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Why isn't atheism a religion?

Best Answers

While there are some religions that are atheistic (certain sects of Buddhism, for example), that does not mean that atheism is a religion. To put it in a more humorous way: If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby. Despite the fact that ... Agnostic isn't just a “weaker” version of being an atheist. read more

Since the claim that atheism is a religion is based on a misunderstanding of one or both concepts, it must proceed from flawed premises. This isn't just a problem for atheists; given the importance of religion in society, misrepresenting atheism as a religion can undermine people's ability to understand religion itself. read more

Speaking from personal experience, it seems to me that the 'Atheism is a religion, too' argument is used to indeed show that Atheists do the same, but only call it differently. To me as an Atheist it felt almost like a way for the other person to avoid asking why I was an Atheist. read more

However, atheism is most certainly not a religion, for a far more obvious reason; theism isn't a religion either. Both atheism and theism are broad philosophical positions, they have no particular beliefs of any kind beyond this which might qualify them legitimately as religions. read more

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