There is no special exception, an atheist can have religion. Belief in a corporeal god is trivial compared to the status of morals and ethics present in religous beliefs. For example, the belief in a real physical location of heaven and hell is only minor to the belief that heaven and hell have meaning for real world actions. That is to say, the idea is far more sought after than the actual place. Look all you want because I don't believe you'll be finding heaven or hell anytime soon.

I agree with that last part, as would have Pope John Paul II, who stated in a private audience at the Vatican in 1999 that hell is not a location, but a state of mind.

An even better idea would be to open your mind to all things that teach us ethics and morals and allow your amazing brain to decide what you feel is right and wrong. This doesn't require subscribing to any religion really, and many morals or ethics can be found completely void of all religious influence. If you are really just bored on sundays and feel like singing, group reading, and listening to stories, then church might be the right place to go. Being part of such a community is also rewarding as it introduces you to possible business contacts, and lovely young women to take on picnics. Just don't let them find out you don't believe in God, or the jig is up.

an atheist may have religion; a christian may not.

An even better idea would be to open your mind to all things that teach us ethics and morals and allow your amazing brain to decide what you feel is right and wrong. This doesn't require subscribing to any religion really, and many morals or ethics can be found completely void of all religious influence. If you are really just bored on sundays and feel like singing, group reading, and listening to stories, then church might be the right place to go. Being part of such a community is also rewarding as it introduces you to possible business contacts, and lovely young women to take on picnics. Just don't let them find out you don't believe in God, or the jig is up.

This bit is alarming, as I did not say in order to have religion one must visit a place of worship or sing songs or etc. Hopefully you were not interpreting this information from anything I stated, but yes church is a place of congregation as is work a place of congregation. As you can imagine however, there have been various times in human history when temples were the only place of congregation; there were no office buildings, schools, integrated factories, movie theatres, sports arenas, etc.

i understand what you guys are saying but NO

an atheist can not have religion they can hold beleifs outside of science but no religion the word A-THEISM as in without theism or without religion

Holy shit. Theism does not mean religion.

the·ism [thìzzəm]
n
1. belief in God: belief that one God created and rules humans and the world, not necessarily accompanied by belief in divine revelation such as through the Bible


Buddhism anyone?

Holy shit. Theism does not mean religion.

the·ism [thìzzəm]
n
1. belief in God: belief that one God created and rules humans and the world, not necessarily accompanied by belief in divine revelation such as through the Bible


Buddhism anyone?

I know more than 1 atheist who practices Buddhism. So I believe the answer to this thread is yes.