Atheism is not a religion.

Thank for your response, Pro. Begin Contentions. Also, here's a witty quote: "You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic." -Doris Egan Pro has not posted a witty quote. However, he has provided his own excuse. He has led a hectic week. He has promised to compensate for this loss next round. And I agree with Pro's proof of his nine qualifications legitimacy. C1: "Right off the bat, atheism does not fit the criteria of the most basic requirement of religion: belief in supernatural beings" I would substitute "supernatural beings" or "deities" as a leader. Or someone with utmost power. Or someone to follow. Buddhism, Scientology, Raelism, and Humanism are religions who do not believe in a supernatural being. Therefore, their followers are atheist. Therefore they believe loosely of the atheists belief. My loose logic is that all the non-theistic religions believe in "atheism". Pro has admitted in the practice of sacred objects in Scientology and has called it a religion. Logic Equation: Scientology ≈ Atheism beliefs ≈ Atheism ≈ Religion However, if you do not agree with this. I could fit blank and raw atheism into some (if not all) of these criteria. As for this criterion, atheists believe in the idea of morals or their own morals. That alone is an "authority" or "deity". "God" is a belief, something of the mind. Something some people believe. Atheists set their own morals. If you define "no beliefs" as "you make your own", then I am afraid that is decidedly wrong. Have you (Pro) defined "no morals"? Describe a situation in which some actions have no morals, for there is always an angle to which we can draw forth a "moral" or "belief". Since I say "God" is a belief, or self-imposed "authority", then this mean everyone is subject to their own way of thinking. "Morals" is therefore a "god". Self subject to self. In this logic, we all believe in a deity and/or higher authority and we, therefore, all fulfill this criterion. Please try to understand my abstract logic here. C2: "Whereas in Catholic churches water is “holy” and the altar is the place for “sacred offerings,” atheists make no distinction between arbitrary or doctrinal justification for sacred and non-sacred/profane objects." "Sacred"? "Profane"? "Holy"? This could be defined as "revered", "impure", "unclean", and "respected". One's morals, or "God", justifies holy and profane things. I could easily provide examples if you refute this. C3: "Ritual acts focused on sacred objects." Own morals deem ritualistic acts. Ritualistic can be defined many differant ways. Like celebrations for game night could be seen as ritualistic. Making your own signature chili could be ritualistic. C4: A moral code believed to be sanctioned by the gods. Morals = God Sanctioned by self already resolved. C5: Characteristically religious feelings (awe, sense of mystery, sense of guilt, adoration), which tend to be aroused in the presence of sacred objects and during the practice of ritual, and which are connected in idea with the gods. Religious Feel is not present. I will give you this point. But religious feel is not needed for something to be religious. C6: Prayer and other forms of communication with gods. Moral= God Self communication As for the last remaining points, they are subject to self thought and self reasoning atheism. Thank you for your time and I realize my arguments closely resemble Humanism, but please refer to my example equation for scientology above.\Thank You! :D