so the GD thread got locked, but atheism as a religion?

[marions ghost]

13. Atheism is OK. I see atheism as

a belief in Science. The pragmatic idea that we are only about what we can know for sure through the senses. This belief approaches the fervor and faith of a religion these days--a natural outgrowth of the pressures of the 20th century. The speaker in the film does make good points about why it makes sense to be anti-religion. Atheism is a critical stance toward religion. But it is still a belief system.

I see no problem with atheists organizing as a group around a belief. Atheists have been much maligned in our culture and deserve respect. These are skeptical people. Traditional religions may have damaged them personally or they may see the hypocrisy in religions that support wars and inhumanity. At any rate they do not believe in worshipping gods. I submit that Science (& Nature) is their "god" in the sense of a positive force. Atheists in general have definite moral and ethical principles, I have observed, and I know a lot of them (surrounded by scientists). I have no problem with atheists as a visible group. I think it's good for EVERYONE to have a philosophical support group in this difficult earthly existence. This is no threat to any other organized religions. They should be welcomed, not cast out as lost souls. Diffrent strokes...tolerance...

Personal disclaimer--I am not an atheist, not even an agnostic. I'm a definite believer in higher powers, afterlife, no death (just transformation), spiritual beings, the power of faith (or prayer whatever word you give), the possibility of enlightenment, creative change, heart opening--all that. I even like the Hindu multiplicity of gods, where there's a spiritual guide for everybody (and incorporates women and elephants into the symbolic hierarchy). The traditions and music of the old Christianity (that simple kind that was mixed with paganism) I find beautiful and inspiring. I love chants in any language or belief (and almost all religious traditions incorporate chanting) ETc Etc ---------However...I am not aligned with any organized religion because I prefer to be open to all, but tied to none. One thing I know as a (lay) psychologist--people NEED beliefs to get by. No positive beliefs--you get depressed and die. So I submit that atheism IS a life-affirming belief. It is a positive belief in Science and empirical knowledge--ie. that what is before us, all that we experience--is all that we can know. Must have reality-based hardcore evidence. I don't know, maybe if the monster meteor hits...

Anyway I guess you could say I've created my own belief system, cobbled together over the years, that makes sense to me. Wanna join my religion?