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A place where ModDB members can debate civilly, and learn from each other's views.
To which my answer is a simple "yes" and this is based on what constitutes to as a religion.
Religion (contrary to pop culture belief) is simply a set of codes or beliefs. Super-naturalism and gods needn't be involved. This is the case for Buddhism (which can be apathetic or atheistic) and Cārvāka.
Fundamentally, atheism is no religion. The average atheist you meet at work probably isn't religious but many of the "new" atheists (especially the ones you'll encounter on the internet) have a religious devotion to everything materialistic in philosophy. They have gatherings, forums, social events and even speak on agreed upon "rational" principles and their view of what skepticism is. Often they use the same arguments from atheist philosophers of the past and many have the same common goal of bitterly attacking religions and religious people.
This religiosity has extended so far that atheists have now opened a church named The Sunday Assembly (http://sundayassembly.com/) which is established in 30 cities across the world. There are others such as the "First Church of Atheism" and mega-atheist churches.
These places allow for gatherings of atheists and the non-religious (although most seem to be atheist) to benefit from the social practices of a church without any worship involved.
This form of atheism certainly is a religion. Even without churches involved, many of the "new" atheists follow the trend of attacking religion and religious people whilst preaching their materialistic world-view.
Generalization is not a good debating tactic you know...
Atheism by definition means a lack of religion, like how being bald means a lack of hair. The opinions and actions of certain atheists does not make atheism a religion. Materialistic point of view is not exclusive to atheists nor is it in the dogma of atheism (since there is no dogma in atheism anyway, that's moot point).
Oh, and people who attack religion are technically anti-theists, although some/most anti-theists are also atheists, not all atheists are anti-theists. I do think modern society lack the words to describe certain anti-religious group, possibly the reason for the confusion that atheism is a religion.
He did say "fundamentally, atheism is no religion" in reference to what atheism is.
In what I've observed in the behavior of some of the extreme atheists, they certainly have extremist fundamentalist religious traits. Many of them aren't "free from religion" as such.
I mean take the atheists on YouTube and Facebook as examples who actively argue against religion and promote themselves using symbols (such as the A symbol or the atom A symbol which both symbolize atheism). If you tell me that their preaching and symbol isn't religious then clearly religion just got re-defined when I wasn't looking.
So, no atheism isn't becoming a religion but I think many atheists are religious in their own way (in how they religiously preach their world-view and attack anything contrary to it) or at the very least, fundamentalists in their own right. Well the ones who do this anyway which seems to be the majority of the atheists on the internet.
Key word is 'seems'. In my social circle, the parts consisting of people who also are active on the internet, I know about 15 people including myself who are atheists. Out of all those, I am the only one known to debate religion from time to time. In fact most want nothing to do with this debate and others don't really care. That's 1 out of 15 in my case.
Now if we speak politics, some of those friends would quickly end up in the box where you locate those "extreme fundamentalists" xD
So from my perspective, generalizations like these seem not only like a weak argument, but also far fetched. Not that I would claim my case is the same as all.
They're not forming groups and churches though are they?
Depends on who you ask xD
"Generalization is not a good debating tactic you know..."
Where's the generalization? I never said all atheists are the same, I said many of the internet ones are like this and I would define going to a church religious. That's what these atheists are doing now with their "mega-churches" across the world.
There are scientists actually doing research and then twice the number of 'scientists' that spend time looking for flaws in other's work.
Right, we have extremists on internet, every group has. Consider symbols and gatherings as a sign of group, not as a sign of religion. Political parties, companies, they all have their logos and gatherings, yet they are not religion.
In my opinion, this really depends on one's definition of "religion". In my book, "religion" is merely a code of ethics and beliefs pertaining to life and how it should be lived. It does not necessarily have to involve the belief in a higher being, you can read more about Confucianism and Daoism to understand my point.
