Atheism is just as much an unprovable hypothesis as religion. Most of the people who refuse to believe in God out of a lack of accepted evidence don't realize they're actually agnostics (or at least as I understand the term). Atheism might not actually be A religion, as people generally use that term to refer to an organized religion, but it IS a religious belief.

But it's still a religious belief, and no more or less valid for not being institutionalized. Establishment of religion counts against them, too.


Because you're an emotional idiot. Religions are hardly the downfall of mankind, they are simply one of the many human institutions that are used to advance agendas, and are corruptible by virtue of their being human. Governments have a far worse track record than religions, but people seem to be under the impression that strict vigilance is needed to protect government from the pernicious influence of religion.

Which just makes you a shallow hypocrite. You believe in an invisible man in the sky, to what point? If he doesn't give a damn, what's the point of your god, or the relevance of your belief? What is the line between your "basic morality" and "nonsensical rules"? Because most members of organized religions also define their practice in the same way - basic morality but no nonsensical rules. Christians don't believe in those nonsensical rules about kosher, while Jews don't follow those nonsensical rules about praying to Mecca, and Moslems don't follow the nonsensical rules about washing a child's forehead.

As for imposing rules on others, to not do so is a rather extreme betrayal of your self or ideals. If you believe a code of conduct is the right way to behave, why would you not judge others by how well they adhered to that standard? If you were aware of a particular behavior or substance that poisoned people or otherwise endangered their survival, wouldn't you pass it along? How can anyone accept the existence of PETA, public schools, Alcoholics Anonymous or the anti-smoking movement, and criticize organized religion or missionary work? Hardly anyone who believes in the spiritual claims it is not more important than the physical, so why would someone who genuinely believes they know the path to spiritual survival refrain from doing all they can to make others follow it for their own good?


Who can answer that? How much of the way you were raised made you believe in God but not the nonsensical rules, or opposing sharing rules for acceptable interpersonal interactions? I believe in my religion because it fits my philosophy, but that philosophy is informed by my religion. I was brought up in a religion, but not given to heavy indoctrination or anything (my parents were hardly organized enough to attempt anything of that sort in an effective manner). I can't say what aspects of my personal philosophy and code of ethics were taken in by example or because I heard them articulated at some point or because I reasoned them out on my own. How much of what you consciously decide to believe or do is a rationalization of what you want, emotionally, or are comfortable with because you absorbed it subsconsciously?


Yes.
No.