Went back to the article - “Atheism is a Religion” by Elad Nehorai, and got this message: Editor’s Note: This post has been removed at the request of the blogger.

Thankfully I saved it - as I do for most articles I read - and will reproduce it below. muhahaha >:D

Cheers!

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Basically he’s arguing that atheism is a religion. Here are some gems:

We’re not so different, you and I. Me, an Orthodox Jew. You, a non-believer. We both argue vehemently for our points of view, we both have a certain vision for the world, we both think we know the truth about life.

How is this different than, say, politics? {Actually, later on he seems to suggest that politics is also religion!}

This is an important point bc the author seems to be using his own standards for what constitutes a religion. Apparently not having holy texts, any creeds, or rituals, or anything else like that doesn’t seem to matter. He might do well to study some anthropology and other, actual religions.

But atheism is not agnosticism. It doesn’t claim to simply point out the fallacies of belief. Instead, it has created a belief system out of not believing. It takes a defiant stance, saying that there is absolutely 100 percent no chance there is a god in the world.

This an interesting point - though it still wouldn’t make atheism a religion - but the vast majority of atheists don’t say that they know, with certainty, that it’s impossible for there to be a god. Most are “agnostic atheists” like myself. Hell, even Richard Dawkins, one of the most famous atheists alive, doesn’t assert absolute knowledge that there can’t be a god. Also, it seems the author is confusing belief with knowledge. Atheism is about belief: I simply don’t believe it. a/gnosticism is about one’s knowledge and certainty.

Quantum physics, ironically, has already made a good case that all we see and touch and feel isn’t real. So, even science disagrees with you. Now, I know you’ll be able to bring about a bunch of scientific evidence to prove me wrong even in that respect, but the truth is that that argument would…get nowhere…

Aside from the absurdity of this perversion of quantum physics, I’m amazed {or, actually, wish I could be amazed} that this guy would actually compare belief in the tangible, testable, practical universe with metaphysical ideas which are none of those. Seriously, WTF?

Because at the end of the day, no belief will ever be 100 percent validated by evidence.

This is something I hear a lot from theists, but what I think they fail to grasp is that 100% certainty isn’t required. Pretty much every decision we make in our lives is based on evidence that is less than 100% certain. Hell, it’s impossible to even know if anything exists or if it’s just a hallucination or something like that {Solipsism}. Yet it doesn’t stop us. The point is, certainty runs along a spectrum, but that doesn’t mean than something with 5% certainty is just as sensible to endorse as something with 95% certainty.

Atheism will never truly develop as a movement until it accepts it is a religion. A religion that should have churches and bibles and all that good stuff. Because you can’t take a stand in this world without something comparable to those institutions.

Newsflash, atheism is growing as a movement, and growing a lot. (NYT) And I wouldn’t say “develop” as there’s not much to develop. It’s just a lack of belief. But whatever “development” it may have required, let me assure you, it’s been achieved.

And to argue that one “can’t take a stand in this world without something comparable to those institutions” is incredibly idiotic and ignorant of history. Honestly, how long would it take you to think of 5 incredible people who influenced the world without all that extra baggage?

OTOH, if he defines “religion” as an “organization” - as it seems he might - then his argument is a bit less idiotic. Which is basically sums up all the points in his article. But at least the author recognizes his own beliefs as being absurd. I guess that’s worth something.

Cheers

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Full article Text…

“Atheism Is A Religion”

By Elad Nehorai

OK, atheists. Let’s have a talk. Pull up a chair, sit down, relax. There’s so much I want to say to you in so little time, so let’s just get straight to it. We’re not so different, you and I. Me, an Orthodox Jew. You, a non-believer. We both argue vehemently for our points of view, we both have a certain vision for the world, we both think we know the truth about life. I know that it may be hard to hear, but the truth is that atheism, while supposedly based around logic and intelligence, is a religion just like any other. Now, please, I told you to relax. Have some tea. But let’s be honest, it’s true. Let’s look at the arguments atheists make: they say there’s absolutely no evidence for the existence of G-d, and that the burden of proof is on the believers, etc., etc. Now, these are great arguments, and I will be the first to admit that my belief is beyond logic. But atheism is not agnosticism. It doesn’t claim to simply point out the fallacies of belief. Instead, it has created a belief system out of not believing. It takes a defiant stance, saying that there is absolutely 100 percent no chance there is a god in the world. So, let’s be honest, dear atheists. Do you really believe that your argument is based around science, around logic, when you say that there is absolutely no chance there is an intelligent design behind the universe? As soon as anyone makes such a stance, and makes it unequivocal, they are going from the world of logic to the world of belief. We’re both religious, you and I. The only difference is that your belief is based on the assumption that everything you see and touch and feel is real. I base my belief on the assumption that not only is the tangible world not real, but that books thousands of years old and men with beards know more about the universe and spirituality than I do. Yeah, I get it, that’s a bit crazy, and easily argued against in the world of logic and science. But so can yours, my friend, so can yours. Quantum physics, ironically, has already made a good case that all we see and touch and feel isn’t real. So, even science disagrees with you. Now, I know you’ll be able to bring about a bunch of scientific evidence to prove me wrong even in that respect, but the truth is that that argument would end up being circular. We would continue to debate and debate and get nowhere, just like every debate between religion and atheism. Because at the end of the day, no belief will ever be 100 percent validated by evidence. That’s why there are democrats and there are republicans. That’s why some people like Pink Floyd and some people like Justin Bieber (G-d help us). Not to say there aren’t good arguments for either belief, but simply that any time you decide to take a stand, to say something is 100 percent true, you are automatically taking a stance that is beyond logic. There was an atheist conference a few years ago where someone suggested they make something comparable to a church. A place where their leaders can come and speak and guide their congregants. Of course, this was quickly shot down. Why do what every religion does, when we aren’t a religion, the atheists asked. Atheism will never truly develop as a movement until it accepts it is a religion. A religion that should have churches and bibles and all that good stuff. Because you can’t take a stand in this world without something comparable to those institutions. Why do you think so many political movements have conventions and books and leaders? They’re beliefs! Religions! And that’s totally cool, that’s just the way it works with belief. And so, my dear atheists, I hope you haven’t left the room yet, because, well, I think that we really do have a lot in common. We’re both believers. Believers with only an ounce of logic to back us up. You think the tangible world is all that’s real, you crazy bastards. And I think Moses split the Red Sea. We’re both insane. Let’s just admit it already. Follow Elad Nehorai on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PopChassid



