[MD] How is atheism a religion?

[Heather Perella]

Hello Marsha, Matt, Ham, Gene, dmb, and others,

     Ham said:  "So you, too, could be religious! 
Perhaps it is best that we all refrain from throwing
stones at glass windows."

     Well, so far I've heard the concept of G-d can be
replaced by another concept and thus, don't throw the
baby out with the bath water.  I've heard somebody is
against organized religion.  Then, organized societies
are linked by beliefs and worldviews, etc...  Also,
G-d just doesn't exist, but why or why not, well, this
has to do with proof and empirical evidence, etc... 
Ham had this long list of what philosophy will
classify as religion.  
     Now, from reading these posts everybody is coming
from different directions/assumptions as to what
religion is and what is G-d?  So we need everything on
the table, by each of us, before we can come up with
any understanding, any intellectual footing springing
from our applied discussion.  All of us together help
provide focus or put any topic into a perceptible
view.  Yet, when we all come from such different
angles, with apparent assumptions lurking in the
background on any topic it becomes difficult for us to
shoot any target of discussion.
     For example, I say I believe in G-d.  Somebody
else says, they don't believe a G-d exists.  We walk
away and leave it at that.  Now did we learn how we
came to that conclusion?  I would say not.  This is
what is happening in this thread.  We put in our
input, yet, personally why have we concluded what we
have concluded?  The thread is young or many are just
giving their opinion, which we could say (1) space for
opinion is all we are seeking, or (2) we haven't dug
deep enough into the discussion.
     Dmb, I think your targeting of a something is
present and we have called it religion or G-d, and it
is part of the mythos recognizing something that can't
be rid, but can be translated/deciphered, as in your
saying the baby can not be thrown out with the bath
water analogue.  I think this concept or 'something'
present the mythos, in time, has come to identify as
G-d or religion is very real.  Superman, thinking of
the current comic book movie, is not flying in our
skies, yet, the analogues, the storyline, and the
meanings, etc... from such a comic book hero inspires
humans.  Is G-d or religion an organized or even
unorganized way that people have acquired and
developed identity for, over time, to provide
inspiration and feeling of awe?  In a readily
identifiable way that even as Buddhism and Hinduism
has diverted away from their teachings as well by
having statues that are to remind or bring to light
something buddhist and hinduist will say exists not in
the statue, narrowly, but buddha and the g-ds of hindu
are much more than that.  So why the need for statues,
the bible, the ten commandments, the concept of G-d,
churches, temples, etc...?  What are people going into
these concepts and places as, and when they leave what
happens to them?  Have they changed?  Did they get
something out of the experience?  If yes, then what is
it that people acquired during such experiences?  I
just have a lot of questions for now to throw out into
the [MD].

SA

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