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Is it wrong to consider evangilical atheism a religion?

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Pozessed

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Some say yes, some say no. I'm curious of your individual opinions.
 
Seriously, I don't think that the term "wrong" has anything to do with it. It's making a moral issue out of label. And no, it's not a religion. Religion implies that one believes in something, whether it be a father-like being, earth fairies, a concept surrounding the issue of living, dying, and before/afterlife issues, plus a myriad of other belief systems. Rather than "evangelical", I'd be more inclined to call those who you are talking about, militant.
The atheists that I have known don't believe in anything. Psychologically, they have been influenced by Judeo-Christian culture, but their actual belief system doesn't include anything resembling life after death, inspiration by God, or other similar phenomena.
 
No, but it drives them bonkers, so yes.
 
Pozessed said:
Some say yes, some say no. I'm curious of your individual opinions.
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I assume you mean this type of atheism:

First Church of Atheism | Minister's Site


Atheist church spreads to Paris | World news | The Guardian

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-atheist-church-sunday-20140928-story.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/10/atheist-mega-churches/3489967/



For atheists who exhibit zeal in their belief, it is appropriate to consider their belief as a religion.
After all, they use the term "church" to describe their place of meeting.
Church is associated with religion.


Full Definition of CHURCH

1 a building for public and especially Christian worship

2 the clergy or officialdom of a religious body

3 often capitalized : a body or organization of religious


Their faith lies in their belief that there is no God.
 
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Strangely, I don't see any atheist groups using terms like Synagogues or Mosques.
They copy-cat the Christian Sunday worship, without God.
 
Atheism is not a religion. The New Atheists are a movement, but its not a religion.
 
spud_meister said:
Atheism is a philosophy.
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Pretty much this.

For a lot of more militant atheists, their views aren't just about lack of belief. They're basically an all encompassing worldview, which can abide by nothing less than the complete destruction of competing, theistic, ideas.

That might not be a "religion," per se. However, the movement certainly can be quite a bit more structured and organized that many people give it credit for.
 
tosca1 said:
Their faith lies in their belief that there is no God.
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That is ridiculous. Does it require faith not to believe in ghosts? Does it require faith not to believe in Santa Claus? Does it require faith to not believe there is a teapot in orbit around the Sun somewhere between Mars and Jupiter?

It requires faith to believe in something to which you cannot empirically show the existence of. In fact, faith by its very definition is the belief in something that does not require faith to reject.
 
Gathomas88 said:
Pretty much this.

For a lot of more militant atheists, their views aren't just about lack of belief. They're basically an all encompassing worldview, which can abide by nothing less than the complete destruction of competing, theistic, ideas.

That might not be a "religion," per se. However, the movement certainly can be quite a bit more structured and organized that many people give it credit for.
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I largely agree with this, but the organizing philosophy behind it is scientific naturalism.
 
There's a massive drive from the evangelistic theist quarter to drag atheists down to their level as if it diminishes atheism somehow. Not buying what they are selling isn't an organised worldview, it's just walking past the sideshow.
 
Pozessed said:
Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck.
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So then by that definition, every movement is a religion. For example, conservatism would be a religion. Liberalism would be a religion. Vegetarianism would be a religion. Barefoot running would be a religion.
 
Gathomas88 said:
True. Though it is worth noting that many people's devotion to that cause can reach extremes where it almost comes off as being a "faith" of sorts.
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Yes, I think some people are atheist for emotional reasons. They believe they were judged by religious people in the past or grew up in a very religious and legalistic family and are rebelling against it. These are the types of people that seem to think they can argue with someone that is deeply religious and somehow change their mind.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
That is ridiculous. Does it require faith not to believe in ghosts? Does it require faith not to believe in Santa Claus? Does it require faith to not believe there is a teapot in orbit around the Sun somewhere between Mars and Jupiter?
It requires faith to believe in something to which you cannot empirically show the existence of. In fact, faith by its very definition is the belief in something that does not require faith to reject.
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This is likely a candidate for the philosophical forum. I've had this discussion before at some length.
The controversy over the issue arises from those atheists who think amongst themselves that Believers in God don't seem to have a right to vote their faith on some issues.
These usually revolve around abortion, same sex marriage and the like. There would be little concern over the matter were it not for these atheists desire to disenfranchise voters of faith.
 
I've read about those awful Atheist Crusades
 
zyzygy said:
I've read about those awful Atheist Crusades
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Kindergarten just let out, I see. Did you also hear about the evangelical atheists in the 20th century who killed more people than smallpox?
 
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