Grok, is atheism a religion?

AProudLefty said:
A "practicing atheist" is not a universally recognized term, but it generally refers to an atheist who actively engages in ways that are considered "practicing" in a religious context, such as participating in secular activities and communities that share their values. Unlike the idea of "practicing" religion, which involves specific rituals and beliefs, atheism is often characterized by a lack of belief in deities.

Here's a more detailed look:
    • Definition of Atheism:
      Atheism is the absence of belief in the existence of gods or deities.
    • "Practicing" Atheism:
      Some atheists may choose to engage in activities that reinforce their atheistic beliefs, such as attending atheist events, participating in discussions about secular issues, or supporting organizations that advocate for atheistic perspectives.
    • Examples of Atheist Practices:
      This can include things like celebrating secular holidays, engaging in secular rituals like humanist weddings, or participating in discussions about the lack of evidence for supernatural claims.
    • Secularism:
      Many atheists also embrace secularism, which is the separation of religious institutions from governance and the belief that secular principles should guide society.
    • Diversity of Atheist Beliefs:
      It's important to note that atheism isn't a monolithic belief system, and atheists may hold a variety of views on ethics, morality, and the meaning of life.
    • Contrast with "Practicing" Religion:
      In contrast to religious practices, which often involve rituals, beliefs, and adherence to specific doctrines, atheism is primarily defined by the absence of belief in deities and may involve engaging in secular activities and promoting secular values.
    • Not Universally Recognized:
      The term "practicing atheist" is not used consistently, and some may prefer to simply describe themselves as atheists who engage in various secular activities.
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All of that is a workaround to the FACT that Atheism is a religious belief there is no god or gods, no higher deity. I covered this earlier. Atheists are often loathe to accept the dichotomy of their religious beliefs.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
All of that is a workaround to the FACT that Atheism is a religious belief there is no god or gods, no higher deity. I covered this earlier. Atheists are often loathe to accept the dichotomy of their religious beliefs.
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Again, what do they worship? Religion means belief in God and worship.
 
Cypress said:
I didn't say they believe in gods.

I said they have faith.

To be atheist is a belief system. It's more than just not going to church and disbelieving a god.

Atheists have to believe in scientific materialism as a foundation, and to be certain that nothing is real but matter and energy. That requires a certain amount of faith
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Atheists claim they are non-believers.

That is incorrect.

They either believe there are no gods...or they believe it is more likely there are no gods than that there is at least one god. Both those "beliefs"...like the "beliefs" of theists or religionists...are merely blind guesses.

One of those guesses is correct, because either there are no gods or there is at least one god.

Wonder which it is?
 
Cypress said:
I don't think atheism is a religion strictly speaking, but it is a belief system.

It takes a certain amount of faith to be certain that nothing exists but physical matter and energy, and that nothing is real beyond physical materialism.
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Agreed on belief system. They believe something without supporting facts.
AProudLefty said:
Atheism simply is a lack of belief in a deity.
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Simply, yes, but the deeper discussion is, like the Buddhists atheists claim to be fellow atheists, there are atheists who believe in an afterlife be it on another plane of existence or reincarnation. Again, that's a belief without supporting facts.

I'm not a religious person meaning dogmatic beliefs, but I do believe in an existence beyond the mortal. I also believe there is an intelligence at work behind existence. The name "God" is simply a placeholder for that intelligence.
 
AProudLefty said:
No, atheism is not a religion. It’s the absence of belief in gods, lacking the organized structure, rituals, or dogma typical of religions. Some argue it can function like a religion when it becomes dogmatic or community-driven, but that’s a stretch—atheism itself is just a stance on one question, not a belief system.
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I wonder why the question even needs to be asked. It's a big "duh." lol
 
Cypress said:
I don't think you'd necessarily call it a religion, but an atheist by definition has to believe in a philosophy of scientific materialism and that nothing non-physical can exist.
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Not necessarily. As Mr. Owl has said when the topics of faith, souls, afterlife, etc. come up "There's no evidence for that." Other than that, he gives the subject no thought because it's not on his radar. He knows my spiritual beliefs and is content to live and let live, and has never told me I'm wrong or "nuts" or anything derogatory. Every other atheist I know -- including several family members -- are the same.
 
Cypress said:
I don't think atheism is a religion strictly speaking, but it is a belief system.

It takes a certain amount of faith to be certain that nothing exists but physical matter and energy, and that nothing is real beyond physical materialism.
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Hmm. So when we drive across a bridge, most of us believe that it's perfectly safe. Is our faith in the engineers and construction workers who put it there a religion? Why or why not?
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
I wonder why the question even needs to be asked. It's a big "duh." lol
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Some atheists treat their beliefs like a religion. E.g. https://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/about-atheism/

Grok - what is a religion?

A religion is a system of beliefs, practices, and values centered around questions of existence, purpose, and the nature of reality, often involving a higher power or divine being(s). It typically includes rituals, moral codes, and a community of adherents, providing a framework for understanding life and death, and often guiding behavior and spirituality. Examples include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Hmm. So when we drive across a bridge, most of us believe that it's perfectly safe. Is our faith in the engineers and construction workers who put it there a religion? Why or why not?
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No since the structure of the bridge is backed by physics and natural law. I'm not an engineer, but have faith that engineers know what they are doing just like airline passengers have faith the pilots know what they are doing.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Wouldn't that be more of a philosophy then?
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No since they believe in an existence beyond the mortal.

A pure atheist believes "when you're dead, you're dead". There is nothing beyond the mortal and the physical universe. They have no answers for whence the Universe came into being. They don't ask uncomfortable questions. LOL
 
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