Part of the debate on this site is over whether or not atheism or evolution is a religion. Well, it isn’t and it is. How’s that for clarity! But it is true because it all depends on how the word is used. As you will note below in the definition of “religion” found on a website, there are four definitions of the word. #3 is archaic, meaning it generally is no longer used in that context. #1 is the most widely used meaning of the word. Atheists take umbrage with being called a religion because it is definition #1 that they have in their mind. That’s quite normal since this is THE MOST COMMON definition. Those who are using that word to say atheism is a religion are actually using either definition #2 or #4.
Atheism is surely a belief. I personally believe that there is no god or creator. I used to believe very sincerely. I today see no proof of the existence of god as attempted by the organized religions. To me they do not hold up. Evolution is a theory, it does have facts to support much of the theory, and more is yet to be learned as science proceeds over millennia. To me neither atheism nor evolution are religions in the normal context of definition #1. I do not rule out the possibility that science may some day prove that there was a creator. It may more likely, to me, prove that there is a “creative force”. The current definition of god or a creator in almost all religions is a man-made concoction to make this god fit our human understanding and so has been defined in human and personal terms. This is done as a claim without and evidence of proof. For example, to use the Bible or Qur’an (or any similar document) as “the word of god” “or the word of allah” is to beg the question. It assumes that there was a god to have issued those words, when the existence of this god is still in question. It is a logic error.
Please note at the very bottom of the definition (below) the antonym (the opposite) of the word religion is “atheism”. With an open mind, I continue my journey in seeking the truth. If some others want to believe blindly in what they have been told or taught without doing their own personal study and investigation, then knock yourselves out. May “The Force” be with you.
re•li•gion
noun \ri-ˈli-jən\
Definition of RELIGION
1
a : the state of a religious 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
3
archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4
: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
— re•li•gion•less adjective
Examples of RELIGION
Many people turn to religion for comfort in a time of crisis.
There are many religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.
Shinto is a religion that is unique to Japan.
Hockey is a religion in Canada.
Politics are a religion to him.
Where I live, high school football is religion.
Food is religion in this house.
Origin of RELIGION
Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to RELIGION
Synonyms: credo, creed, cult, faith, persuasion
Antonyms: atheism, godlessness
To: Sardonnic Penguin
Dutchboy1 has a baseless argument. Yes, both Hitler and Stalin were probably atheists at the time of their atrocities. But they were not fighting over whose religion was best, they were tyrants who had a political philosophy and a racial philosophy that they wanted to force on the world. They were also power hungry. They did not, in fact, kill in the name of any god. Dutchboy’s use of these 2 men to show that atheists also kill is way off point.
Your facts were incorrect. I have never read anywhere that Hitler was at any time especially devout, but he was at one time a Catholic. That part is true. But it wasn’t his religion or lack of religion that made him misbehave as a human. Secondly, Stalin was never a priest of any religion. He did study in a seminary, but was expelled and did not finish. So he was never a priest. He later read the “philosophy” of Lenin and decided to rebel against the state as a Marxist. It is not clear at all that either man’s religious background/upbringing had any significant influence on their behavior as heads of state.
Part of the debate on this site is over whether or not atheism or evolution is a religion. Well, it isn’t and it is. How’s that for clarity! But it is true because it all depends on how the word is used. As you will note below in the definition of “religion” found on a website, there are four definitions of the word. #3 is archaic, meaning it generally is no longer used in that context. #1 is the most widely used meaning of the word. Atheists take umbrage with being called a religion because it is definition #1 that they have in their mind. That’s quite normal since this is THE MOST COMMON definition. Those who are using that word to say atheism is a religion are actually using either definition #2 or #4. Atheism is surely a belief. I personally believe that there is no god or creator. I used to believe very sincerely. I today see no proof of the existence of god as attempted by the organized religions. To me they do not hold up. Evolution is a theory, it does have facts to support much of the theory, and more is yet to be learned as science proceeds over millennia. To me neither atheism nor evolution are religions in the normal context of definition #1. I do not rule out the possibility that science may some day prove that there was a creator. It may more likely, to me, prove that there is a “creative force”. The current definition of god or a creator in almost all religions is a man-made concoction to make this god fit our human understanding and so has been defined in human and personal terms. This is done as a claim without and evidence of proof. For example, to use the Bible or Qur’an (or any similar document) as “the word of god” “or the word of allah” is to beg the question. It assumes that there was a god to have issued those words, when the existence of this god is still in question. It is a logic error. Please note at the very bottom of the definition (below) the antonym (the opposite) of the word religion is “atheism”. With an open mind, I continue my journey in seeking the truth. If some others want to believe blindly in what they have been told or taught without doing their own personal study and investigation, then knock yourselves out. May “The Force” be with you.
re•li•gion noun \ri-ˈli-jən\ Definition of RELIGION 1 a : the state of a religious 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 3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness 4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith — re•li•gion•less adjective Examples of RELIGION
Many people turn to religion for comfort in a time of crisis. There are many religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Shinto is a religion that is unique to Japan. Hockey is a religion in Canada. Politics are a religion to him. Where I live, high school football is religion. Food is religion in this house. Origin of RELIGION Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely First Known Use: 13th century Related to RELIGION Synonyms: credo, creed, cult, faith, persuasion Antonyms: atheism, godlessness