CreateDebate


Debate Info

31
57
atheism is a religion atheists are in denial
Debate Score:88
Arguments:72
Total Votes:94
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph
 
 atheism is a religion (27)
 
 atheists are in denial (38)

Debate Creator

Thewayitis(4071) pic



If atheism isn't a religion, then why do they religiously claim to have no religion?

RELIGION

4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

 

atheism is a religion

Side Score: 31
VS.

atheists are in denial

Side Score: 57
1 point

the religion of no religion ... << they cannot escape belief

Side: atheism is a religion
1 point

The true definition of

"Religion" is: 'people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life.' An atheist's opinion is the that there is no God. They have their own notions concerning these points as do all religions. Some have one god, some have multiple. Some believe their god/gods and good and some bad. Please look at these points and ask yourself, 'Is atheism a religion?'

Side: atheism is a religion
1 point

blind belief is the death of intelligence.

atheists believe that there is no god, but religion has a much bigger meaning than existence of god itself. religions were created by men himself to define a set of principles and ethics for the benefit of the humans. god has no religion.

a religion of no god can exist.

Side: atheism is a religion

So either we must surrender to be a religion or we are in denial? Stupid sides!

If atheism is a relgion, then it is impossible to be religionless.

If it is impossible to not be religious, then religion has lost it's meaning.

Religion isn't fascinating, interesting or anything if every single person is religious.

I find it odd that religious people desperately want atheism to be a religion. Because that would devalue, and make them totally indifferent from everyone. The sentence '' I am a religious person'' would have as much meaning as saying '' I have a face''

I don't get why you would literally want to make religion meaningless and indifferent.

Maybe atheism is a religon - personally I don't care what you call it. You say we ''religiously claim to have no religion''. Why do you think we do that? Maybe because religious people religiously claim that we do. I have no religion, is an answer when you claim I have - not a reminder.

Side: atheists are in denial
2 points

Love this. Very well put Shout, couldnt have said it better myself.

Side: atheists are in denial
dadman(1703) Disputed
1 point

whatever you "believe" man .......... lol .....................................................................................................................................................

Side: atheism is a religion
shoutoutloud(4303) Clarified
1 point

Congratulations! You just made the worst joke ever recorded !

Side: atheism is a religion
3 points

Also, Atheism is not a cause, principle, or system of beliefs unless we want to expand religion to include every thought that goes through someones head.

Side: atheists are in denial
Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
1 point

The definition of religion doesn't included every thought that goes through somebody's head, just the ones in which someone fights for or against. Like does God exists? If neither God friendly or God unfriendly people didn't go to such lengths to defend their position, then neither side would be of a religious nature. Debating or attacking somebody's beliefs, does make it of a religious nature by definition.

Side: atheism is a religion
2 points

I don't see where having your beliefs attacked has anything to do with making those beliefs religious. There are many beliefs that get attacked and aren't religious. I also don't see where strongly fighting for your beliefs has anything to do with it being a religion. There are many beliefs that are strongly fought that aren't religious. So, I don't see how a belief against religion can be religious.

Side: atheists are in denial

Neither side is technically correct, and the definition provided is too open ended.

A persons position on the topic of gun control would fall under 'religion' if this definition is used.

-It is a cause or principle

-Proponents of and opponents of gun control tend to hold their position with significant ardor.

-Faith is involved in both positions.

If you want to demonstrate that atheism is a religion, you need to start from a definition that is applicable to religions, and not applicable to non-religions. The definition provided in the debate subject is more true of philosophy than it is of religion, and even then it's not exact.

Side: atheists are in denial
Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
1 point

Proponents of and opponents of gun control tend to hold their position with significant ardor.

Yes they do, and this is a perfect example of a religious organization. Just try to take away one of their guns and You'll find out how devoted they are.

Side: atheism is a religion
2 points

I think everyone here (except yourself, possibly) can agree- by your very statement here- that your definition of religion is too broad and diluted for serious consideration. Thank you for confirming and proving my point.

Side: atheists are in denial
3 points

Atheism, in technical terms, is simply the lack of belief, and/or faith, in a supreme order. One who continuously claims this is not following a religious model, but merely repeating the definition to those who try to twist it into ways it shouldn't be perceived as (such as yourself...no offense).

Side: atheists are in denial
2 points

with ardor and faith

Faith is not involved, definition doesn't apply.

