Atheism and Religion
Religion is generally understood to be a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices pertaining to a belief in a supernatural power (gods) that controls human destiny, i.e., a belief in a deity. Apart from the general understanding of religion it should be noted that a few sects, such as Buddhism and Jainism, do not advocate a core belief in gods. An essential component of god-based religion is an unquestioning acceptance that certain things are true in the absence of scientific proof or evidence.

Atheism is simply the absence of belief in gods.

Additional Input from Contributors:

Many terms have been coined by various philosophers and theologians to encompass the conscious lack of belief in gods and the conscious rejection of the existence of gods. Although atheism is described in a variety of ways that often depend on the views of the describer, atheism is an extremely simple concept.

An atheist is a person from whose life a belief in the supernatural (gods) is absent. There is no denial of, no failure to recognize and no denouncing of the supernatural contained within the term atheist. At its most basic level atheism is the absence of belief in the supernatural. There are no practical consequences that the non-believer must follow.

There are no systematic attributes to atheism, no conscientious devotion to anything and atheists are not required to fashion their lives around any atheistic principles. For an individual who has been exposed to the various religions, atheism is simply an intellectual choice.

What is confusing to religionists is that spirituality can be a component of both. A belief in the supernatural, some divine higher power or other system of religious belief is not necessary to develop a mindfulness about one's place in the universe, one's connection to other people and the planet and a set of high personal standards by which one chooses to live. An atheist can lead an exemplary life with reason and basic moral principles that are common to all people. Many humanitarian efforts are led by atheists.

Religion entails belief in the supernatural. While some religions (notably Buddhism) do not include belief in gods, and therefore qualify as athiestic, they are nevertheless called religions because they do entail beliefs in the supernatural, life after death, departed spirits, reincarnation, etc. So, it is incorrect to call atheism a religion. People who lack a belief in gods do not constitute a new religion. This is an extremely difficult concept for religionists who by their very nature exist within their "beliefs".

An atheist requires no rules and rituals to exist as an atheist.
An atheist requires no doctrines nor dogma nor clergy nor texts nor organized group to not believe in deities.
An atheist uses no set of fixed principles to explain the unknown or human existence.
Most importantly atheism requires NO TIME whatsoever. As they say . . . if atheism is a religion then not playing baseball is a sport!

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