What's your reasons?

[wastepanel]

I've heard alot of people use the argument:

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

[drkitten]

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

My understanding was that this section was entitled "Religion and Philosophy"; a lot of people might be interested in philosophy without necessarily being religious.

But beyond that, there is a big difference between being interested in religion and being religious. To be religious typically requires either that you participate in the organized rituals of your church of choice, or alternatively that you believe in the tenets of the church of your choice. (And most religions consider it better yet if you do both.) I am interested in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien; I consider him to be a an excellent crafter and describer of imaginary worlds -- but I don't actually believe in Gandalf, Frodo, and the Valar. I love the mythological writings of Edith Hamilton and consider her to be a gifted translatior -- but I don't actually believe in Theseus, Zeus, Hermes, and the Titans. I similarly am interested in the writings of C.S. Lewis, whom I regard as one of the great Christian apologists -- but (again) I don't actually believe in Lucy Pevensie, the White Witch, and Aslan. Nor more so do I believe in St. Peter, Mary Magdelene, and the God who caused a world-wide flood and then created the first rainbow.

[slingblade]

Criminey, why post on any forum if not in an attempt to draw attention to oneself?

Saying that atheism is not a religion is not saying it isn't important, or that religion isn't important. You've drawn a false corollary there. Atheism is important to me for personal reasons, and religion is important to me in many ways--particularly any way which attempts to force religion into my daily life without my consent.

Another subtle flaw in your query is the assumption that there's something special about atheist forum members choosing to post in Religion and Philosophy. There are many forums/sub-forums at JREF, and I have posted on almost all of them. There's nothing special about my posting on this one, as well. In fact, I post more often in Community and Humor than I do here. I think. I started out in Politics, in fact.

But I often find this thread as amusing as Humor.
I also freely admit to enjoying occasional Fundie-bashing.
And how else am I supposed to keep up with Fred Phelps and Pat Robertson?

Finally, the wry sarcasm of this forum's sub-heading says it all, I think:

"Because who could have an opinion on these two topics?"

edited to move an oddly jumping paragraph.

[roger]

I've heard alot of people use the argument:

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."You have? I haven't. What I have heard is a religious person making the statement that atheism is just another belief or religion, and the atheist responding "saying atheism (literally a-theism, or lack of theism) is a religion is like saying not stamp collecting is a hobby."

The rest of your post is a non-sequitor.

ETA: okay, probably I misunderstood your misunderstanding. The "not stamp collecting" is not a slam against religion, saying it's boring or something, it's merely pointing out the illogic of saying atheism is a religion. If that was your take, then the rest of your post was entirely on point, though misguided.

[Jimbo07]

I am interested in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien; I consider him to be a an excellent crafter and describer of imaginary worlds -- but I don't actually believe in Gandalf, Frodo, and the Valar.

:jaw-dropp

WHAT?!?!

You take that back.

:D

[drkitten]

WHAT?!?!

You take that back.

Come and make me, if you think you're hard enough.... :p

[Freethinker]

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

IMO religion is the biggest threat there is to humanity. It continually impedes the progress of science and peaceful coexistence among people. It is used as a basis to persecute groups of people. It draws in the money and time of the gullible, diverting vast resources from other things. It is far worse than drug addiction. I'm not here to be religious; I'm here to discuss the problem of religion.

To deflect the argument that churches do good things, I will acknowledge such, but I do good things as well. I'm not affiliated with other atheists or agnostics, but I contribute mightily to my community. I don't do this to curry favor with the Great Sky Fairy, but rather to help those who can't help themselves, and to make it a better place for my children to live.

[Ryokan]

I've heard alot of people use the argument:

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

Being an atheist and being religious aren't really mutually exclusive. There are many religions without gods :)

I'm both an atheist and a Buddhist.

[brodski]

Being an atheist and being religious aren't really mutually exclusive. There are many religions without gods :)

I'm both an atheist and a Buddhist.
Can you name 3 distinct religions without gods?
If there are many, it should be easy. ;)
I've always regarded Buddhism as the exception rather than the rule.

