Changes

=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===

=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===

[[File:Basketball.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref name="Bell">Bell, Nathan T. (January 7, 2009). [http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ "Strength of religious faith of athletes and nonathletes at two NCAA Division III institutions"].  The Sport Journal [online publication] (Daphne, AL: United States Sports Academy).  Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref>]]

[[File:Basketball.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref name="Bell">Bell, Nathan T. (January 7, 2009). [http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ "Strength of religious faith of athletes and nonathletes at two NCAA Division III institutions"].  The Sport Journal [online publication] (Daphne, AL: United States Sports Academy).</ref>]]

''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]

''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]

Many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[weak atheism|weak atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] [[Richard Dawkins]], argue for [[agnosticism]]/atheism with a religious fervor.  

Many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[weak atheism|weak atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] [[Richard Dawkins]], argue for [[agnosticism]]/atheism with a religious fervor.  

[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|The [[Oxford University]] Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to the [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as [[Atheism and cowardice|cowardice]] on your part."<ref>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved July 25, 2014.  See [[Daily Telegraph]]</ref>]]  

[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|The [[Oxford University]] Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to the [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as [[Atheism and cowardice|cowardice]] on your part."<ref>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. See [[Daily Telegraph]]</ref>]]  

In addition, although many atheists deny that [[Atheist worldview|atheism is a worldview]], atheists commonly share a [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], [[Evolution|belief in evolution]] and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:

In addition, although many atheists deny that [[Atheist worldview|atheism is a worldview]], atheists commonly share a [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], [[Evolution|belief in evolution]] and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:

*Slick, Matt (October 2011).  [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"]  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.  See [[CARM]]

*Slick, Matt (October 2011).  [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"]  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  See [[CARM]]

*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"]  Apologetics.net.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.

*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"]  Apologetics.net.

*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"].  Apologetics.net.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.

*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"].  Apologetics.net.  

*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013).  [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"].  Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.  See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref>   

*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013).  [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"].  Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website.  See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref>   

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview&#93;] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press).  Preview retrieved from GoogleBooks on July 25, 2014.</ref>  These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview&#93;] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press).  Preview: GoogleBooks</ref>  These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.

English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008).  [http://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"].  Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.  Retrieved on April 23, 2015.</ref>. However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:

English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008).  [http://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"].  Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.</ref>. However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:

*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010).  [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.

*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010).  [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"].  Creation Ministries International.

*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>

*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"].  Creation Ministries International.</ref>

In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>Multiple references:

In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>Multiple references:

*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013).  [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"].  Nytimes.com.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.

*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013).  [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"].  Nytimes.com

*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013).  [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"]  TheBlaze.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.

*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013).  [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"]  TheBlaze.   

*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013).  [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".]  Gawker.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>

*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013).  [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".]  Gawker.</ref>

See also:  

See also:  

[[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] notions of origins are religious which has legal implications relative to [[evolution]] being taught in public schools.<ref>Multiple references:

[[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] notions of origins are religious which has legal implications relative to [[evolution]] being taught in public schools.<ref>Multiple references:

*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010).  [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.

*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010).  [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"].  Creation Ministries International.  

*Calvert, John, J. D. (June 22, 2010).  [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_error_summary.pdf "Summary of 'Kitzmiller’s error: using an exclusive rather than inclusive definition of religion'"].  Intelligent Design Network.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.

*Calvert, John, J. D. (June 22, 2010).  [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_error_summary.pdf "Summary of 'Kitzmiller’s error: using an exclusive rather than inclusive definition of religion'"].  Intelligent Design Network.   

*Calvert, John, J. D. (Spring 2009).  [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_Error.pdf "Kitzmiller's error:  defining 'religion' exclusively rather than inclusively"].  ''Liberty University Law Review'', vol. 3:2, pp. 213-328. Retrieved from Intelligent Design Network on July 26, 2014.</ref>

*Calvert, John, J. D. (Spring 2009).  [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_Error.pdf "Kitzmiller's error:  defining 'religion' exclusively rather than inclusively"].  ''Liberty University Law Review'', vol. 3:2, pp. 213-328. Intelligent Design Network</ref>

Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been atheists or [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref name="Batten and Sarfati">Multiple references:

Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been atheists or [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref name="Batten and Sarfati">Multiple references: