I think it would be a good idea.

most likely yes... I mean it is what you believe, maybe the religions section should be chaged to beliefs. I dislike being called a christian when I do not know if the person who is saying the word christian understands it or not or how it applys to me. People assioate athiesm with religion so if they want to ask a question they will look there so I think so.

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In answer to your question "Should "Atheism" really be a category in the "Religions" section?" My answer? it's a good place to START. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have no personal opinion regarding atheism but the following are a couple of short and interesting articles in regard to whether Atheism is or isn't a religion: The Supreme Court has said a religion need not be based on a belief in the existence of a supreme being. In the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins, the court described "secular humanism" as a religion. http://franksatheisticramblings.blogspot.com/2005/09/is-atheism-religion.html A federal court of appeals ruled yesterday Wisconsin prison officials violated an inmate's rights because they did not treat atheism as a religion. "Atheism is [the inmate's] religion, and the group that he wanted to start was religious in nature even though it expressly rejects a belief in a supreme being," the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45874 The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs recognizes Atheism as a Religion (see symbols #16 and #32 for tombstones). http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp

Perhaps not a religion in the sense that they believe there is no supreme being, but that does not mean they are not spiritual people. To assume they are not would be ridiculous.

Where would you like it to be placed?

So true. It bugs me, but what am I going to do about it? Squawk. The category should be named: beliefs or view or something along those lines. Whatev.

I guess you could shove it in Philosophy section, but so long as there is a religion section there are going to be people in there questioning it - so there will be a bit of bleed-over Alternatively, just create a new section of AB called "Trolling and pointless flame wars" and move the entire religion category in there. I mean, that's what it is isn't it?

It shouldn't. Maybe they should make a skepticism category or something to that effect.

bothers me too... when i posted a question on the subject there was also the title "believing is not believing" or something to that effect... i don't know if it's still there, but it's incredibly misleading. apparently AB doesn't really understand the concept of atheism, which is problematic as the way the site categorizes tends to stick in people's minds. atheism should be in the social sciences category alongside religions, not within religions. come to think of it... why is religion in the social sciences category in the first place ? how is religion a social science ?

Some people approach atheism as anti-religion. Some people approach atheism with the same fervor and zeal as other people approach religion with. As if they are "religiously" atheistic.

My best guess is that whomever applied for the new category initially suggested Religion as the section to put it under and the person who approved it either didn't know any better, couldn't think of any better group to put it under, or though religion might be appropriate since Atheism is kind of the anti-religion. If you have a better suggestion for the category, you could submit it under feedback. Also, +5 to your question. I don't think there was really any reason to DR it.

As stated MANY times before... It's positioning in the AB category system does not mean it is classified as "A specific religion" --- It merely means that the subject of Atheism is most likely to come up in general discussions ABOUT religion. The religion category also has subcategories including "Karma", "Miracles", and "Prayers" ...So as you can see it is a very broad category, not just a list of specific religions. . . . Now, if Atheism were placed under the "Religions A - Z" category, THAT would indeed be presumptuous.

Ooooohhhhh! you have a thing with religion at the moment my friend, but your right, A---Athiest...R----Religion :)

Do you reject the legal protection to be an Atheist that the Freedom of Religion guarantees? The entire world agreed to include freedom of religion in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. See Article 2: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html The citizens of the United States think this freedom is just as important as the freedoms of speech or the press. All are part of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html Even the Catholic Church seeks and supports the freedom of religion for all human beings. In the Vatican II document, Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae (Human Dignity), the Church states: The human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits. For the entire document, see: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651207_dignitatis-humanae_en.html With love in Christ.

I believe, and could be wrong that there should be the list under social science: Religion, Atheism and Agnosticism...not necessarily in that order.

Atheism is not anti-religion, live and let live I say. It just explains existence diferently. It is without religion. Why can't the religious movement let anyone else have ideas of their own?

I agree, as I mentioned in another post, an atheist does not exist. One can only be defined as an atheist when concerning himself with religious philosophy. I would not describe myself as atheist when talking about anything else other than religion, I wouldn't say "Well as an atheist I prefer chocolate over vanilla" So atheism is not anti-religion...it just doesn't even acknowledge it and is part of dialogue used when strictly addressing matters of religious or suspernatural nature. It is not a belief system, so then should it not be listed separately and instead should be listed with religion since it is not an entity unto itself?

Which category is more suitable for atheism topics (an atheism subsection)? Maybe philosophy section? Or life & society? What do you think?

I asked the very same question.. got all sorts of silly responses, but I get the nasty ones. LOL They're trying to DR me all the way to hell. Good luck with that, eh?

Perhaps Atheism in put in the religious section because atheists spend more time there than they do in the atheist section. Just a thought.

I actually think it makes sense. Notice that "Atheism" and "Agnostocism" are under "Religions" but not in the "Religions A-Z" category. That suggests that they are part of a religious discussion, but not religions themselves.

That's kind of like saying that zero is not a number. And some people DO go to "church" for atheism, in the case of Unitarian Universalism, atheism is one of many beliefs or non-beliefs allowable in their non-creed centered "religion." http://www.uua.org/visitors/index.shtml