Sunday, February 14, 2010

Is Atheism a Belief System?

There's something I've wondered for a long time: is atheism a belief system? Is believing in no gods the same thing as believing in greater than or equal to one god?

I consider myself an agnostic with heavy leanings toward atheism. However, as a scientist, absence of evidence does not always mean evidence of absence. I am pretty, almost completely sure there is no "supreme being" but I can't completely and totally rule it out. However, I live my life the only one I have.

I do not consider atheism a belief system. It is the freedom from belief systems; the freedom from dogma and control. Giving up religion was the most freeing moment of my life. I was finally free of all the rules and the guilt of never living up to perfection. It was a great "revelation" if you will allow me to use that word.

I've just been wondering though if people think atheism is a belief system. I, for one, don't think it is.