Poll: Is atheism a religion/ the first amendment

['Stache]

The question of whether or not atheism is a religion has been the subject of heated debate in recent religion threads, but has not yet been the topic of one.

If you feel that atheism is not a religion, discuss how it should be treated under the first amendment (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof).

Please try to keep the flame to a minimum.

 

[Antlers]

Flaming to a minimum?! Are you serious?

I may sit this one out.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

First off: Tell us your opinion.

No Atheism is not a religeon. I haven't though about the first amendment, since I live in England, and I'm 16, so I don't exactly care about it anyway.

 

[Johnn Johnston]

Atheism isn't a religion in the same way that being bald isn't a hairstyle.

However, it requires protection in that one should not be forced to hold religious beliefs, nor should it be repressed.

 

[eels05]

I'm not American so bear with me on this.
Dosen't your constitution say something about freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion.
If so then technically isn't it already covered?
Just asking here.I could have that completley wrong I realize.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

another atheism thread? /facepalm

dude,has all the creativity of the escapsit populas gone down the john?
I'm gonna go with:don't know,don't care for the topic question.

 

[Lyiat]

The American government considers atheism to be a religion, and thusly considers it protected by the first amendment. Argument over.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

Atheism isn't a religion in the same way that being bald isn't a hairstyle.

Or not collecting stamps isn't a hobby.

 

[Antlers]

Dammit. I find it absolutely impossible not to put my opinion in. Seriously, it's like a magnet. I need to work on that. But after this... After this I wash my hands of the issue.

I'll quote what I quoted before: "To say 'atheism is a type of religion' is as ridiculous a statement as 'christianity is a type of atheism''-Derren Brown.

How the First Ammendment could be relevant to atheism in any way utterly baffles me. 'OK we won't make this respecting the fact that atheists don't believe in god'. Um... It makes no sense. It's not a matter of whether or not it should apply. It's a matter of the plain and simple fact that it DOESN'T apply.

I'm not American, so am unfamiliar with your ammendments. All I know is what you wrote there.

Right. That's it. I swear. Unless someone says something really really annoying, I am not coming back...

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Atheism isn't a religion. it's more of a choice or mind-set.
screw it, my mind hurts just thinking of such things.
I'm Out of this one.

 

[Maze1125]

How exactly could atheism be repressed in such a way that didn't violate the first amendment, even without it being directly consider a religion?

 

[Xvito]

Atheism isn't a religion in the same way that being bald isn't a hairstyle.

Or not collecting stamps isn't a hobby.

I disagree. Not having any views on the matter would make you religion-less, but since Atheists have an opinion on the matter; I'd say that Atheism is as much of a religion as Theism.

 

[Littaly]

There was a thread about this before*. Atheism does not have to contradict religion. Atheism is the denial of god not religion in itself. There are atheistic religions, Theravada (I think) Buddhism for example.

As for denying religion. I wouldn't call that religion (even though religion is a word that is very hard to define), it's more of an opinion/choice in life.

*edit: to clarify, I do not mean to say that this subject has been discussed before, I'm referring to the definition of Atheism.

 

['Stache]

How exactly could atheism be repressed in such a way that didn't violate the first amendment, even without it being directly consider a religion?

The question isn't whether or not it could be repressed, but whether or not it could be given preferential treatment. For example, if it were decided that atheism is not a religion, then the US government could endorse atheist organizations (which would be illegal for, say, Christian or Muslim organizations).

 

[DragonLord_Z]

I'm an Atheist as well. Religion by definition is:

" A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

Almost not a religion then. However, I would assume the Thomas Jefferson would have made sure there was something in there about Atheism, considering he was, in fact, was an Atheist.

 

[Antlers]

If you're going to bother to discuss this, at least agree on a definition of religion. I propose this one (I like wikipedia):

A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendent quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power.

How on earth can that apply to atheism?

I'll add that I think religion involves some amount of faith, be it faith in a higher power or at least some form of spirituality. You're putting faith in something that can never be proven, faith that there is something else out there.

I don't have faith in thinking there isn't a god. There is absolutely no faith element in it.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

Atheism isn't a religion in the same way that being bald isn't a hairstyle.

Or not collecting stamps isn't a hobby.

I disagree. Not having any views on the matter would make you religion-less, but since Atheists have an opinion on the matter; I'd say that Atheism is as much of a religion as Theism.

Surely a religion isn't just a matter of having an opinion about god? I'd say for it to be a religion, it needs to involve a belief in a deity

 

['Stache]

I apologize to everyone who has directed a question to me personally; these posts are coming up faster than I can respond to them.