Replying to a message of Ross Cassell to Ross Sauer:

 RC>>> Arent atheists a cult unto themselves?

 RS>> No.

 RC> Oh but they are..

 RC> A non-belief in a deity is the same as believing there is no deity,
 RC> ergo a belief.

Actually it isn't.  Lack of belief in a deity is agnosticism, the positive belief
that there is no deity is atheism.  Most if not all agnostics have no belief either
way WRT the existence of a deity.  Decades ago in a college religion class I made
the point that atheism is in fact a religion and the prof agreed with me.

 RC> Since atheists arent in a majority, they are by extension a cult..

You're saying that all the Protestant denominations are cults?

To paraphrase (I think) Heinlein, a cult with a big enough following is a
religion.

--- FleetStreet 1.19+