Saturday, December 06, 2008

Even Atheism Is A Religion

After reading the news about the sign an atheist group put up next to a nativity scene In Olympia, WA, I was curious and had to check out the group's website. The sign that had been put up dismisses belief in gods or devils, heaven or hell, and claims that there is only the world we currently live in. It claims that religion only "hardens hearts and enslaves minds". Looking around, it would seem that a lot of awful things have been done in the name of religion both in recent times and throughout history. But is God really the author of such hideous acts? I really don't think so. All of these acts have been committed by people. They might cowardly blame God (or the devil) for what they do, but no supernatural being can force them or any of us to do anything. We all have our own free will and are responsible for our own actions. As powerful as he might be, God cannot force us to obey him.

Meanwhile, these atheists have their own "religion", if I may call it that. I define the term religion here as a gathering of people who think or believe alike joining together to share their beliefs as well as attempting to influence others to believe likewise. This is pretty much what all religions do. This group has a website and a radio show. On their website, they invite people to join their "religion" and to make a tax-deductible donation. So they are really doing some of the same things that the other religious groups they criticize are doing.


So Sayeth The Shack

3 comments:

Jeni said...

Good point there, John. Now, I wonder if they would agree with your logic or not. Who cares -I agree and now, you and I have our own group, "Those who believe Atheism is a religous group" -right?

Samuel Skinner said...

"But is God really the author of such hideous acts? I really don't think so. All of these acts have been committed by people. They might cowardly blame God (or the devil) for what they do, but no supernatural being can force them or any of us to do anything. We all have our own free will and are responsible for our own actions. As powerful as he might be, God cannot force us to obey him."

Most dictators didn't actually kill anyone (except Red Alert Stalin and a few others)- they got other people to do so through promises of reward or punishment. Like heaven or hell.

"I define the term religion here as a gathering of people who think or believe alike joining together to share their beliefs as well as attempting to influence others to believe likewise. "

That is ideology. Or hobby. Unless you think Stardestroyer.net is the holy shrine for the Jedi cause.

The Shack said...

Good point Samuel...about the dictators. As far as reward and punishment is concerned, do we obey the law (I am referring to civil laws here) because we are afraid of punishment, or because we are "good people"?