I need definition help!! (morals, reject, hell, atheist, worship)

[zenzero]

Freind Shell-Shocked,
Frankly agree that there is no-god same time agree with those that god exists. Both are correct from there own point of view as both are defined by the logic that comes from the mind.
Mind matter are irrelevant.
Self realisation is important than winning debates.
Self can be realised only when the mind is dropped.
Both atheist / non athesits can never proove anything which is TRUTH.
The only way is to live truth. Then others will know it of its own accord.
Love & rgds

[Shell-Shocked]

[quote=fantôme profane;1068260]Did you actually go to dictionary.com yourself and look up the definition of religion? [/quote]

Yep I did. An I used those words exactly to disprove that the definition implies atheism is religion. Because as we all know, atheists don't necessarily share the same belief system or ideals. The only one they can all agree on is there is no god.

And Zenzero... I honestly am not sure what you're talking about. I don't know if you're trying to be profound or trying to give me a life lesson or what. But if it's important to you... well, ok then.

[ChristineES]

Being a diplomat, I would agree to disagree. You won't be able to convince that person and it doesn't look like you will be convinced, either.

[rojse]

I came up with an excellent analogy for atheism against theism. Ask them "is wearing nothing a new type of clothing?"

[Shell-Shocked]

Originally Posted by rojse

I came up with an excellent analogy for atheism against theism. Ask them "is wearing nothing a new type of clothing?"

That's pretty clever. I'll use that. Although the correct response to that would be "The Emperor's new clothing made him appear nude to all those who could not see the Truth!"

[zenzero]

friend Shell-shocked,

And Zenzero... I honestly am not sure what you're talking about. I don't know if you're trying to be profound or trying to give me a life lesson or what. But if it's important to you... well, ok then.

Yes, what is talked about is something which few understood or understand.
Nothing is more important; whether god exists or not, makes no difference. there is no reason to convince anyone about it. Whcihever way one looks at it the SELF itself is the proof of it.
Love & rgds

[rojse]

Originally Posted by Shell-Shocked

That's pretty clever. I'll use that. Although the correct response to that would be "The Emperor's new clothing made him appear nude to all those who could not see the Truth!"

Tell them if you are Emperor, you can order them about like chattels.

[Bouncing Ball]

Originally Posted by zenzero

Freind Shell-Shocked,
...
Both atheist / non athesits .....

Hmmm...Non-atheist, the better word for theist

[rojse]

Originally Posted by Bouncing Ball

That should nearly be a smiley.

[Orontes]

Originally Posted by Shell-Shocked

I'm having a debate with someone in another forum who keeps trying to tell me atheism is a religion. I know it is not! They posted the definition of "religion" (from dictionary.com) and said that atheists share a common belief, so therefore that makes it a religion. I said atheists share a common disbelief, and therfore it isn't a religion! You can't make a religion out of not believing something. I went even further to give them a definition of atheism (via dictionary.com) and told them that every definition of religion says something about how a religion "usually has a set of morals/ethics often agreed upon by a sect or group". Atheists don't have a common moral ground. In fact, the only thing they do have in common is not believing in god!

They replied "usually... not always."

That's it? How lame! I gave three valid reasons and they toss me one lame one?? So I argued again that every definition of religion says it has a moral standard, and atheism does not. So how can it be religion? It seems to me that they are just incapable of accepting the idea that someone does not have a religion, so they need to make it one.

Can anyone help me out here?? Find me a definition/explaination that might settle that no, atheism is not a religion no matter how bad this person seems to want it to be?

Hello,

I think the fellow you are arguing with is confused. I also think its a mistake to reference dictionaries when considering the meaning of concepts. Dictionary definitions rarely provide the necessary precision. Even so, the definition put forward by your 'friend' from Dictionary.com doesn't allow one to qualify atheism as a religion. You will note that the various definitions put forward are plural: "set of beliefs", "specific fundamental set of beliefs" etc. Atheism is not a set of beliefs, but a singular stance (like its opposite theism) regarding a metaphysical absolute: whether one asserts or rejects the existence of such an absolute, it remains a singular position and singular positions are not in and of themselves a religion any more than asserting 'Paris exists' or 'Santa Claus exists' would be. In the simplest logical terms, atheism is the posit -X. Neither -X or X alone can qualify as a religion. Such may be a premise or a conclusion, but never a set of beliefs. Thus, the definition the fellow put forward excludes atheism.