Side: atheists are in denial
Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
1 point

Faith

: strong belief or trust in someone or something

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith

Do you have a strong belief that your response is correct? That is faith.

Side: atheism is a religion
Cartman(18192) Disputed
1 point

I don't have a strong belief or trust that I have no religion. The definition doesn't fit for Atheism. That's all.

Side: atheists are in denial
1 point

I find it quite interesting that ever since you attacked me for being literal all of your arguments have been dictionary definitions.

Side: atheists are in denial
Stickers(1037) Disputed
1 point

Do you have a strong belief that your response is correct? That is faith.

Atheism is a lack of the response that a god exists. It is not a claim that god doesn't exist.

Side: atheists are in denial
2 points

Nice one sided debate, again. I almost started to say that I'm glad nothing has changed... but that'd be exactly what I'm not. To do something "religiously" does not make one religious.

Side: atheists are in denial
2 points

Maybe because a few atheists do not speak for all :P

Side: atheists are in denial
2 points

Doing something religiously doesnt make it a religion you jibbering twat .

Side: atheists are in denial
2 points

I think the ultimate conclusion of this debate will be the agreement on all sides, Atheists and Theists alike, that everyone, no matter how "intelligent" they claim to be, have faith in something or someone. Whether or not you call this faith "religion" or not, it doesn't matter. Everything that we know (or claim to know), we receive by faith in one form or another. The fact of the matter is that faith is only as good (or credible) as the object it is directed towards.

So to answer your question, Atheists claim to have no religion because they define "religion" as a belief system based upon a divine entity of one kind or another. Since they define it that way, then they can claim to be non-religious because they do not believe in a divine entity of any kind.

However, if you define "religion" as a system of beliefs held to with faith, then everyone in the world would be "religious," because everyone holds to something with faith.

Now a better way to state your argument might be "How can Atheists claim to have no religion, when they follow a set of principles and a system of belief that so closely imitate (if not exactly match) religion?"

Personally I believe in science and Theism, and I've seen that Atheists are very typical in the way that no matter how many scientific laws or principles they discard, they continue to irrationally believe fallible and non-scientific principles, very much in the same way that they claim "religious people" do, and so in this way they are in denial.

Side: atheists are in denial
1 point

I used to have this idea, that it was but my thinking was flawed. I have sense amended my thoughts.

Before I try to explain, let me ask you who say "yes it is a religion this". Are you born with a religion? If you never know of Christianity are you still in a religion of disbelieving God?

Now here's my take on modern atheism, and atheists. Militant atheism is the closest thing you can have to a religion as far as atheism is concerned, but even that falls short.

Atheism is not a religion, it is a stance. It's a view point. If one dis believes, or does not believe a God exists they are an atheist. Apatheists, who don't believe because they are apathetic to the idea of God are atheists. Buddhists, who don't believe because they believe we are reborn until we reach nirvana are atheists. Children, babies to be precise, fresh out of the womb who don't believe (or tribes hidden deep with in the forests of where ever you'd like) because they've never even heard of him, are atheists. These people don't qualify for a religion just because they collectively don't believe.

Side: atheists are in denial
1 point

Faith is: strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.

Side: atheists are in denial
dadman(1703) Disputed
2 points

oh okay ... you mean like atheism ... lol ................................................................................................................................

Side: atheism is a religion
Atrag(5666) Disputed
1 point

No. There is no doctrine to atheism.

Side: atheists are in denial

Religion is simply the lack of belief that God doesn't exist. So why is atheism not a religion as well? Atheism is a lack of a belief that God exists. Maybe the answer to this is that atheists have more faith in their belief than others do.

Side: atheists are in denial
knowthyself(35) Disputed
2 points

Saying "Atheism is a religion". is like saying "Not collecting stamps is a hobby". Or perhaps, "Bald is a hair color".

Side: atheism is a religion
Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
1 point

For once on this site I'd like to read a response that wasn't Googled. What are your thoughts, not somebody else's.

What you do when you are not collecting stamps if repeated has become your hobby.

What color is a bald guy's hair, if not bald. Since you do not known what color is hair is; How do you describe the guy's hair? As being bald.

Side: atheists are in denial

This debate is the same as asking, "Do you enjoy having sex with your dog?"

In which a reply of either yes or no supports the poster's bias opinion.

Side: atheists are in denial