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

[marions ghost]

26. I don't know about this reframing

experience first hand because I don't know any "offended" atheists. The ones I know don't care what anybody thinks. But I take your point that you feel misunderstood and I guess it gets exhausting especially in light of the growing religious fundyism out there--which concerns me also. When you are fighting against misconceptions and stereotypes it is wearying --and why should you have to fight anyway?

Atheism is a reasonable choice, stance, belief--whatever term you like (I really don't care much about semantics--pick a word). But I maintain that atheism is still a set of beliefs, if not a system. It is a mental construct. It's how you respond to this crazy world we live in and make sense of it. So I see it as positive--for you and for many. No reason to be defensive or even to defend it, although I think there is more opposition than ever. So it seems that some solidarity might be beneficial. I don't know.

Would it be possible to reframe atheism as something more positive, I ask respectfully. Something not absolute, just a reasonable option? We don't live in a one size fits all culture. It is not good that any group would feel piled on--I am all for freedom of belief and expression. There's so much animosity. Scorn between the religious and the atheist is only one arena, but it's perhaps an important one, more important than people realize. I'm actually idealistic enough to think the two groups can coexist with respect for each. But I wish that atheists could accept that their position is a philosophy and not define it only in negatives re religions (all religions have bad stuff--I'm not defending religions either). I guess I see agnostic as more of just a secularist and an atheist as more oppositional, an anti-stance. It's all in the realm of beliefs IMO because who the hell really knows?

I'm putting these thoughts out and you can chop my head off if I goof up. I'm too wishy washy myself, to go with any one belief or stance--wouldn't work for me. So I can honestly say I see both sides. I'm neither an atheist nor religious. I don't do definitions or affiliations very easily.

Anyway thanx for reply.