Well, Brutus, you think you may have it all figured out about us atheists. But you can’t figure out anything you don’t understand. My religion is not evolution. My beliefs are not evolutionary in origin.
A religion is defined as 4 things.
1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
Evolution is not supernatural, it is in fact a naturalistic explanation of the variation of life. It is a mechanism. Evolution has nothing to do with the creation or governing of the universe.
2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
As evolution is not number 1, it is therefore not number 2, because number 2 is a result of number 1.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
Evolution is not a set of beliefs, it is a mechanism. I have my own set of beliefs. It is not a value, I have other values that do not relate to evolution. And it is not a practice, because I do not practice evolution. And there are no spiritual leaders in evolution, because evolution is not a supernatural explanation.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
Evolution is not a cause, it is a mechanism, it has no goal to achieve. Evolution is not a principle, as I don’t live my life by evolution. It is also not an activity, because individuals do not try to evolve (in the sense of evolution). That being said, discussing, and debating evolution, would be an activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion. Any part of our daily life could be construed as religious according to this definition, if we do it on a regular basis. Our jobs even.
So you see Brutus, evolution is not a religion, nor should it be. It says nothing of how humans behave, how they should act, or what they should strive to do. Do you know why? Because Science goes on naturalistic explanations, and leaves supernatural things to people with supernatural beliefs, that is why.
Evolution is not the activity that I pursue with zeal, it is debating, and discussing. Obtaining knowledge in every form.
Why should I devote myself to your God? He is no different than any other God before him. For what reason should I believe he exists??