Should atheism have the same rights as religion?

[Evangelicalhumanist]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

No, of course not. But neither should religions receive any special benefits from government at the expense of taxpayers in general.

Believe what you want, but don't expect tax breaks for it. Churches take in money for the purposes that those churches decide, for their own reasons. Sometimes, I will agree, those reasons are charitable, and where that can be demonstrated, they deserve the same tax breaks as any other charitable cause, secular or religious, but it cannot be tied to the religion itself. (Nor, in the case of an atheist charity, which exist, should it be tied to "atheism.")

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I think all profits should be taxable with the exception of that which is donated to help those in need.

Good one, @metis, since donations that help those in need relieve pressure on tax dollars that the state would otherwise have to divert to those very needs.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I don’t think so, because atheism is not useful, it has no teaching, it only fights against Christianity and tries to stop people to believe in “love your neighbor as yourself”. By the actions of atheists, it seems to be very evil ideology. Why else it would try to lead people away from loving their neighbor and even enemies?

Excuse me, but I am an atheist, and I am also a champion of the idea of loving our neighbours. You don't appear to know anything at all about what atheism really is (it's not much, actually, just a lack of belief in gods).

And if I recall from history, when the Catholics were burning Protestants, and the Protestants were burning Catholics, usually, they were pretty close neighbours. And both the Catholics and the Protestants were burning atheists, too, while the atheists weren't burning anybody.

 

[InChrist]

Does it matter? They say they are Christians, it it not up to anyone else to dictate their religion just because their interpretation of their faith is different.

I agree, it is not right to dictate one's beliefs to others who are not interested. I do think it matters to determine whether one who is claiming to be a Christian actually is sincerely living a life led by Christ, just my perspective.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I don’t think so, because atheism is not useful, it has no teaching, it only fights against Christianity and tries to stop people to believe in “love your neighbor as yourself”. By the actions of atheists, it seems to be very evil ideology. Why else it would try to lead people away from loving their neighbor and even enemies?

So...we are supposed to believe your ideology is to love your neighbour, yet you spout this?
Check that plank, dude...

 

[Sky Rivers]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

I don’t think Atheism is a religion.

 

[Spirit of Light]

There are many views in atheism just as in what we call religion, and i dont see why they should not gain same economic rights as other paths.

 

[ChristineM]

I agree, it is not right to dictate one's beliefs to others who are not interested. I do think it matters to determine whether one who is claiming to be a Christian actually is sincerely living a life led by Christ, just my perspective.

Sorry, i had to laugh at the double standard you put forward there.

 

[SomeRandom]

I don’t think so, because atheism is not useful, it has no teaching, it only fights against Christianity and tries to stop people to believe in “love your neighbor as yourself”. By the actions of atheists, it seems to be very evil ideology. Why else it would try to lead people away from loving their neighbor and even enemies?

You mean like these Christians who, by their own words, are only displaying true love for their neighbor?

How about the pro life Christians who show pictures of dead babies (which are usually inaccurate depictions of actual abortions, I guess bearing false witness is somehow automatically forgivable in such scenarios?) or horrendous signs in front of abortion clinics, regardless of whether or not the woman is seeking medical advice for her pregnancy, may have been raped or just doesn't need that garbage when accessing actual professional advice? You can be pro life, doesn't mean you get to be a dick about it.
Some of the more heh "family friendly" signs.

I know not every Christian would agree with such displays. Probably not even the majority. But these things still happen because they are motivated by interpretations of certain self proclaimed Christians.

So of course that is going to inspire push back and snark from people fed up by this supposed show of "love." Because to many people, such demonstrations do not look like love.

 

[Vinayaka]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

I think, as far as the government goes, and charitable or tax deductions, it should either be all in, accepting almost everyone provided they do something or self declare, or all-out, with no special privileges for anyone. Both of these would be fair.

 

[Sky Rivers]

There are many views in atheism just as in what we call religion, and i dont see why they should not gain same economic rights as other paths.

Atheism has “denominations”?

 

[InChrist]

Sorry, i had to laugh at the double standard you put forward there.

I don't see a double standard, but maybe I misunderstood your previous post.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Atheism has “denominations”?

Not directly no, but when talking with atheists they tend to see things differently, even both call them self atheists they see truth differetly, just as a believers do see things differently even within same religion

 

[ChristineM]

I don't see a double standard, but maybe I misunderstood your previous post.

Your post read

I agree, it is not right to dictate one's beliefs to others who are not interested. I do think it matters to determine whether one who is claiming to be a Christian actually is sincerely living a life led by Christ, just my perspective.

So you appear to be saying that its its not right to impose your beliefs on others but you must check the beliefs of others come up to your standard

 

[InChrist]

Your post read


So you appear to be saying that its its not right to impose your beliefs on others but you must check the beliefs of others come up to your standard

I actually thought you were saying it is not right for a Christian to impose their beliefs on a non-believer and I agreed. I then was saying I think it is important for non-believers to determine whether someone claiming to be a Christian is really living a life which reflects Christ or is instead a Christian in name only.

 

[Skwim]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

In as much as atheism isn't a religion, it doesn't deserve any of the special rights, privileges or benefits that religions enjoy.
Of course, I also don't believe that religions don't deserve some of the special rights, privileges or benefits they've been given either.

.

 

[robocop (actually)]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

On the one hand everyone should have the right to believe whatever they want, but giving them tax exempt status just seems like you're giving them write-offs for doing nothing... maybe it's just me.

 

[Milton Platt]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

People who do not believe in a deity, or some religious dogma, should have equal rights. Why would you single out a group and restrict their rights because they don’t believe in your religious dogma?

I’m conflicted about the question of tax status. My preference would be that NO groups have privileged status with regard to paying taxes, whether atheist or religious. There is simply no reason for doing that.

 

[Sky Rivers]

Not directly no, but when talking with atheists they tend to see things differently, even both call them self atheists they see truth differetly, just as a believers do see things differently even within same religion

Merriam Webster defines "religion" as:

1a: the state of a religiousa nun in her 20th year of religion
b(1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural
(2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Merriam Webster defines "Atheism" as:

noun
athe·ism | \ ˈā-thē-ˌi-zəm \
Definition of atheism

1a: a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods
b: a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods
2archaic : godlessness especially in conduct : UNGODLINESS, WICKEDNESS

I'd like to know how Atheism qualifies as a religion, considering the above?

 

[whirlingmerc]

There have been a few "is atheism a religion?" threads recently. They've had a few people insisting that yes, atheism is a religion.

This raises a question that I've asked a few times without response:

Religions, religious ministers, religious adherents, etc., often have special rights, privileges, and benefits. If atheism is a religion, shouldn't atheist groups get the same special treatment that churches receive? Shouldn't individual atheists get the same treatment that religious individuals receive?

Do you agree that atheism should be protected by religious freedom laws?

If you think that churches should be tax-free without having to file financial statements, do you agree that atheist organizations should also have this privilege?

Should donations to atheist organizations get the same tax credits as donations to a church?

Should "atheist ministers" be entitled to the parsonage allowance that religious ministers receive?

Atheism is a religious world view but it's a bit semantical

Nowadays most atheists want to say it's not a religion