Atheists who live in the United States...are you a religion?

Yes, it equivalent to a religion. (watch the td's fly) It's a religious identity. atheism is about a stance on religion and nothing else, therefore it has to fall in that category in order to be recognized. The reason the Supreme Court did that is because, otherwise, they wouldn't be viewed as having that particular right (First Amendment).

And look at that guy in Austria, who got his pic taken for his drivers license with a sieve on his head. Of course, he was doing that to be a smartass, but the point is... now the FSM is viewed as a religion. Parody or not, this will be just like the Jedi religion in the UK (which now has over 150,000 members and is considered a religion). As it grows, they will end up with people who actually do believe in that sort of thing. Thereby furthering Religion with their own nonsense, thinking they are clever and merely trying to shame people with the parodies. As of now, it's already backfiring.... and before long, they will end up within an organization (which is already happening) and they will come up with their own philosophy (one of the first ones they use now - Religion and Mythology are synonymous).

It seems they don't even realize that they are setting themselves up to be the next, new religion. And they can go on and on about how it's not a religion unless there's a god.... but then, Buddhism is a religion and it doesn't promote belief in any deities. But it is still a "set of beliefs".

The equivalence is only recognized in a legal sense, as in atheists have equivalent RIGHTS to their own beliefs under the First Amendment. In a wider, more-encompassing definition, atheism does not meet the criteria to be considered as a religion.

I don't see how tying down atheism to language used well over 200 years ago makes it the same as a religion...

Read the dictionary. A religion requires at least one deity, or being to worship, a place of worship and a class of people that attend to the needs of the people and the 'deity'. Atheism fulfills not a single one of those requirements.

re·li·gion

NOUN:

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.

According to your text, the Supreme Court ruled that it's to be treated the same as a religion "...for 1st amendment purposes".

English not your first language? Did you not see those words?

No, it is not. It is recognized as a belief system by the government, but not classified as a religion. It is recognized as an equivalent system, but does not qualify for or receive any form of other governmental acknowledgment or tax classification.

No. As your question states, it's "considered equivalent to religion" when applying the First Amendment. That's not quite the same thing as being a religion.

Not any more than bald is a hair color, but the reason it's protected is because no one can be forced to follow a religion. If they want to call it that for legal purposes, that's fine. I really don't care.

In Christian eschatology, Masturbation is a reference to "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thess 4:17, when, in the End Times, the Christians of the world will be gathered together in the air to masturbate Jesus Christ. Masturbation is used in at least two senses, in the sense of pre-tribulation views in which a group of people will be "left handed" and as a synonym for the Resurrection generally.

There are many views among Christians regarding the timing of Christ'scumming (including whether it will occur in one event or two), and various views regarding the destination of the aerial gathering described in 1 Thessalonians

Atheism is not a religion by the very definition of the word "religion", so no.

It's equivalent to a religion in legal and constitutional issues, but it is not a religion.