It turns out Atheist know more about religions than "religious" folks

[Fez Hammersticks]

You refer to atheism as a 'religion', yet in another thread try to say it is the lack of any type of belief. Me thinks you go back-and-forth.

Hence 'state of mind' ie thinking with any shred of rationality.

 

[Denny Crane]

You refer to atheism as a 'religion', yet in another thread try to say it is the lack of any type of belief. Me thinks you go back-and-forth.

In the United States, atheism is equivalent to a religion, by law.

http://www.atheist-community.org/library/articles/read.php?id=742

Kaufman, James v. McCaughtry, Gary

"Without venturing too far into the realm of the philosophical, we have suggested in the past that when a person sincerely holds beliefs dealing with issues of 'ultimate concern' that for her occupy a 'place parallel to that filled by . . . God in traditionally religious persons,' those beliefs represent her religion."

"We have already indicated that atheism may be considered, in this specialized sense, a religion. See Reed v. Great Lakes Cos., 330 F.3d 931, 934 (7th Cir. 2003) ('If we think of religion as taking a position on divinity, then atheism is indeed a form of religion.')"

Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985)

"At one time it was thought that this right [referring to the right to choose one’s own creed] merely proscribed the preference of one Christian sect over another, but would not require equal respect for the conscience of the infidel, the atheist, or the adherent of a non-Christian faith such as Islam or Judaism. But when the underlying principle has been examined in the crucible of litigation, the Court has unambiguously concluded that the individual freedom of conscience protected by the First Amendment embraces the right to select any religious faith or none at all."

 

[blazerboy30]

Hence 'state of mind' ie thinking with any shred of rationality.

Sentence does not parse.

 

[blazerboy30]

In the United States, atheism is equivalent to a religion, by law.

Why are you quoting and referring to me?

 

[Denny Crane]

Why are you quoting and referring to me?

Because you can talk about it as a religion and you can claim it isn't and be right on both counts

 

[blazerboy30]

Because you can talk about it as a religion and you can claim it isn't and be right on both counts

It is a set of beliefs. Just like religion. Fez uses the wishy-washy, no-sack method of wanting to call himself an atheist but really wants to be agnostic.

 

[Denny Crane]

It is a set of beliefs. Just like religion. Fez uses the wishy-washy, no-sack method of wanting to call himself an atheist but really wants to be agnostic.

Technically, religion requires belief in a supreme being and a code of ethics handed down (essentially) from that supreme being. I don't see how atheism fits in those terms.

On the other hand, it's entitled to the same 1st amendment "Freedom of Religion" rights as other religions are.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I merely stated the fact that atheism is the fast growing group amongst religions. Am I one? I don't know. Do I believe in Jesus Christ, Satan, Allah, Xenu, Zeus, the bible? 'hell' no. And this happened when I reached the age of reason and rationality - age 10.

 

[blazerboy30]

And this happened when I reached the age of reason and rationality - age 10.

You've got a ways to go.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

You've got a ways to go.

And I'm not because I don't believe in 3500 year old fables and fairy tales?


"The Bible was written over a period of 1400 to 1800 years by more than 40 different authors."

 

[MickZagger]

[video=youtube;_oFcBHAklc8]

 

[BrianFromWA]

And I'm not because I don't believe in 3500 year old fables and fairy tales?


"The Bible was written over a period of 1400 to 1800 years by more than 40 different authors."

Is that news?

 

[MARIS61]

With nothing to sell, why do you feel the need to enlighten those silly religious folks?

It is similar to the need to pull a curious child's hand away from the stove burner, or to tell your grandmother not to wire her life savings to that Nigerian Prince who promised to transfer $6 million to her account.

 

[MARIS61]

Was curious, as an Athiest, who was not raised to practice any major religion, what my score would be. Took this test, and blew through it very quickly (no google cheating):
http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/

Got 14 out of 15 questions, putting me in the 98% percentile.

Didn't seem that hard of a quiz, and it is always a letdown when these types of surveys show so much lack of general knowledge among the population.

Teachers and Educators and Adminstrators of America:

Our Education system BLOWS!!!

