Atheist/anti-religious, when did religion become to mean Christianity?

It's interesting to me that, when stating a personal belief, whether it be based on quantum physics, mono or poly-theism, certain philosophical perspectives, etc., that the word 'religion' can be, and often is, misused. It would be nice if people referred to dictionaries, and lexicons, etc. - and really dug into the words, their roots and true meanings and contemplated them - before throwing terms and phrases so blithely out of their mouths (this includes me). We all need to take a little more introspective look at how we go about living. We might find we are all involved in 'cult' thinking of one type or another or are practicing a 'religion' we didn't think we were. This statement is not made 'against' the Q or the asker of the Q. Some will choose to misread and misinterpret the above, some will choose to reread it until they understand, and some will understand at the first reading. That's how it is with humanity in general.

For me, I've been through many debates in the past, many attempts from many different people's perspectives to 'come around' to their point of view, whether it was theist, atheist, philosophical, etc. It was not until I was comfortable with what I am and where I view the world from (and that broadens and deepens over time as I continue to think and interact in 'my' life) that I ceased to be concerned with how other people wanted me to be or what 'they' wanted me to think or believe. Each person's walk on this planet is so individual and internal, and we seem to be always trying to explain, condemn or defend ourselves and one another, instead of appreciating differences and looking for the commonalities. Even if immersing oneself in a tenet, that is only one perspective on it and there is always room for debate, judging, criticism and condemnation from within the group that 'practices' those tenants. Just as there is room for encouragement, support and validation without coercion or conversion in mind.

Disrespect for another indicates disrespect for self.

Hatred of another indicates hatred of self, condemnation of another, condemnation of self, fear of another, fear of self, and so forth. And this carries over into 'group thinking'. As does the 'live and let live' indicate something as well.

I cannot 'lump' people. I don't think of humanity as groups of atheist, philosophers, theists, etc. I only see individual people. It is individual people who make up groups. I cannot make blanket statements, even from within whatever 'group' I'm associated with by the world view.

People are more incredible, complex, and unique than that, in my view.

Despite all the world's constraints and requirements of different cultures, traditions, thoughts and practices, there is and always will be the right for me to choose how I walk through my circumstances, no matter how violently constricted the outer situations I live in and around may be.

Short form of this answer would be, that this Q has validity and is a great place to remind me to stay aware of 'lazy' thinking on my part, not to 'lump' people into groups I hold a 'judgement' for or against; and further, that when someone tries to 'coerce' or 'convert' my thinking or beliefs, that I can just smile, say thank you, listen and just send love their way, and not allow myself to take that type of behavior as if it were a physical assault on my body that threatened my life. When I'm really centered in the who and what of me, nothing anyone says does or thinks can sway me into fear, anger, retaliation, irritation, negativity, etc. And, the added result is that I'm freed from that type of interaction completely.

We are all more in agreement than we think.

Thanks for the Q :)

The most common mistake here is people using "religion" as if it were the same as "theism," or automatically implied theism. But even an atheist can be religious. For instance, many Buddhists are atheists.

Being anti-religion is a rather narrow, often misguided focus. In fact, for me, what people believe is of secondary concern at most. My concern is with WHY people believe what they claim. If they have good reasons (evidence and or cognent/sound arguments) then they stand a good chance of convincing me. The problem is that people often don't. Religions based on faith are just one example of bad standards, and they also are a bastion of fostering that sort of credulity, so they are an important target.

Good point. I guess I should say "Abrahamic religion" a bit more often than I actually do. Dharmic religions are indeed very different. And paganism is as well. No, you're right, I sometimes stress the problems of monotheism, but not often enough. Indeed I can't know about all the others in detail. I think I have some sort of idea what buddhism is about and like, but hinduism is still a complete mystery to me.

edit: your point was that when atheists say "religion", often they actually mean "christianity", right? Some people don't seem to be getting that.

I actually see this mistake made more often by Christians, who seem the think anyone not a Christian is an atheist. The vast majority of atheists know better, as most have made at least a small study of various religions.

You are quite close to being correct honey! Most of what you said is true, but me fix you up a little: Exodus 20:3 is part of the Christian belief as well. A true christian belives EVERYTHING in the Bible, and the Bible contains both Exodus and the stories of Jesus (including the book of John, where Jesus says in Chapter 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the father but through me."). So, we born again Christians believe what Exodus says just like the Jews do. Born again Christians also believe that Jesus WAS the Messiah. Isaiah predicted that he would come to the Earth to die for our sins the first time, and that his SECOND coming would be when he sets up his kingdom of peace. Judahism followers believe that the FIRST time the Messiah comes to Earth would be when he sets up his kingdom of peace, therefore, they didn't accept Jesus as God and as the Messiah. I can tell that God is tugging at your heart to become a born again Christian. If you can't "completely let" Jesus go, than that tells me that you are considering what Christianity has to say about the world that we live in. Make your choice wisely! The real God to me is like water-three different states, one element. Water can become a gas, liquid, or solid. In the same way, the God that I believe in-and that born again Christians believe in-has three different states (father, son, and holy spirit).Jesus, of course, is the son.

North American and western nation atheists face far more threats to our freedoms and to the constitutional values of our various nations, from christianity than from other religions.

Note that it is such christians who are trying to force prayer into schools, force anti science known as creationism into schools, and who are trying to make their views the dominant ones in laws.

If Buddhists were doing those things, we'd be opposing their actions and the faiths that underlie them more. But, they're not.

Bottom line: If you want less criticism of christian political actions, then tell THEM to stop with their anti freedom political actions. Our opposition to such wrongs is called an *earned consequence*. Look it up.

If the main theists on this forum were Hindu--then that would be the religion most debunked --it just happens that most of the theists here claim Christianity as their religion of preference.

Well, the Muslims and Wiccans aren't trying to convert me on a regular basis - just the various Christian groups and the Scientologists. (And Scientology isn't a religion in my book)

You stop preaching at me and I'll stop reacting.

You first.

Religion doesn't mean christianity. If christianity pops up more often here, it's because there are more christians in North America than any other religion.

Interesting strawman you built.....

Atheism is not synonmous with anti-religions, they simply do not practice religion themselves. Christianity is not the only religion, just the lamest one.