Why do atheists so strongly believe they aren't religious?

Is not collecting stamps a hobby?

Atheism is a lack of beliefs in deities.

You might want to invest in a dictionary. A religion is more than a belief in God. It's customs and practices dogma associated with the worshiping of God. Atheists don't believe that God exists so there are no customs, practices or dogma involved, therefor it is not a religion. It's the opposite of someone who believes in God but follows no particular religion. Belief isn't the same thing as a religion.

You are confusing the word belief with religion.

1.

a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.

3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Clearly atheism doesn't meet the definition of 1-3. There are no supernatural powers atheists believe in, there is no system of beliefs, they are diverse in their points of view on all other topics. There is no spiritual leader, no matter how much some theists want to think they all agree with or like Richard Dawkins.

Only number 4 could suffice in a figurative way for some who are passionate about it as a cause. Many are not. Even so it is a religion only then in the same sense this definition entails. For example, he was religious about his stamp collecting. Its not a literal religion. Also, in many cases what people are attributing to atheism is a passion for causes independent of atheism such as secular government, separation of church and state, freedom for scientific ideas. Things which there are many theists who support strongly as well.

One can dilute the term religion to where it is pretty much meaningless. What is the point of that?

Do you also assert that you believe that Santa, Zeus, unicorns are all not real? Is this something you really believe? Or, do you know that they are not real and thus lack any belief in them?

Personally, I lack belief in any and all gods. This does not mean that I believe that all 3400+ of them don't exist, it means that I have no belief that they do.

I prefer not to have "beliefs" nor do I see a reason why I should have a belief system of any sort. Not believing in gods is not a religion, if it was, not believing in Santa would also be a religion.

Atheists have a lack of belief, not a belief in disbelief.

I kinda doubt you actually know someone like this, if you do they're a complete moron as almost no other atheists agree with his standpoint.

This kind of model is something that gets passed around through the Christian community to represent Atheists and is generally a flat out lie along with claims that all atheists are depressed, lazy and worthless.

In other words, I lack any kind of belief system as you would understand it.

Atheists don't try to convert people to atheism, that, again is Christian propaganda and brainwashing.

We have our opinions, we say them, but we don't "convert" people.

You obviously do not know, or dishonestly care to ignore, the definition of the word "religion:"

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

A LACK of belief is not a set of beliefs. I do not belive in God. I have no other beliefs fillig that vacuum, at leats none which concern those things listed above in the definition. Understandings are not beliefs.

Well, I found a different definition of religion (see below). I believe in a lot of things...hard work, personal responsibility, integrity, loyalty and many more. I do not believe in any type of god or supernatural being.

I don't care what you believe and I would never try to convince you to believe what I believe.

Why are christians so obsessed with my personal beliefs?

Religion:

Noun

* S: (n) religion, faith, religious belief (a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny) "he lost his faith but not his morality"

* S: (n) religion, faith, organized religion (an institution to express belief in a divine power) "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him"

Well, I don't consider it a religion because it doesn't fit my definition of religion. People define it in a few different ways, you know. If someone wants to say it is a religion, that's fine... but we'd obviously disagree on what religion is.

Same goes for belief too. I hear people saying they're "non believers" as if there is one thing to believe in. It's sounds a bit goofy if you ask me. I don't have a problem saying, "I don't believe there is a god, and this is why..." but I would never consider what I believe to be a faith becaue what I believe is based on reason.

Atheism is not a Religion.

If Atheism is a Religion then you have over 1 thousand Religions.

I assume you are a Christian?

So if Atheism is a Religion then Not Believing in Zeus is also a Religion so you probably have around 1 thousand Religions since you do not believe in any of them.

Not Believing in a Religion does not make it a Religion Neither is not Believing in God.

Lots of people label themselves by something other than their own identity - African American (not just American) is another example.

Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Black, White, Gay, Straight, they're all labels that people put on themselves and other people on a daily basis.

Does it matter that a person is male or female? or that they're gay or straight? or that they're religious or not?

In the grand scheme of things - no. In reality labels only tell us a small part of the story.

Someone may say they're christian - but they could have been born atheist and found god. Someone may be assumed to be African American, when they're only 1/2 African American. Someone may say they're straight - but like to have sex with people of the same gender.

As for an atheist trying to persuade people not to believe - that is no different to a Jehovah's Witness turning up on door steps preaching their religion, or other faiths preaching their ways to people around them.

The way I define my beliefs - is that I don't believe in any organised religion.

Society has used the word "belief" for accepting the presence of a deity. Therefore, many atheists (including the person you mentioned) feel that it is more fitting to say that they don't believe.

Religion has been defined in a similar way. Because of that, atheism is not seen as a religion.

To me, it doesn't matter. But so many people are tired of being labelled, and they rise up against it. To them, it does matter.