am saying that, in my opinion, Atheism fits the dictionary definition of being a religion. You have a theory about the existence, or lack of existence of God.

Atheism holds that there was no god that created the universe (a theory about the origins of the universe), doesn't it?

 

If one denies the existence of deities, this is a theory about the creation and nature of the universe (there are no deities in the universe, and there were no deities which created it) is it not? Saying that any religion that involves god giving the universe a purpose is wrong because all religions saying that there is a deity are wrong... seems to also lead to Atheism involving a theory about the purpose of the universe as well, or at least of the source of that purpose not being a deity.

 

Are you suggesting that creationism is a theory?

 

Homosexual, a man that loves another man.
you love your father and brother?
you're homosexual.
now get ya gay ass outta here homo.

see how easy it is to twist what books say?

 

Pardon. I tried to shorten my sentence, and stumbled over my own words there "A set of beliefs about the origins of the universe" If you believe that there absolutely was no god involved in the creation of the universe, then isn't that part of "a set of beliefs about the origins of the universe"?

 

No, it's not. In this scenario, in order for a theory to be established, the atheist will have to provide an alternative scientific explanation regarding the creation of the universe.

 

ho·mo·sex·u·al (hō'mə-sěk'shōō-əl, -mō-) Pronunciation Key
adj. Of, relating to, or having a sexual orientation to persons of the same sex.

 

So a belief is only a belief if it is about something that is, rather than being about something that 'is not'?

So if I say "I believe that there is no way for me to touch my tongue to my nose" that is not a belief about the existence, or lack there of for me to touch my tongue to my nose?

 

be·lief

1. something believed; an opinion or conviction: a belief that the earth is flat.
2. confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof: a statement unworthy of belief.
3. confidence; faith; trust: a child's belief in his parents.
4. a religious tenet or tenets; religious creed or faith: the Christian belief.

be·lief
1. The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another: My belief in you is as strong as ever.
2. Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something: His explanation of what happened defies belief.
3. Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.

(Sorry about stacking my posts like that, but I'm heading out in just a couple of minutes)

 

the adjective homosexual is used for intimate relationships and/or sexual relations between people of the same sex, who may or may not identify themselves as gay or lesbian.
you have an intimate relationship with your male family members, therefore you fit the homosexual label.
we can all twist that shit around.