Grok, is atheism a religion?

secularism, a worldview or political principle that separates religion from other realms of human existence, often putting greater emphasis on nonreligious aspects of human life or, more specifically, separating religion from the political realm.

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Secularism | Definition, Separation of Church and State, History, Varieties, & Facts | Britannica

Secularism is a worldview or political principle that separates religion from other realms of human existence, often putting greater emphasis on nonreligious aspects of human life and government. It can be a political model that separates church and state or a philosophical outlook opposed to...
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T. A. Gardner said:
re·li·gion
[rəˈlij(ə)n]

a particular system of faith and worship

a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance

Then you got it wrong and still have it wrong, Humpty Dumpty.
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Atheism is not a system of faith and worship. It simply means lack of belief in a deity.
 
AProudLefty said:
Atheism is not a system of faith and worship. It simply means lack of belief in a deity.
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www.karmikchannels.org

Atheist: Belief Systems and the Dogma of Atheism

Atheist: In the atheist's world, everything must be "observed real" in our world for everything to be true.
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While agnosticism acknowledges uncertainty, atheism asserts certainty in the absence of the divine. This is where atheism mirrors religious dogma—it becomes a belief system that rejects rather than explores possibilities. Many atheists, when confronted with the limitations of their perspective, react defensively rather than openly questioning their assumptions.

It's that last that Atheists can't be honest about. They cannot and will not accept that their belief system is every bit as much a religion in its own right as some Theistic religion is.
 
AProudLefty said:
secularism, a worldview or political principle that separates religion from other realms of human existence, often putting greater emphasis on nonreligious aspects of human life or, more specifically, separating religion from the political realm.

www.britannica.com

Secularism | Definition, Separation of Church and State, History, Varieties, & Facts | Britannica

Secularism is a worldview or political principle that separates religion from other realms of human existence, often putting greater emphasis on nonreligious aspects of human life and government. It can be a political model that separates church and state or a philosophical outlook opposed to...
www.britannica.com www.britannica.com
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That is a really shitty definition of secularism. More simply it's a disinterest in religion and the question of the divine (a god). For the secularist, it's Don't know, don't care.

The definition you give doesn't apply to individuals with respect to religion. Separation of religion from politics can occur for theists such as,
certain sects of Christianity such as Jehovah's Witness, or Amish. They certainly aren't "secular," so your definition fails on multiple examples to the contrary.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
www.karmikchannels.org

Atheist: Belief Systems and the Dogma of Atheism

Atheist: In the atheist's world, everything must be "observed real" in our world for everything to be true.
www.karmikchannels.org www.karmikchannels.org

While agnosticism acknowledges uncertainty, atheism asserts certainty in the absence of the divine. This is where atheism mirrors religious dogma—it becomes a belief system that rejects rather than explores possibilities. Many atheists, when confronted with the limitations of their perspective, react defensively rather than openly questioning their assumptions.

It's that last that Atheists can't be honest about. They cannot and will not accept that their belief system is every bit as much a religion in its own right as some Theistic religion is.
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Now it's a belief system?

Here's the definition once again:

AProudLefty said:
Religion

the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.
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T. A. Gardner said:
That is a really shitty definition of secularism. More simply it's a disinterest in religion and the question of the divine (a god). For the secularist, it's Don't know, don't care.

The definition you give doesn't apply to individuals with respect to religion. Separation of religion from politics can occur for theists such as,
certain sects of Christianity such as Jehovah's Witness, or Amish. They certainly aren't "secular," so your definition fails on multiple examples to the contrary.
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The religious Founding Fathers were secularists.
 
AProudLefty said:
Now it's a belief system?

Here's the definition once again:
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That's A definition, not THE definition.

Any religion is a belief system. Each religion has different beliefs it adheres to. Atheists adhere to the claim there is no god and no possibility of a god. That is a core belief one has to have to be an Atheist.
 
AProudLefty said:
You gave examples of JWs and Amish. I merely added to it. You seem to think you had a point about them in relation to secularism.
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I do. They are theistic. That is religious. They don't do politics. They aren't secular.

Secularism is a disinterest in religion, not separation of religion and politics. For example, there are state religions that are apolitical. Two examples of these are Buddhism and Hinduism. By your definition this is not possible.
 
AProudLefty said:
Atheists don't reject religions?
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Atheists actively reject theologically based religion. They openly oppose it. For an Atheist, religion is to be debated, and even legislated, out of existence.

For example, in a Communist state, theological religions are banned, and the official state religion is Atheism. N. Korea is officially an Atheist state. That is the state religion.

Secularists simply don't care. Their form of rejection is to ignore religion. Secularists neither oppose nor support religion.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
Atheists actively reject theologically based religion. They openly oppose it. For an Atheist, religion is to be debated, and even legislated, out of existence.

Secularists simply don't care. Their form of rejection is to ignore religion. Secularists neither oppose nor support religion.
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You're talking about the militant atheists.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
I'm talking about practicing Atheists.
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A "practicing atheist" is not a universally recognized term, but it generally refers to an atheist who actively engages in ways that are considered "practicing" in a religious context, such as participating in secular activities and communities that share their values. Unlike the idea of "practicing" religion, which involves specific rituals and beliefs, atheism is often characterized by a lack of belief in deities.

Here's a more detailed look:
    • Definition of Atheism:
      Atheism is the absence of belief in the existence of gods or deities.
    • "Practicing" Atheism:
      Some atheists may choose to engage in activities that reinforce their atheistic beliefs, such as attending atheist events, participating in discussions about secular issues, or supporting organizations that advocate for atheistic perspectives.
    • Examples of Atheist Practices:
      This can include things like celebrating secular holidays, engaging in secular rituals like humanist weddings, or participating in discussions about the lack of evidence for supernatural claims.
    • Secularism:
      Many atheists also embrace secularism, which is the separation of religious institutions from governance and the belief that secular principles should guide society.
    • Diversity of Atheist Beliefs:
      It's important to note that atheism isn't a monolithic belief system, and atheists may hold a variety of views on ethics, morality, and the meaning of life.
    • Contrast with "Practicing" Religion:
      In contrast to religious practices, which often involve rituals, beliefs, and adherence to specific doctrines, atheism is primarily defined by the absence of belief in deities and may involve engaging in secular activities and promoting secular values.
    • Not Universally Recognized:
      The term "practicing atheist" is not used consistently, and some may prefer to simply describe themselves as atheists who engage in various secular activities.
 
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