We should stop trying to be "sheep"

[Franklin]

I mean that Christianity and atheism are complete opposites from a sociological standpoint.

No, Atheism is closely related to Protestantism which it grew out of, maybe not in terms of beliefs, but definitely from a sociological standpoint.  Atheist religious beliefs are primarily from Plato.  Atheists have faith in the idea of absolute universal truth as invented by Plato.  This concept was merged with Judaism to form Christianity, and was then transmitted to Atheism.

Christianity is something that can only really exist with the help of priesthoods. People like to talk about how their particular denomination of Christianity is a special little snowflake, but everybody knows that if the Catholic Church with all its priests and funding and scholars and history were to disappear, Christianity would vanish from the Earth in like 10 years and would probably degenerate into something resembling New Age spirituality.

Neither is true.  Catholicism itself is an offshoot of Orthodox Christianity, and Protestantism is an offshoot of Catholicism.  Catholicism disappearing would make very little difference.  Protestantism has existed for 400 years without the help of priesthoods.  And all of Christianity is currently degenerating into something resembling New Age spirituality, so there is some fundamental flaw in the religion which makes it weak in the modern world.

[stromboli]

I mean that Christianity and atheism are complete opposites from a sociological standpoint.

No, Atheism is closely related to Protestantism which it grew out of, maybe not in terms of beliefs, but definitely from a sociological standpoint.  Atheist religious beliefs are primarily from Plato.  Atheists have faith in the idea of absolute universal truth as invented by Plato.  This concept was merged with Judaism to form Christianity, and was then transmitted to Atheism.

Christianity is something that can only really exist with the help of priesthoods. People like to talk about how their particular denomination of Christianity is a special little snowflake, but everybody knows that if the Catholic Church with all its priests and funding and scholars and history were to disappear, Christianity would vanish from the Earth in like 10 years and would probably degenerate into something resembling New Age spirituality.

Neither is true.  Catholicism itself is an offshoot of Orthodox Christianity, and Protestantism is an offshoot of Catholicism.  Catholicism disappearing would make very little difference.  Protestantism has existed for 400 years without the help of priesthoods.  And all of Christianity is currently degenerating into something resembling New Age spirituality, so there is some fundamental flaw in the religion which makes it weak in the modern world.

No, Atheism is closely related to Protestantism which it grew out of,

Atheism didn't "grow out of" anything. Atheism is not a belief system, it is a lack of a belief system. Atheism has been around as long as religion has. You can be an atheist if you never heard of Christianity or any religion.

Neither is true.  Catholicism itself is an offshoot of Orthodox Christianity,

Depends on how you define orthodox. Early Christianity prior to the creation of Catholicism was probably closer to the Communist Party in america in the 50's than anything else. It was a semi-tolerated belief system that became formal under Constantine, thanks to his mother. And the priesthoods are part and parcel to Catholicism, the single thing that most clearly separates them from Protestantism. It is the one thing held onto the hardest by the church. I'm pretty sure any Catholic would be shocked beyond measure if the priesthood disappeared.

[frosty]

I mean that Christianity and atheism are complete opposites from a sociological standpoint.

No, Atheism is closely related to Protestantism which it grew out of, maybe not in terms of beliefs, but definitely from a sociological standpoint.  Atheist religious beliefs are primarily from Plato.  Atheists have faith in the idea of absolute universal truth as invented by Plato.  This concept was merged with Judaism to form Christianity, and was then transmitted to Atheism.

Christianity is something that can only really exist with the help of priesthoods. People like to talk about how their particular denomination of Christianity is a special little snowflake, but everybody knows that if the Catholic Church with all its priests and funding and scholars and history were to disappear, Christianity would vanish from the Earth in like 10 years and would probably degenerate into something resembling New Age spirituality.

Neither is true.  Catholicism itself is an offshoot of Orthodox Christianity, and Protestantism is an offshoot of Catholicism.  Catholicism disappearing would make very little difference.  Protestantism has existed for 400 years without the help of priesthoods.  And all of Christianity is currently degenerating into something resembling New Age spirituality, so there is some fundamental flaw in the religion which makes it weak in the modern world.

"Atheist religious beliefs" that is enough for anybody really to stop reading and dismiss everything else you have to say for incorrect information and libel.

[Plu]

I suddenly realise why you are always banned from atheist forums. You haven't a clue what atheism even means.

[Thumpalumpacus]

No, Atheism is closely related to Protestantism which it grew out of, maybe not in terms of beliefs, but definitely from a sociological standpoint.  Atheist religious beliefs are primarily from Plato.  Atheists have faith in the idea of absolute universal truth as invented by Plato.  This concept was merged with Judaism to form Christianity, and was then transmitted to Atheism.

Tommyrot.  My atheism is a simple lack of faith in any god ... never mind your strawman and false history.  

And all of Christianity is currently degenerating into something resembling New Age spirituality, so there is some fundamental flaw in the religion which makes it weak in the modern world.

Probably has something to do with being utterly useless in understanding the real world, would be my guess.