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Atheism is a religion (view source)
Revision as of 09:16, October 13, 2014
, 09:16, October 13, 2014→New Atheism seen as a narrow and dogmatic religion
All of these seven dimensions are present for atheism, and hence atheism is a religion under Smartt's model. Although atheism possesses some of these elements more strongly than others, Smart's model does not require all of these dimensions to be present, or present equally, for the existence of religion to be established.
All of these seven dimensions are present for atheism, and hence atheism is a religion under Smartt's model. Although atheism possesses some of these elements more strongly than others, Smart's model does not require all of these dimensions to be present, or present equally, for the existence of religion to be established.
== New Atheism seen as a narrow and dogmatic religion ==
=== Atheist cults ===
[[File:Temple of Reason.jpg|thumbnail|180px|The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg was turned into a Temple of Reason by the [[Cult of Reason]]. ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheist cults]]
Within the [[Atheism is a religion|atheist religion]], there have been a number of [[atheist cults]] and atheistic groups which have had a cultish following. Some of these atheist cults/groups still exist today.
An example of an atheist cult in history is the [[Cult of Reason]] during the [[French Revolution]]. The [[France|French]] atheist Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of [[Reason]]".<ref>Pierre Gaspard Chaumette was an atheist, see: ''The English Heiress, Book 1'' By Roberta Gellis, page 211</ref><ref>Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of Reason", see: Benjamin Rush's Lectures on the Mind, Volume 144 By Benjamin Rush. page 170</ref>
The atheist cults or atheist groups which have had a cultish following which have formed in history or exist today are often a result of factors such as: [[utopia]]n thinking, fanatical devolution to various atheistic ideologies, a poor understanding of science/technology (or a penchant for materialist [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] thinking) and wishful thinking.
For example, [[cryonics]] is a pseudoscience that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally dead (Cryonic procedures are performed shortly after a person's death).<ref>
*[http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/winter-2012/cryogenesis-a-review#.VDHE0RYy5l4 Cryogenesis: A Review], Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, In Winter 2012/ March 11, 2012
*[http://thehumanist.com/july-august-2011/heaven-for-atheists/ Heaven for atheists - TheHumanist.com]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and death anxiety]]
The atheists [[Robert Ettinger]] and [[Isaac Asimov]] played a significant role in the founding/launching of the [[cryonics]] movement (see: [[Atheism and cryonics]]).<ref>
*[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/articles_mensajournal.html A Brain Is A Terrible Thing To Waste Mensans, Cryonics, and The Fight To Extend Human Life] by David Pascal, Published in the November/December 2005 issue of Mensa Bulletin
*"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/science-obituaries/8658435/Robert-Ettinger.html Robert Ettinger]". The Telegraph. July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2013. "Despite his Jewish roots, he grew up a determined atheist."
*Klein, Bruce (August 13, 2004). "[http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/4112-the-father-of-cryonics-robert-c-w-ettinger/ The Father of Cryonics], Robert C. W. Ettinger, Interview with Bruce Klein". Immortality Institute. Retrieved May 24, 2009.</ref> According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."<ref>[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/aboutcryonics_critics.html Cryonics and critics], The Cryonics Society</ref>
For a more complete listing and description of atheist cults or atheistic groups which have a cultish following, please see: [[Atheist cults]].
=== New Atheism seen as a narrow and dogmatic religion ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]] [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and anger]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]] [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and anger]]