Quote from: organofcorti on January 18, 2016, 01:46:35 AM

Quote from: BADecker on January 17, 2016, 09:34:55 PM

Quote from: organofcorti on January 17, 2016, 05:03:56 AM

Part of a meaning is not the entire meaning. Unless there's a god or supernatural beliefs involved, your definition of religion is only part the usual definitions of religion. Therefore you aren't using the word the way it is usually defined.

If you say, "For the purposes of our discussion here, 'religion' shall mean such and such, and 'atheism' shall mean this and that," then you are absolutely correct, but ONLY if you can get an agreement from forum members to use your definitions.

That isn't what we have been doing in this discussion, although you might be trying to sneak in a quasi-agreement among forum members regarding definitions that you prefer. Rather, we have, in general, been using words according to their dictionary definitions.

With regard to the dictionary definition of "religion," "atheism" fits the meaning of the word "religion." And it doesn't only fit it regarding the part that says:

Quote from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion?s=t

something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience:
to make a religion of fighting prejudice

but it also fits, to some extent, the major part that says:

Quote from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion?s=t

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially 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

which is the main definition.

Notice the portion of this main definition that says, "... when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies." This portion is preceded by the word "especially," denoting that the definition, also, stands without some kind of supreme being included.

Notice that portions following the "superhuman" part use the words "usually" and "often," denoting that the definition can stand without the portions that "usually" and "often" are referring to.

You're appealing to authority, and then you cherry-pick the meaning you want. There are many suggested definitions given by each authority, some contradictory. What makes your definition the most representative?

Nevermind, I can't change your attitude on this point and since they are all based on an appeal to authority there's no logical argument to be made.

You write the language reasonably well. Did you make it up that way, or did you appeal to authority to figure out how to use it?

You mention that "there are many suggested definitions..." You also suggest that I am cherry picking. if I were able, and if they allowed me to print all the definitions, complete, in Bitcointalk, would you even be willing to read them... all? (chuckle)

According to the simple definitions of the online dictionary that I sited, atheism is a religion.

Quote from: organofcorti on January 18, 2016, 01:46:35 AM

Quote from: BADecker on January 17, 2016, 09:34:55 PM

Because of this, we can rightfully say that religion means, simply:

Quote

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

What is interesting is that atheists are full of such beliefs in science theory, which has not been proven to be fact. Thus, atheism is definitely a religion.

Your statement is that religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause AND nature AND purpose of the universe. Logically if any of these are not true, the statement as a whole is not true.

Atheists do not posit a "purpose" to the universe (read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology).

Therefore your statement as a whole is not true, and atheism cannot be considered a religion by that definition.

Actually, the truth doesn't have anything to do with what atheists posit. Since for many atheists, religion is something that they are against for themselves, they simply have a religion of non-religion. I admire how faithful many of them are, that they would continue with their religion of non-religion when all the while they are being shown that they have a religion. Their choice, I guess.