Does Atheism count as a religious viewpoint?

[Ghel]

Let's look at the definitions of the words "atheist" and "agnostic."

The prefix "a-" means "without."

The word "theist" means "one who believes in a god (or gods)."

Therefore, "atheist" means "one without a belief in a god (or gods)."

The word "gnostic" means "one who knows (or claims to know)."

Therefore, "agnostic" means "one without knowledge (or does not claim to know)."

I still like Thomas Henry Huxley's explanation of agnosticism, a term which he coined:

Agnosticism is not a creed but a method, the essence of which lies in the vigorous application of a single principle... Positively the principle may be expressed as in matters of intellect, do not pretend conclusions are certain that are not demonstrated or demonstrable. [emphasis mine]

Wikipedia has very good articles on both atheism and agnosticism.

I am an agnostic atheist. I don't believe any gods exist, but I obviously don't have any evidence of that (since you can't prove a negative). I actually belong to that subset of atheists who believe that no gods exist. It's not something I can prove, nor would I try to convince anybody to agree with me. As with all my beliefs and viewpoints, it is tentative, and could be changed based on further evidence or arguments.

However, I am at this point convinced that no one will ever convince me that a god exists. This doesn't mean I've closed my mind to the possibility. It just means that I have placed the concept of god in the same category as unicorns, dragons, leprechauns, and other fairy-tale creatures. I don't expect to be convinced that a god actually, really exists any more than I expect to be convinced that dragons actually, really exist.

[Hyena Dandy]

I would argue that it does have tenets or dogma.

"There is no God" is a belief. Its a statement of a fact. While we have no scientific proof for God, there is none against Him either. That does not mean I am saying "Because we can't prove God exists, we must believe in God" or "Because we can't prove God exists, you're all fools for saying He doesn't" What I am saying is that the only TRULY rational belief is agnosticism, not atheism or any religious standing. The only thing we can prove is that we can't really prove it, so the only thing we can say with a hundred percent scientific certainty is 'I don't know'.

Personally, I'm a Catholic. But I never called myself rational.

[Ghel]

Ipecac, that was discussed, particularly here:

I agree that atheism is a viewpoint about religion, but isn't a religion itself. Atheism has no tenets or dogma.

But it doesn't hurt to say it again. Sometimes saying something in a different way will help get the point across better.

[Ipecac Drano]

Forgive me if this had been mentioned before (there are four pages of posts!), but how can atheism be considered a religious viewpoint if atheists do not believe in "something up there"? It's not that I firmly believe that there is nothing "up there" but that I hold no belief that there is anything "up there".

There is a difference between "I believe that nothing is up there", and, "I don't believe anything is up there". There is no way that a religion can be based on the latter statement.

[draco664]

OK, but, the question wasn't whether atheism is a religion. We know it isn't. The question is can it be considered a viewpoint on religion.

Ah, I see where I misread you.

I've had many, many people try to convince me that atheism is a religion by claiming that it is a belief, or in this case, a religious viewpoint. I understand your point now.

[Ghel]

Atheism can be a viewpoint on religion. An atheist can also be a person who has never been exposed to the concept of god or a person who lacks the mental capacity to understand the concept, such as a young child (as an aside, I think this is what the majority of theists mean when they claim that they used to be atheists).

Those who write books about their atheism tend to encourage a thought-out world view using critical thinking, skepticism, and inquiry. Those authors tend to advocate science as the best tool we have for learning about reality.

[KnitShoni]

Only if you think that darkness is a kind of light. Absence of belief is not a kind of belief.

This is of course my opinion. As an atheist, I don't see myself as religious. It seems to me that theists who claim that lack of belief is a "kind of belief" are trying more to convince themselves that everyone believes in something. Sort of like a security blanket.

OK, but, the question wasn't whether atheism is a religion. We know it isn't. The question is can it be considered a viewpoint on religion.

[Kheldarson]

But that's still a viewpoint. Your viewpoint on religion is that it's unnecessary for your life. It's still a view.

[draco664]

I thought atheism was a rejection of religion itself. That would make it a viewpoint, no?

Only if you think that darkness is a kind of light. Absence of belief is not a kind of belief.

This is of course my opinion. As an atheist, I don't see myself as religious. It seems to me that theists who claim that lack of belief is a "kind of belief" are trying more to convince themselves that everyone believes in something. Sort of like a security blanket.

[KnitShoni]

would you call not collecting stamps a hobby?

I'm not being facetious, but I'm genuinely puzzled that some people believe atheism is a religious viewpoint. Atheism is a rejection of religious viewpoints.

I thought atheism was a rejection of religion itself. That would make it a viewpoint, no?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Atheists ares to religion as workaholics are to hobbies. In both cases the defining factor on the subject at hand is the lack thereof.

Next up, comparing empty juice bottles to a selection of full juice bottles, and nudism vs fashion.

[draco664]

So, I'd call Atheism a religious viewpoint

would you call not collecting stamps a hobby?

I'm not being facetious, but I'm genuinely puzzled that some people believe atheism is a religious viewpoint. Atheism is a rejection of religious viewpoints.

[Hobbs]

I agree that atheism is a viewpoint about religion, but isn't a religion itself. Atheism has no tenets or dogma.

Yes it does. Athiesm, as a whole, promotes science as the only Truth and proponents of athiesm tend to have the same "with us or against us" mentality of many religions. Athiests regularly try to convert believers into their ideology as well, and tend to view themselves as the only ones with knowledge of the "True un-Faith."

[Ghel]

I think we get too bogged down in labels sometimes. I like KabeRinnaul's post above, but I disagree on a few minor points.

"I don't believe a god exists." This is an atheist, sometimes called a weak or negative atheist.
"I believe no gods exist." This is also an atheist, sometimes called a strong or positive atheist.

I agree that atheism is a viewpoint about religion, but isn't a religion itself. Atheism has no tenets or dogma.

[KabeRinnaul]

Hmm, the definition of agnostic that I've always gone with is unsurity about whether or not there's a higher being to blame. Atheists are those who say there isn't, and theists are those who say there is.

I rather suspect that agnostics, under those criteria, outnumber the other two even if they were added together

Rapscallion

The term I've always liked is "Nontheist." That being, a person with no opinion of the existence of God.

It should be pointed out that gnosticism and theism are two separate ideas. "Gnostic" refers to knowing and the capability to know something as fact. "Theist" refers to belief. You can be both, neither, or a combination.

A Gnostic Theist believes in God, and believes that one can prove the reality of God.
An Agnostic Theist believes in God, but believes that God is unknowable and his existence can't be proven.
A Gnostic Atheist rejects the belief of God, but believes that God is demonstratively false.
An Agnostic Atheist rejects the belief of God, and believes that it can't be proved one way or another.

The two things to remember is that Gnostic used to have this specific meaning, but now it's been co-opted to instead mean "I dunno", and that Atheist making a specific religious statement. Atheist doesn't mean "I don't believe in God", it means "I believe in the lack of God".

So, I'd call Atheism a religious viewpoint, though I don't think I could call it a "religion" as to me that implies an organized set of beliefs.