Ricky Gervais explaining how he became an Atheist

[mrstickball]

The_vagabond7 said:

mrstickball said:
SciFi -

Do you realize that the average atheist (and I'm talking the average of the millions that are self-declared atheist) give much less of their time to volunteerism and charitable giving? Just because you do it does not mean your the norm.

Don't get me wrong, it's great that you volunteer, because it's an awesome thing. But you must understand that what you do is well outside the norm of your religion.

Do not make me go get my stick.

Atheism is a religion. It still follows the definition of a theistic religion, although being opposed to theism.

Here's M-W.com's definition of religion:

a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

What is being religious?

relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity

If you are a practicing atheist, your still holding onto a pattern of beliefs, having faith in something (science), and given to it's cause (arguing there is no god). If you look at the word religion, it's a dedication to a pattern of something. Although we perscribe it to a belief in God, that is not the prerequisite for the word.

The opposite of religion wouldn't be someone that is godless, but one that lacks a system of belief (regardless of what that system is), and puts their trust in nothing.