I find it odd that when filling out a form that asked me what my religion is one of the choices is Atheist.

What now? That is the that opposite of religion.

  • echo@lemmings.worldEnglish
    101·
    5 hours ago

    Atheist is not a statement about your religion at all. I’m also an atheist and my ‘religion’ is basically secular humanist. Yours could be none, Unitarian Universalist, Buddhist, secular humanist, or any others that are compatible.

    • Halasham@dormi.zoneEnglish
      62·
      4 hours ago

      I don’t intend this to be harsh or negative but I don’t know how to phrase this nicely;

      Secular Humanism is a philosophy, not a religion. Religions are faith-based while philosophies are based in some logical argumentation. The muddling of religion with philosophy linguistically serves only to tarnish philosophy and lend undue credence to religion. That language is so flexible can be beneficial but it can equally be detrimental when used like this.

      • echo@lemmings.worldEnglish
        5·
        4 hours ago
        1. I put religion in quotes to try to appease this take.
        2. You are being exceedingly literal and selective in your definition of religion.
        3. Ceding all rights to the word ‘religion’ to the xtian fundamentalists is not a good strategy.
        4. Your extreme position limits your ability to bridge with others which also limits your ability to affect change.
        5. I’ve had my ‘militant atheist’ phase and shared your inflexibility in the past. It wasn’t healthy for me and it wasn’t helpful for anyone.
        • Halasham@dormi.zoneEnglish
          3·
          3 hours ago
          • Thanks.
          • The differentiation I used wasn’t my own words, I got it from here, I figured I shouldn’t go off just my own take. I suppose I should have specified that from the beginning.
          • I suppose there’s a case to be made for that.
          • I don’t see how you’ve got that I have an extreme position from ‘Religions are faith-based while philosophies are based in some logical argumentation.’
          • Noted. I suppose I could try to find something not abhorrent about faith. I’ve long since stopped being angry about it but I’m still very much an Antitheist.
    • Kintarian@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      4 hours ago

      Wow, I just read about secular humanism, and it seems to be pretty much exactly how I feel about things. The human race could, through science, understanding, and cooperation, solve most of the problems that we are faced with. I like that.