By: Michael Tuosto
A belief that ‘there is no God’ is exactly that, a belief. It needs to be treated as every other belief or way of thinking should be treated by the American government: with indifference. James Dao’s piece, entitled Atheists Seek Chaplain Role in the Military, found in The New York Times bring to light the issue of Atheism in the military. More specifically, he discusses the absence of Atheist representation in the form of Chaplains. James provides a quote in the article that describes the underlying sentiment among most who oppose the idea of Atheist Chaplains in the military, “ ‘You’re not a faith group; you’re a lack-of-faith group,’ First Lt. Samantha Nicoll…recalled a chaplain friend’s saying about the idea.” I understand that religious people don’t recognize atheism as an institution as all other religions are. Atheists don’t exactly have the hierarchy and places of worships that most religions enjoy. This argument breaks down, though, with the existence of an effort to become one. As James explains in his article, “Defense Department statistics show that about 9,400 of the nation’s 1.4 million active-duty military personnel identify themselves as atheists or agnostics…” In my view that’s a significant minority and their right to have a spiritual leader should not be hindered by their minority status. I’d qualify it as a potential institution being kept from existence by a government body.
The military is often seen as an institution that is allowed to operate under a different set of rules, with their individuals being granted a different set of rights than the rest of America’s citizens. Religion is a particularly sensitive issue to Americans however, and I believe the existence of a policy in the military that suppresses Atheism and Atheist expression comes across as a government endorsement of religion as a necessary institution in everyone’s lives. Whether it was what the founding fathers were thinking or not, I believe the American individuals right to think however they please is the main reason to have freedom of religious affiliation written into the Bill of Rights. This policy allows us to call God by whatever name we want, worship whatever prophet we think spoke God’s message, purchase whichever Holy Book we will, as well as believe there was never a God at all. In short, it allows for more freedom.
I am a Roman Catholic, however, I’m more concerned with the idea that Atheism would be treated with intolerance by our government than I am with the growing number of irreligious Americans. Not believing in God is not a “thought crime”. Our minds are off limits to Uncle Sam.
Is Atheism a Religion?,
Smike
6 Jun 2011As an Atheist, I think it’s rather silly to have an Atheist chaplain. What would he say to non-believing soldiers?
“I realize you lost both of your legs, but remember that the scientific method is the surest path to knowledge we know of”.
That seems rather silly to me. I know plenty of Atheists and Agnostics who regard Richard Dawkins as an obnoxious loud-mouth and do not regard themselves as part of any kind of Atheist community. Atheism is not a Faith, it is the absence of faith.
This absence of faith shouldn’t be illegal, but I don’t see how it could be respected on an institutional level. We tend to be rather individualistic sorts anyway, I don’t think most of us mind not being represented.
Alixandria
1 Mar 2012It is not a religion, it is a belief system. To me, “religion” refers to the worship or exceptional honoring of one or more entities. People who follow the Golden Rule are part of a belief system, but not a religion.
Mary
1 Mar 2012No. The correct definition of Atheism is LACK of belief.
Marian
1 Mar 2012I think it’s a belief, but I don’t think it’s a religion. There is no guide, or book, per say, you just do not believe. There is no “House of Atheism” to which Atheists gather, on a specific day, and we are not as organized or cliquish as other groups are. There is no indoctrination, you just stop believing in your deity or the concept of a deity.
I think people who are trying to poke and prod are trying to make Atheists, who are banding together for support and to show they are not as much of a minority as some people would believe, want to classify Atheists to either make them more sense, or just write them off.
Dylan
1 Mar 2012Not a religion or a belief system. The literal meaning of atheism is not believing in deities. It’s simply a descriptor for people like myself who do not believe in god or gods and does not imply anything other than that. If I were to tell you that I don’t collect bottle caps that wouldn’t imply anything about whether or not I enjoy soda.
Rachael
1 Mar 2012So not believing anyone else’s religion is being viewed as a religion now? Wow.
Louis
1 Mar 2012Well, if “atheism” is strong enought to exacerbate more than a very few (“eh?”) synapses, then it becomes a faith; and, while it may not have an organizational superstructure which would qualify it as a “religion”, it neverthess – in an individual’s life – holds the same place as a “faith”: a set of beliefs on which one bases one’s life and conduct. And, sadly, it is no more able to be proved than a faith in god. Sad, isn’t it? All that bother over something unproveable. Tsk
Marian
1 Mar 2012Louis: Uhm, no. I do not contemplate my lack of belief, or do I draw anything from it to give me strength, or any other anchoring religious belief does. It’s like being a non-smoker. Sure cigarettes exist, but I don’t buy them just to have them. I do not have faith in a non-deity I am sure does not exist, and it does not affect my life on any spiritual or other level, unless I am discussing it with someone who is really trying to read deeper into something than is there.
Louis
1 Mar 2012Marian Johnson: Interesting. Thanks. Really, I mean it. Then (in my universe), I wouldn’t call that a “belief”, strictly speaking – only because by my definition “belief” is fundamentally important to one’s well-being. (Though, I admit, that that is only by my definition. You see the problems of talking about anything to anyone other than oneself?! lol!) So I’d say you’re an Agnostic – someone who just doesn’t think it matters much, one way or the other – or, at least, someone who “believes” it doesnt matter. Quite honestly, though I’m a priest who believes, I kinda think god likes well intentioned athiests and agnostics. . .who still go on doing good without any carrot dangled in front of them. See what I mean? Anyway, we’ll all find out in the end. I do wish you well.
