Atheism as religion (rituals, moral, beliefs, atheist, moral)

[haphazard]

As I was browsing the net I came across this statement, "Atheism - Is this a philosophical belief or an actual religion?" - that i agree with it being a religion for the great majority of people.

And then this quote by Nietzsche came to mind

"I do not by any means know atheism as a result; even less as an event: It is a matter of course with me, from instinct." - Ecce homo


I was just interested in other peoples take on this situation

[Guitar's Cry]

I think it could be both.

As a philosophical belief, it represents the person's intellectual view of the world. As a religious belief, it could represent the person's morality, sense of self, views on death, and celebration-of-life rituals.

[GeneCosta]

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

As a religious belief, it could represent the person's morality, sense of self, views on death, and celebration-of-life rituals.

I have to disagree. By its very definition atheism is simply the lack of belief in god(s).

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

I have to disagree. By its very definition atheism is simply the lack of belief in god(s).

I agree. But not believing in god can still lead a person to certain ethics, rituals, etc., and could be termed "religion." While that expands the basic definition to include how individual atheists interpret life according to their disbelief in god, I still think it works with the spirit of the OP.

[standing_alone]

Atheism is not a religion. It's a lack of belief in god/gods.

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

As a religious belief, it could represent the person's morality, sense of self, views on death, and celebration-of-life rituals.

Atheism provides no common belief on morality, sense of self, death, nor have any rituals. Atheists determine their beliefs about those things on their own and there is nothing inherent in atheism that makes an atheist form certain views on anything outside of lack of belief in god/gods. Atheism is simply the disbelief in god/gods. Don't try making it into something it isn't.

[gnomon]

Originally Posted by haphazard

As I was browsing the net I came across this statement, "Atheism - Is this a philosophical belief or an actual religion?" - that i agree with it being a religion for the great majority of people.

And then this quote by Nietzsche came to mind

"I do not by any means know atheism as a result; even less as an event: It is a matter of course with me, from instinct." - Ecce homo


I was just interested in other peoples take on this situation

Don't run off now.

Atheism is not a religion. Nor is it a philosophy. Both, however, may incorporate atheism. I see no purpose in expanding a mental state regarding the existence of a specific object into more than what it means.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by haphazard

As I was browsing the net I came across this statement, "Atheism - Is this a philosophical belief or an actual religion?" - that i agree with it being a religion for the great majority of people.

The word religion comes from the Latin for "relationship"... it literally means a relationship with God. Since I would say that atheism is in no way true to the meaning of the word, I don't see how anyone could qualify it as a religion.

Peace in Christ,
Scott

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by gnomon

Atheism is not a religion. Nor is it a philosophy. Both, however, may incorporate atheism. I see no purpose in expanding a mental state regarding the existence of a specific object into more than what it means.

Yes, well said.