When people ask whether or not I'm a Christian, I'm often somewhat hesitant to give an answer, because their definition of "Christian" is something along the lines of "gay-hater", "old earth denier", or "conservative". This then puts me in an awkward position, because more often than not, I'll actually agree with their positions on the said issues but disagree with the conclusion they reach about me.
I would say the same applies for atheists. More often than not, Christians can jump to conclusions about the beliefs of atheists, just as atheists will often jump to conclusions about the beliefs of people who follow other religious. My point is, atheists, like all of us, have their reasons for believing what they do, and we should respect that, no matter how contrary our views may be. I don't believe anyone, whether they be Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, or even irreligious, has the right to infringe on a person's beliefs if the individual in question is unwilling to hear them out.
Atheists can be conformist asshats like any other group, but by the definition of religion I don't think they qualify. It's not a good idea to generalize about any group, unfortunately that's just how the world works. It's best to try and change that image.
Well, I'm also an extremely good sportsperson. I should petition for 'not participating' to be an Olympic category. I should also charge people to utilise the television channel I own called 'off'. While I'm at it, I should get a license in not driving.
The picture gave me a good laugh. I identify more so as an apatheist than an atheist. I've come to the conclusion that I still don't believe in God, and if people want to believe that **** then whatever. When I look at the way my life is, it really has no affect on it whatsoever.
So the debate has become really inconsequential to me at this point, and I stay in the "atheists, agnostics and anti-theists ModDB" because I have met some really nice people there and I want to continue interacting with them.
Also, this whole stigma with autism and fedoras has really worn out its use. It was funny once poking fun at those "euphoric" atheists with their fedoras and neckbeards, but now it has devolved into a buzzword for chest-slapping, meme spewing simpletons to use.
Also, the short answer to your question is "no". Atheism in inherently not a religion.
It has generally become an insult towards people that display anti-religious traits. So if you hate religion and start bashing it publicly like on YouTube, you get the label thrown onto you that you must wear a "fedora" or have autism. Usually this is coming from someone who identifies purely as agnostic who hates any religious conflict whatsoever although it could come from atheists or religious people.
There is truth to the insults in the atheist movement, although these conformist dickwads are actually not as common as people make them out to be.
Yeah, I see where you are coming from. But when I think autism, I think someone like this Youtube.com
Not some internet atheist who spouts out rhetorical platitudes. As to fedoras, that very well may be. I haven't personally met any atheists who wear fedoras.
And I too hate religious conflict since it leads absolutely nowhere most of the time.
Well that's what atheists get. People who believe in God have to put up with the constant regurgitated insults of "you believe in sky fairy and magic!" or "flying spaghetti monster" which got boring after that "Go God Go!" episode from South Park (one of the few episodes poking fun at atheism). Now atheists have to deal with a stereotype. (Personally it's not something I use though, LOL but I do find it hilarious)
Also the "autism and fedora" thing has become its own meme and is quite funny.
I think there's also a difference between a regular atheist and one who religiously uses r/atheism. Apparently the fedora-autism thing came from "faces of atheism" where many of them were wearing fedoras.
Besides you can't expect euphoric atheist mockery to die out now that "totally not a professional quote maker" A.A Lewis has mysteriously disappeared and is presumed dead. Now people *are* literally quoting him. Quotes live on forever you know.
*tips fedora*
P.S
The worst looking hat in the picture has to be that Mohawk looking one. Wow.
I mean there's even a book out from A.A Lewis:
Goodreads.com
XD
Is that book serious?! That description had me ******** myself.
Nah, the book is clearly poking fun at the meme.
Knowyourmeme.com
You never know though. Poe's law right?
That video is so random I laughed. And I disagree, the worst looking hats are clearly the fedoras. I agree that fedoras, for the most part, are ridiculous and make you look like an asshat, I just don't like a lot of this meme garbage and it isn't that funny to me anymore. It's become a ****** internet trend.
And I suppose you are right. It's a good response to the constant ******** theists have to put up with on the internet.
Next I want to see a picture ******** on MGTOW. Now there's something that needs a good roasting