Atheists are often asked one (or both) of the following:
As an answer to (1), see here, and here.
As an example of (2), see here and here.
As an answer to (2), see here and here.
1) Why do you care about religion so much, if you don't believe? [this usually in response to the effort of the non-believer to point out flaws in religion]As an example of question (1), see here.
2) Isn't atheism itself a religion?
As an answer to (1), see here, and here.
As an example of (2), see here and here.
As an answer to (2), see here and here.
One of the larger questions concerning (2) is the issue of legal protections conferred by the 1st Amendment. If atheists can be "protected" by the 1A, then people immediately consider atheism itself a religion -- but it is not. Instead, it is a position concerning religious beliefs. And it is for that reason alone that the 1A provides protection for atheists generally: because of the requisite protection of freedom of speech and expression, even and especially where they concern religious beliefs.
But, when people hold to claim (2), they typically define it as the first example did above:
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Technorati tags: Religion
D1: 1b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance (Merriam-Webster)The definition issue is "how do we define a religion?" If that definition includes any concept of the divine, or supernaturalism, then we immediately dismiss (2) as a viable question. Traditionally, the element of the supernatural is what separates religion from "all other beliefs". And this is why atheism is not a religion. Unless, that is, you consider it logical to say that not collecting stamps is a hobby... (Randi)
But, when people hold to claim (2), they typically define it as the first example did above:
D2: A person's religion is the sum total of his beliefs about God and the supernatural.Of course, in this sense (D2), atheism is a religion, but is religion just a total of beliefs, or does it not specifically require a belief in particular things, and/or practices that reinforce said belief (eg prayer, worship, Scripture reading, meditation, etc.)? Generally the courts hold to the loose definition given here (D2) in order to protect people's beliefs, but hold to the stricter definition (D1) when actually dealing with sorting out religious sponsorship in government -- obviously, we can't separate beliefs from our government's activity and legislation, but we can separate specific religious beliefs. Courts err on the side of liberty in protecting the citizens in both respects.
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Technorati tags: Religion
