I’ve always been interested as to why believers, some at least, consider atheism just another religion. It’s clear that we have no supernatural beliefs, so what is it these theists are looking at that make them want to call atheists religious? I think it may be that the definition of religion is much broader than just a belief in gods, it also has to do with an specific interest people may have. Like atheism.
I wonder how many reading this would agree that religion is evil. Yes, I said that. It doesn’t matter which religion it is but those countries that have majorities in one or another always seem to be exposed for what they are. It’s not love and peace, more obey what we say or else. There are still Christian countries that have laws against blasphemy. In Muslim countries, it’s actually illegal to renounce Islam – that person may be jailed, even killed.
So as a conservative, those are the people I most follow on social media. Not entirely, as I follow those that self describe as liberal or progressive as well. I have no idea what the ratio is, but I enjoy hearing different perspectives. Sometimes, we all need to hear something we may not agree with to reevaluate what we think we may already know.
It’s the 21st century. We have technology that can connect us all around the world in an instant. We chat with people in other countries over social media. We no longer have to work as hard as we did, even a 100 years ago, to feed and house our families. We live longer lives because of advances in medicine. We no longer fear the dark.
The criticism I hear most from believers, as an atheist, is that I do not respect their belief. I often look quizzically when I hear that because I have never thought it incumbent on anyone to respect someone else’s belief, blindly. Respect, at least to me, is something earned, and for me, it’s something I apply to individuals, not beliefs.