[Nex]

Aw Brodski, that's too easy.
Buddhism
Taoism
Confucianism
Scientific pantheism (this one I don't know much of anything about, except that they proclaim themselves religious atheists)
Humanistic Judaism
some forms of non-LaVeyan Satanism
nontraditional Setianism
New Age spiritualism
lesser animism
basic spiritualism
"Spiritual" or "Energy" witchcraft
probably another two dozen or so occult religions:D

[This Guy]

I've heard alot of people use the argument:

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

Mostly to compare my reasoning/understanding to that of others. To be able to compare the views others have of the information I used to base my beliefs on thus either strengthening my views, or allowing me to adjust them, if I see a flaw in my logic or sources of the information that my logic is based on.

I see many of the same questions I've asked, over the years, asked here. Seeing the response of others, and often sources I haven't become aware of, help me to confirm or question what I believe to be truth.

I guess the bottom line is, there's still that little voice in the back of my head that says, "What makes you so smart? Maybe your wrong!". And that keeps me looking deeper and wider, to try to make sure my beliefs are based on fact, not what sounds good, or on the surface confirms my already held beliefs.

So far, it's been more than worth the time. There are folks here that are far more informed than I am. I have no regrets for shamelessly leeching off their knowledge ;)

[ruach1]

I guess the bottom line is, there's still that little voice in the back of my head that says, "What makes you so smart? Maybe your wrong!". And that keeps me looking deeper and wider, to try to make sure my beliefs are based on fact, not what sounds good, or on the surface confirms my already held beliefs.

So far, it's been more than worth the time. There are folks here that are far more informed than I am. I have no regrets for shamelessly leeching off their knowledge ;)
That little voice has its pros and cons. I have one also, and as often as not I wish it weren't there. (It does get a little snotty and full of itself sometimes...)

There are folks here that don't have what you have: level-headedness and humility. Too underated virtues, IMHO.

I think I like This Guy.

[ruach1]

Aw Brodski, that's too easy.
Buddhism
Taoism
Confucianism
Scientific pantheism (this one I don't know much of anything about, except that they proclaim themselves religious atheists)
Humanistic Judaism
some forms of non-LaVeyan Satanism
nontraditional Setianism
New Age spiritualism
lesser animism
basic spiritualism
"Spiritual" or "Energy" witchcraft
probably another two dozen or so occult religions:D
You mean there is actually more than one form of Satanism? Nonetheless, more than one form of LaVeyan Satanism?

What do you suppose they put in the collection plate?
A severed head maybe? Dead puppies? :dogt:

[Ryokan]

You mean there is actually more than one form of Satanism? Nonetheless, more than one form of LaVeyan Satanism?

What do you suppose they put in the collection plate?
A severed head maybe? Dead puppies? :dogt:

Have you ever read LaVey's Satanic Bible?

It's more like humanism with rites than a theistic religion.

[Scott Haley]

What do you suppose they put in the collection plate?
A severed head maybe? Dead puppies? :dogt:

Probably not. Dead puppies aren't much fun.

[Darat]

I've heard alot of people use the argument:

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

On the "Religion..." aspect because I find religion fascinating, which probably at least in part stems from my early exposure to a quite fundamental (non-USA use of the word please!) denomination of Christianity. Plus of course the simple fact that religion is a very important aspect of the world we all live in so if I want to understand the world around me I need to understand religion.

[arthwollipot]

I'd actually heard "atheism is a religion in the same way that bald is a hair colour."

My opinion is basically the same as what drkitten said: there is a big difference between being interested in religion and being religious. Religion, particularly Christianity, fascinates me. I love reading the Bible. But I'm a dyed-in-the-wool atheist. Contradiction? Whatever.

[This Guy]

There are folks here that don't have what you have: level-headedness and humility. Too underated virtues, IMHO.

I think I like This Guy.

Thanks for the kind words!

I do have days when neither virtue applies, but I try anyway :)

[Nex]

Have you ever read LaVey's Satanic Bible?

It's more like humanism with rites than a theistic religion. True, except that from what I've gathered from the Satanic Bible and from various LaVeyan practitioners, there is a maltheistic acknowledgment of the Judeo-Christian deity.

eta: But not all forms of Satanism adhere to that, hence my saying "some forms of non-LaVeyan Satanism". Heh.

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Probably not. Dead puppies aren't much fun.

Wow, I haven't heard that song in a long time.

[strathmeyer]

I've heard alot of people use the argument:

"Comparing atheism to religion is like saying my hobby is not collecting stamps."

So, why do you puruse the "Religion" section of these forums? If it's not important, why point it out unless you are using it as an avenue to draw attention to yourself.

Uh... because there's a lot of stamp collectors who keep trying to trick others into collecting stamps, and so we like to talk about them?