Is Atheism a Religion? NO. Atheism is not a religion. The notion of Atheism as a Religion is nonsense.
Using the definition of Religion as an argument to justify the premise that Atheism is a Religion shows a lack of accuracy resulting from undiligent observance (Sorry, please take this note as a constructive opinion).
Why? Let's look at the definitions and the facts.
Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to faith as well as to the larger shared systems of belief. In the larger sense, religion is a communal system for the coherence of belieftypically focused on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion can also be described as a way of life. 1
Religion also defined as: 2
- the service and worship of God or the supernatural, or
- commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance, or
- a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices, or
- CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, or
- a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.
As a summary, to be called RELIGION, something MUST HAVE, but not limited to only have:
- the Object: God(s) / ultimate supernatural beings,
- faith, commitment, devotion,
- rituals,
- codes to live the life,
Now, what is Atheism? It is simply disbelief in the existence of any deities. 3
(as far as I know) Atheism does not have any characteristic of Religion as mentioned above. Moreover, it is definitely and absolutely true, that Atheism does not have any Object. Atheism does not have any God(s).
So, How can Atheism be categorized as a Religion?
Entering the Buddhism. Yes, Buddhism is a religion.
Why? It is because Buddhism have all the Religion characteristics. Buddhism acknowledges Gods and Goddesses. Buddhism requires faith, commitment, and devotion Buddhism has rituals. Buddhism has codes as their own way of life. For significant instance: the Karma principles, that discourage bad deeds and encourage good deeds.
Entering the Satanism. Is it a religion? It is not recognized by people as religion.
Why? It is because of its antagonistic characteristic, not because it lacks of the Religion characteristics.
Objectively, yes, it has all the Religion characteristics. That is why, Atheism cannot be taken equally as Satanism, in regarding it as a Religion.
So what do you think?
____________
References:
1"Religion." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Jan. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
2"Religion." Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. 25 Jan. 2007. http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/netdict?Religion
3"Atheism." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Jan. 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism#_note-0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism#_note-0