Public schools are forbidden from teaching that it is absurd to believe in mythical super-beings whenever they have originated in really old books.

Now if they originated in newer books, or comics, it's okay to point out their absurdities and nobody gets upset.

 

[MARIS61]

Technically, religion requires belief in a supreme being and a code of ethics handed down (essentially) from that supreme being. I don't see how atheism fits in those terms.

On the other hand, it's entitled to the same 1st amendment "Freedom of Religion" rights as other religions are.

Aha! So if my "religion" directs me to film candidate Kitzhaber in a public forum in a church I am protected by The First Amendment!

Paying attention, Minstrel?

 

[MARIS61]

And I'm not because I don't believe in 3500 year old fables and fairy tales?


"The Bible was written over a period of 1400 to 1800 years by more than 40 different authors."

Actually, it was constantly re-written, edited, censored, distorted and amended to suit whatever group was in power at the time.

 

[santeesioux]

[video=youtube;7jETVUulGwc]

 

[noknobs]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/religious-literacy-americ_n_741391.html

Not a surprise.

The more you know, you more you know you don't know, which is why I'm agnostic.

Unlike science, religion isn't just about knowledge, it's about faith, and that can't really be measured on a multiple choice quiz.

 

[MARIS61]

Unlike fact, religion is fiction.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

It is a set of beliefs. Just like religion. Fez uses the wishy-washy, no-sack method of wanting to call himself an atheist but really wants to be agnostic.

You really don't know what you are talking about.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Atheism is a religion in the same way bald is a hair color and not collecting stamps is a hobby

 

[blazerboy30]

Atheism is a religion in the same way bald is a hair color and not collecting stamps is a hobby

Um no.

Didn't do so well on the "analogies" section of the SAT's huh?

 

[crandc]

Its just personal experience and it was enough to turn me off.

As an example, I was at a wedding last summer and most the people attending the event attended the same church. I heard this lady, probably in her 40's soccer mom type say, "I don't know if I could even talk to someone who wasn't a Christian".

I mean really bitch? No wonder you live such closed off life.

Guess it was her kids who refused to play with me when I was a child.

 

[MARIS61]

The more you know, you more you know you don't know, which is why I'm agnostic.

Unlike science, religion isn't just about knowledge, it's about faith, and that can't really be measured on a multiple choice quiz.

Actually, the more you know, the less you don't know.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Um no.

Didn't do so well on the "analogies" section of the SAT's huh?

Atheism is descriptive of a singular characteristic: a lack of belief in a god or gods. Quite literally anything else is negotiable. It's possible for an atheist to believe that ghosts exist, for example, so long as those ghosts aren't gods. Theism, the counterpart to atheism, is also not a religion. Religion requires doctrine, rituals, and other bells and whistles.

"Lack of belief in a god or gods" doesn't speak to how to live. The society one lives in does. Most people, regardless of belief (or lack thereof), will agree that it's wrong to shoot someone in the face. Atheism itself makes no statements on morals or behavior.

 

[agoo]

Atheism is a religion in the same way bald is a hair color and not collecting stamps is a hobby

I think you're missing the point of the previous post. I don't think a normal person would call athiesm a religion. Legally, a judge should call athiesm a religion, as athiests qualify to have freedom of religion as any person who practices a religion does.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I think you're missing the point of the previous post. I don't think a normal person would call athiesm a religion. Legally, a judge should call athiesm a religion, as athiests qualify to have freedom of religion as any person who practices a religion does.

I wasn't responding to the legality of it. blazerboy30 said atheism is a religion with a set of beliefs.

 

[blazerboy30]

I wasn't responding to the legality of it. blazerboy30 said atheism is a religion with a set of beliefs.

You lose at reading and comprehension.

I said it is a set of beliefs, like religion.

 

[blazerboy30]

Atheism is descriptive of a singular characteristic: a lack of belief in a god or gods.

Atheism is "rejecting" the belief in God or gods, or the position that there is / are no God(s). There is a difference that you can't quite seem to grasp.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/view/bundle.asp?id=41&cid=573