@David1955
The poster’s point is the expression of a personal identity, not a point of history. There is no scholarly consensus on a precise definition of religion, let alone a consensus that religions are nothing more than a fallacious human construct.

There is a veritable ton of scientific literature that suggests an evolutionary basis for religious behavior. When you look at it scientifically, there are no good guys and bad guys - just phenomena. Religions are most likely bioculturally evolved adaptive behaviors. Superstition itself is an adaptive trait. It’s virtually synonymous with “theory of mind” without which we couldn’t function as social animals.

You can stand for whatever makes sense to you, just as I can, but getting irked doesn’t help anybody. The truth is elusive, and nobody knows it all. Mutually respectful conversation is good. Life is complex.

I don’t identify as agnostic, theist or atheist. Those are all positions relative to belief in, or presumed knowledge of a literal god. I am a religious figuratist. You won’t find that in the dictionary either.

Metaphor exists. I’ve never known of anyone who denies that.

Atheist/atheism is not a religion. Antireligious is not a religion, but it does have a burden of proof.

@David1955 You “won’t stand for it”? Interesting. I’d say you have no power, beyond expressing an opinion, whether based on scholarly research or not.

@David1955
He’s stating his position and I’m stating mine. All is well.

If any readers have curiosity beyond comfortable ignorance they can independently investigate and see which position is supported by anthropological data.

Any behavior may seem absurd when the cause is not known. Knowledge is good. More is better. Nobody has it all. Peace.

@David1955 I see.

@xenoview
I’m not saying that atheism is a religion, but that it is a position relative to religious literalism. It doesn’t speak at all to the existence or non-existence of metaphor.

@MsKathleen He wishes not to be defined by others. The nonexistence of god is a fact, to him. To his own self be true.

Antitheism struck a cord with me. I find the expression of faith in a deity both jealous and incompetent offensive. Hopefully I will get past it. In the meantime, when the religious stop offending me by shoving their nonsense in my direction, I will probably care a lot less about their beliefs.