Taboo Jiver
1 Mar 2012Technically religion doesn’t have to have a belief system. It can simply be a collection of cultural practices defined by an overarching worldview. What the article is asking is not if it’s a belief system, but if it’s a religion, which, while similar in many respects, are not entirely the same thing. Some philosophers have claimed science as a religion, and that many atheists use it as their unofficial “church”, in which they attend to its structure for meaning and answers when they are devoid of a deity that would have previously answered those questions.
Taboo Jiver
1 Mar 2012*Please note, though, that I’m not saying science is just for atheists. I’m well aware that many people of many faiths are involved in science.
Claudine
1 Mar 2012If one had never given any thought to any belief system, that would not be religion. But to have considered the subject, and to have defined for yourself a position regarding that subject, can be recognized as religion in that it in and of itself is a belief system. Atheism is not lack of belief – it is belief in there being no deity. If the standard definition of religion is the concept of having a belief system, atheism is in fact a religion.
Dorchelle
1 Mar 2012atheism is just without a god. nothing more. it’s not a faith to no believe in something. it’s no different than someone not believing in aliens, or is that a faith now too?
Madi
1 Mar 2012Atheism is in no way a religion, in the same way non smoking or non drinking is not a religion. Personally, I was never indoctrinated in a religion in the first place, there are no religious people in my family. I remain in the same state I was born in; unattached, unconnected to the peculiar cultural practice people call religion. It plays no part in who I am; atheism is the default, religion and spiritualiy is a (superfluous) addition.
Dot
1 Mar 2012absence of faith cannot be construed as religion. Absence of faith is simly that.. In order for it tosomehow morph into a religion it would need some kind of tenet of faith. Wich it vannot do as by its own statement it ‘lacks’.
Rachael
1 Mar 2012As an atheist, I completely disagree with any statement of it being a religion. We atheists do not follow a common code of ethics or have any kind of bond that would constitute a religion. We have one thing in common: we don’t believe anyone’s religion. That’s it.
Mary
1 Mar 2012Michael Tuosto postulates in his first sentence that “A belief that ‘there is no God’ is exactly that, a belief.” And that’s precisely where he went wrong. Atheism is not a belief that there is no god; it’s the absence of belief in any god. The difference is subtle but important, and is often misconstrued by those of faith (and some self-identifying atheists, too). Put simply, an absence of belief is not a belief, any more than an absence of water is water. Only if you persist in thinking there’s water where there is no physical sign of it are you engaging in belief.
Nia
1 Mar 2012It is a belief in not belief, but not a religion. A religion is more than a belief, or lack there of, but rather a doctorine, or set of rules and standards based on a belief.
Zarich
1 Mar 2012Atheism is not a religion. But it does require faith.
Monica
1 Mar 2012Zarich, there I disagree. Being an atheist doesn’t require faith.
It does, however, require the use of critical thinking skills.
I found for me, that it was easier to explain my stance on things because I wasn’t using scripture to justify it.
And well, it doesn’t mean I’m for the devil either. Which I’ve heard that argument also. That atheists are just devil worshippers. Because apparently if you aren’t for a certain flavor of Christianity…you are obviously against it. Which seems to me like a fallacy.
I mean, that’s like me walking up to my mom and saying to her that she is a soccer player because she isn’t involved in football. See what I mean?
And Dylan hit the nail on the head. Other mystical creatures aren’t seen as real either. Yet no one’s hopping out of bushes saying your lack of belief in unicorns takes more faith than believing in them.
If they did, who wants to guess where their new residence would be?
That being said, some people discuss religion without believing in that particular one. Heck, most do. The best example I can think of is a Christian talking about Judaism without doing the research.
Atheism is a lack of belief in a deity. If lack of belief is belief…then what does that make Islam, Christianity, or hinduism?
But you know what is a religion? The invisible pink unicorn and the flying spagetti monster.
Dylan
1 Mar 2012Does it require faith to not believe in unicorns? Lol no, it doesn’t.
Mary Denny
1 Mar 2012Literally, no. But I do feel it can be. As an example, back in high school there were those of us who were so against being ‘in a “click”‘, by definition we became one. So if a group of like minded people are so strongly bonded, and some even gather to talk or act against thing they ‘dont’ believe in that they, themselves mimic a religion.
Victor
1 Mar 2012The word ‘religion’ means actions that take place on a regular basis. The modern day interpretation is a bit off. If you dance at all hours, ALL THE TIME, then you are a religious dancer. As for atheists, well, i would have to say no. Having had deeply intense spiritual experiences myself, i sort of pity those who for whatever reason haven’t. Personally, i don’t belong to any one particular ‘faith’ i consider myself a spiritual being having a naterial experience, i know it’s cliche, but i have had more evidence than i need. Faith is one thing. KNOWING is something altogether different. I KNOW THAT THE UNFATHOMABLE SPIRIT EXISTS IN ME AS ME. this i KNOW to be true. Sometimes, in meditation, the infinite spirit confirms my beliefs, i am overcome with joy and a sense of KNOWING that i am on my path. This gives me great comfort.
Larry
1 Mar 2012So what is the religion called for people who don’t believe in unicorns?
Tuo11
2 Mar 2012In my attempt to defend Atheism from the never ending attempt by the state to own our minds, I have regrettably offended atheists. I understand the “absence of a belief” idea. I fear atheists, with the exception of extraordinarily strong men like the late Christopher Hitchens, are in fact more vulnerable to the seductive powers of the State. Those with a strong belief in God, will never be convinced that their rights are granted to them by the State. The religious believe that their rights were granted to them by their creator and that’s why they justly fight the State when it tries to usurp the power to manipulate, regulate, and eliminate those rights.
To you Atheists who are capable and comfortable with fighting the State on the basis that your rights are simply inherent, then you are armed with the tools to fight for your freedom as well. Others who reject God replace the almighty with the government as the all powerful giver and taker of life and liberty.