Is Atheism A Religion?

I offer three responses to this question:

• No
• Hell no
• That depends on how you define “religion”

Atheism

It’s easier to find agreement on a definition of atheism than on religion. I think most people would agree with one or both of these definitions of atheism:

• the lack of belief in god
• the belief that there is no god

That’s it. No mention of doctrine or sacred texts. No temples, churches or places of worship. No worldviews. No position on morality or ethics. No rituals or cerimonies. No priests, leaders or gurus.

Religion

Religion is usually defined to include a belief in a deity or god with supernatural powers.

• generally a belief in a deity and practice of worship, action, and/or thought related to that deity.

There are 2 ways to define atheism as a religion…

• remove the belief “in” a god or deity from the definition
• talk about what atheists believe, and not about atheism

When we remove the belief “in” god, we get…

• Religion is any belief “about” the nature of god

And since atheism is about the non existence of god, this definition makes it a religion.

Atheism is simply a belief about the non existence of god. “Atheists” on the other hand, the people who believe in atheism, do have world views, positions on morality and ethics etc. But atheism does not. Similarly, humanism is a set of beliefs held by some atheists, but not by atheism. All humanists are atheists, but not all atheists are humanists.

So if your definition is not just about “atheism” but also about “what some atheists believe”, then you get many definitions that (also) include atheism. For example:

• any structured set of beliefs (Darwin’s theory of evolution)
• a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe (the big bang theory)
• a cause, principle, or activity pursued (collecting stamps)
• anything pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion (a boyfriend or girlfriend)
• a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects (chemistry)
• any specific system of code of ethics, values, and belief (secular law and order in general)

Any of these definitions could include atheism. But they’re also so broad as to diminish the usefulness of the definition.

Religion vs atheism

Another way to identify a religion is by its major features or characteristics.

Feature	Religion	Atheism
Belief in god or gods	Yes	No
Prayer	Yes	No
Place of worship	Yes	No
Sacred texts	Yes	No
Organized hierarchy	Yes	No
Formal leaders	Yes	No
Rituals	Yes	No
System of morality	Yes	No
Miracles	Yes	No
Speak of faith	Yes	No

By this comparison its hard to classify atheism as a religion as it has none of the significant features that the major or even minor religions share.

So why do some people claim that atheism is a religion?

• Ignorance: Many people genuinely do not know what atheism is about.
• Political: If one can successfully argue that atheism is a religion, then they can argue that creationism can also be taught in the public school system along with evolution.

Some other interesting definitions of atheism

• the denial of the existence of god

This definition implies that god exists but that atheists simply refuses to believe or acknowledge him (or her?).

• belief in false gods, no gods, or doctrines that stand in conflict with an established religion

I’m amused with this definition because it is so broad that it includes everyone on earth. Of the hundreds (thousands) of gods that are worshiped, most people believe in only one. Thus denying the existence of the other gods. Christians and Jews are atheists in the eyes of Muslims for believing in a false god. Muslims are atheists in the eyes of Christians and Jews, Jews are atheists in the eyes of Christians… etc. The list is endless. We are all atheists in someones eyes.

So in summary…, “Is atheism a religion?”

Again I reply:

• No
• Hell no
• That depends on how you define “religion”