Is Atheism considered a religion?

I will request that this goes as a souceless debate. It's purely opinion based due to an unwillingness to dive deep into certain religions. If we start bringing sources into it, I will simply not debate it any further. In personal opinion definitions are not to be considered as sources.

Now to begin: Religion is defined as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, exp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

If this is the case then, Atheism is considered to be the belief in nothing. The belief in that nothing is considered to be a belief therefore making atheism a religion.

Upon being asked what your religion is, some people reply with "I'm a Christian" while others reply with "I'm an Atheist." These words alone show that Atheism is a religion.

Vote Pro

I thank my opponent for creating this debate for this is a topic that I feel very strongly about. With that said I accept the premise of a source-less debate and my opponent's definition of religion.

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Rebuttals
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///Now to begin: Religion is defined as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, exp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.///

[With this definition I believe that my opponent has won the debate for me. Using this definition Atheism does not fall under the category of religion. Atheism is not a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, or purpose of the universe. Atheism has no devotional or religious observances. Atheism does not dictate a moral code. Atheism is simply the belief that there is no supernatural power that governs the universe. That is all that Atheism is about. If Atheism itself gave some explanation of he nature of the universe than it might very well be a religion.]

///If this is the case then, Atheism is considered to be the belief in nothing. The belief in that nothing is considered to be a belief therefore making atheism a religion.///

[My opponent claims that Atheism is the belief in nothing. This is not correct, as I said above, Atheism is the belief that there is no supernatural power. There is also the alternate definition that Atheism is the disbelief in all supernatural powers which is commonly referred to as Agnostic-Atheism or Weak Atheism. I say again that neither of these beliefs is the belief in nothing.]

///Upon being asked what your religion is, some people reply with "I'm a Christian" while others reply with "I'm an Atheist." These words alone show that Atheism is a religion.///

[I do not deny that when asked the above question part of my response is, "I'm an Atheist." but I also preface this with the phrase, "I don't have a religion." While many Atheists may not say the first part out loud I am quite sure that they think it to themselves. This argument is basically just semanticizing by saying: "When I asked you what religion you are you answered 'Atheist' so Athiesm must be a religion." It is not a valid argument and I ask that my opponent drop it.

With that all said I conclude my arguments for this round and wish my opponent luck.

That is unfortunate. I extend all of my arguments.

I extend all of my arguments.

I extend all of my arguments.