I am not starting an argument...nor am I bashing anyone's opinion. I just have one question...just one, and I'd like for someone to really think about it and respond.

I don't quite understand whether Atheism is JUST anti-religious or both anti-religious and anti-God. Maybe someone can make that a part of their answer, idk.

My question is what does religion have to do with God?

It may be hard to absorb the full scope of the idea of God and the full scope of what religion actually is, but it is a FACT that religion and God are not even in the same universe as each other.

As a scholar, a lover of fiction, and an avid reader of Philosophy; I have NEVER come to be aware of a single text, historical event, or social practice that wasn't riddled with HUMAN ideals of what is right.

Human meaning we are motivated by both physical AND mental desires/needs/situations, unlike any other creature on hurt. An animal predator hunts for the food, and human predator hunts for the thrill...that kind of thing.

Except in the moments we are laughing from joy, crying from fear or sadness, or shouting from anger, human beings have absolutely nothing in common in their daily lives.

Even if it appears that any two or more people are the same on the outside, on the inside we each live in an individual hierarchy of wants and needs that NO OTHER PERSON COULD POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND. Like our fingerprints, our very minds, consciousness and existence are individual to us...affecting every process of our minds/bodies, and how we absorb information.

So, being that a human being has RARELY been able to have a perspective that genuinely reflects what is good for ALL people (something that would be undoubtedly present if they had a genuine message from the actual "Creator"), it makes perfect sense that religion lacks the same thing on a larger scale.

Religion is simply the result of whatever MALE had the most power and influence, regardless of whether his intentions were for good or ill...and that is true for every single religion in the world.

I do not see how understanding that about religion disproves the existence of God, or even explains the nature of God on a human level of understanding.

Hopefully, after reading all that, you get what I'm trying to say. I hope someone actually takes the time to respond...because I am trying to understand a perspective that is highly taboo, and rarely discussed. Everyvtime someone mentions Atheism, I have an automatic negative reaction...and I know that is wrong. I know that is stereotypical and ignorant...and I don't wish to be that way.

Are you Trolling?

Religion has everything to do with "God" if that is what you believe. If you believe in a god or gods or a mystical "higher power" then you are religious.

See...this is not a
well-thought answer...

Saying God and religion are the same is not actually providing reasons why they are the same...

Don't you need rituals, canons, and a deity of your understanding to actually practice a religion?

If you don't practice a religion, how can you be religious?

Anyone that starts a conversation off by saying "I am not trying to start an argument" is out for trouble. You also said and I quote " Everyvtime someone mentions Atheism, I have an automatic negative reaction". You are a troll and you are trolling. Your question has been answered move one.

lol...MY arrogant attitude is pathetic?

but your complete inability to explain yourself is not? like i said in the original post, i wanted well thought out answers. i have no idea if you participate in debates, or critical writing, but in either, you're supposed to give actual support for your answers.

As of yet, nobody has explained why God and religion are the same. Nobody has talked about social factors, such as mental and emotional processes of interacting human beings, or economics or demographics, or ANY of the aspects of human life that are affected by what we choose to believe (or not believe) in.

i don't understand what is so hard about what I am asking?

granted, it might be possible for a person reading this to infer a LITTLE about what I may or may not believe, but

i'm asking a question...and i'd like an answer...its that simple.

getting mad at me because i know the difference between a thorough answer and a lazy one is not very mature.

I would say that religion is one mans thinking he has the ability to comprehend what god is about and others end up worshiping him, [Jesus, Budda or Mohamad].

In fact, each man has to come to their own understanding in a way that they can comprehend. I do not need to comprehend because I am incapabal and I understand that. If a god spoke to one he would have spoke to all because "God is not a respecter of men", so your money or standing among men means nothing to god. People often claim to be christian but they have never even read what Jesus said.

Someone told me a long time ago to get a red letter addition of the New Testement, Words Jesus himself spoke are in red and not what the writer interprets for him; YOU WILL FIND A JESUS YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT. I did and he was right.

You're asking if atheists are anti-religious, anti-god, or both.
When it really comes down to it, we're none of the above.

What we are, is anti-intrusion.

I can't speak for all atheists,
I can ony really speak for myself, but I suspect that many feel the same way.
I don't really care what you belive or choose to worship.
It's none of my business.

What I do care about, is when you start trying to force me to belive in the same things
you belive, or try to depict me as someting evil because I don't and won't.

I care when you start trying to use those beliefs as justification to strip away basic human rights.

I'm perfectly happy to leave you alone and let you live your life the way you
choose.
Unfortunately, you don't seem to be willing to reciprocate that.

You feel the need to encroach on my life and make laws and judgements on how I should live my life based on your set of beliefs and values.

Now that I'm tired of it and fighting back, you want to claim that I'm "waging war" on religion.

The reality is, religion has been waging war on me. And I'm just not going to sit back and take it anymore.

perhaps more anti-delusional

think of it as a Chicken and Egg philosophy question

which came first...Atheism or Theism? ...and Why?

Don't you need rituals, canons, and a deity of your understanding to actually practice a religion?

If you don't practice a religion, how can you be religious?

About 60% of the science community are atheist and about 90% of the elite science community are atheist. These are the most educated people amoung us and are more qualified to comment on the existence of 'God' than the Pope or some preacher.

Any good scientist or philosopher will tell you, it's not the responsibility of doubters to disprove a theory, it's the responsibility of those making the claim to prove it. This has not been done. Every arguement in support of the existence of 'God' is utterly unsatisfactory.