Atheism being a religion may sound contradictory at first but is easy to understand with just a tiny bit of looking-at-the-facts.
It’s not terribly complex…
Atheism means “without theism”.
Theism is a belief in a deity (one or more).
Therefore Atheism is a belief system rejecting the existence of deities.
What is a Religion? Most commonly in practice it’s a belief system involving worship of one or more deities but at its root/base definition, it is “a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.”
Therefore Atheism is a religion.
Being an atheist doesn’t make you part of the religion of atheism any more than believing in Jesus Christ makes you a Lutheran. Beliefs are beliefs. Philosophies are philosophies. Beliefs and philosophies incorporated into a lifestyle is a religion.
Got it?
One more time just to be clear so people can stop saying wrong things: Atheism is not the rejection of religion. Religions are ways of life. Atheism is merely the rejection of the existence of a deity.
Shintoism and Buddhism are religions because they are philosophical lifestyles, not because they worship deities (they don’t).
You’re welcome for the education.
Feel free to remind yourself how you see fit. I recommend bookmarking this page, but other options of course exist.
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