Atheism as Religion

Maverick667

Warlord
Joined
Jan 4, 2006
Messages
124
Location
the Netherlands
I just tought about it whilst answering a thread about a Hebrew civ...

but why not an Atheist religion (altough of course it isn't a religion). It could be invented after the discovery of Darwin's theory of evolution (can't remember the advance name).

But I believe, atheism has played an important part in history, will continue to be important...

so what does the rest of the community think?
 
Why not?

The religious ones gives some benefits, but should bring along with them a severe science penalty, as well as some other cons. And with the theory of evolution you'll unlock atheism (which of course existed before that) which gives a boost to science, while you lose the benefits religions give you. So you trade off control and gain science.

Why not?
 
Free Religion civic already does that.

Perhaps state atheism could bring a boost to science but a drop in culture (and loss of temple/monastery benefits) à la Soviet Russia.
 
here is a question why do thay still use the AD/BC time track after all unless iv been told wrong thay stand for After Death and Before Christ seems a little odd.

There are some mods that have the secularism religios civic i dont know if thats the same thing but it seems to be as anti religious as iv seen a civic get.

Unless you manage to take on theocracy without haveing a religion in any city at all, talk about keeping your borders clear of spying eyes.
 
I'd rather have State Atheism as a new religious civic that comes with Communism.
I think it should have High Upkeep and a civ using it would not be able to have priest specialists and lose all happiness and culture benefits from religious buildings and get a negative dipo modifier with all civs without this civic.

Now what benefits could it give ?
Stop religion spreading in your cities like theocracy ? Sure !
Give your enemie's shrines no money from your cities ? Maybe.
Keep foreign culture out of your cities' fat cross ? Maybe.

But IMHO CIV is in dire need of another SE civic...
State Atheism could convert the Great Prophet points from wonders to neutral GP points so you don't get these useless Prophets any more, and it could give +1 :hammers:, +1 :gold: and +1 :science: from all specialists.
 
First off, Atheism isn't a religion. So the only thing it would be able to be made is a religious civic. And it would basically replace paganism. Much like decentralization is basically not having a economic structure. And Barbarism is the lack of government foundation. Atheism is the lack of religious foundation.

Additionally, @spitfire BC does stand for before Christ. AD though does not stand for After death as that would mean that Christ only lived for 1 year. AD actually means Anno Domini that means "Year of our Lord" in latin. Or perhaps "Time of our Lord" - not sure.

I also agree with Catharsis that Free religion also doubles as an "Atheist section." in the game.

As for a science boost due to atheism the idea seems rediculous to me. That sounds about as absurd as giving the Jewish religion a GPT effect. And I also fail to see how Atheism has played an "important part" in history.
 
here is a question why do thay still use the AD/BC time track after all unless iv been told wrong thay stand for After Death and Before Christ seems a little odd.

I'd imagine it's because that's what the Western audiences that your Civ game is primarily aimed at is used to. Nothing to do with Christ or any underlying religious message.
 
Free Religion civic already does that.

Perhaps state atheism could bring a boost to science but a drop in culture (and loss of temple/monastery benefits) à la Soviet Russia.
I agree, I don't think it needs to be in Civ.
 
atheism can't be defined without the existance of religion. therefor atheism already exists in civ4. it's not adapting a state religion. period. :p the bonus for atheism is nothing cause why should someone struggle for anything without any belief in something?
 
here is a question why do thay still use the AD/BC time track after all unless iv been told wrong thay stand for After Death and Before Christ seems a little odd.

I think that it was a Catholic Pope, Pope Gregory that made the calender we use today, no? It's also used by a lot of the world.
 
You think atheists have no motivation in life? You've got to find yourself a few atheist friends and you'll find otherwise.
 
I think that it was a Catholic Pope, Pope Gregory that made the calender we use today, no? It's also used by a lot of the world.

Muslims use a calendar based on the exodus of Mohammed, and lunar cycles.
 
You think atheists have no motivation in life? You've got to find yourself a few atheist friends and you'll find otherwise.

you've misunderstood my statement. "real" followers of a religion have a goal in life. like hindu people wanting to end the cicle of rebirth and enter nirvana. this has an impact on the lifes of "true" hindus.

atheists on the other hand don't have any common belief. they stride for... dunno, whatever. there's nothing common between atheists other than not believing into any godly being. if they'd do you'd have just another religion.

well, actually i say that ALL of those who CLAIM to be atheist are in fact christians who just don't want to believe in "the one god", but actually would fit into one of all the other religions. i don't think someone who CLAIMS being an atheist is credible. but that's on another piece of paper ;)
 
here is a question why do thay still use the AD/BC time track after all unless iv been told wrong thay stand for After Death and Before Christ seems a little odd.
Actually AD means "Anno Domini" meaning "year of our Lord." BCE/CE is just like BC/AD, except it's less religious.
 
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