Quote:
Originally Posted by Suburbanite
Atheism is not a religion. Even by your own definition of religion being a belief system. Specifically religion involves metaphysical assertions, none of which are essential to being an atheist. So, of course, atheism is not a religion, despite the many attempts to describe it as such. Its sort of the your rubber I'm glue argument. Morality is also not an intrinsic part of religion. Morality is a bi-product of the evolution of religions. Originally Hammurabi's Code, the ancient jews converted the concept into the divine laws of the ten commandments, the arch of the holy covenant, and the later the talmud. A jewish reformist, named Jesus, attempted to change law into morality. This is directly where we get out modern understanding of morality from, Jesus. The concept of good and bad became applicable to everything. Suddenly the meek were the ones destined to inherit the earth. And thats all morals are, a house of cards for the weak to rest on.
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Oh come on this is patently rediculous. Have you not ever heard of someone worshipping their god "money". While the term religion usually does have metaphysical precepts it does not by definition "require" them to correctly apply an describe it using the term religion.
"Anything" can be a religion. Like I joked earlier even masterbation can be taken to that level.
I never really viewed morality as being divine since I too am an atheist. Morality imo is more the philosophy and jurisprudence of Natural Law that existed as far back as 2500 bc.
An extension of this is the inalienable rights in the constitution.
Atheists have a problem you see. They are stuck using moral precepts that were derived from Natural Law, hence some religion along the way, (mostly egyptian and judaism), and a few other ancient religions that all came to the same conclusions.
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