Religion can be defined as a worldview—a comprehensive framework for understanding the world, human purpose, and morality—that is built upon a core assumption which cannot be falsified. This unfalsifiable assumption serves as the foundational truth upon which all beliefs, rituals, and moral codes are constructed.
- For more information on this idea of unfalsible, read this article titled “What Constitutes a Religion?”
This core assumption is the existence of a divine being (God) which, by definition, cannot be tested for or be disproven.
The belief that God exists, that the soul is immortal, or that sacred texts are divinely revealed, cannot be proven or disproven through observation, experimentation, or logical deduction. Because the assumption is unfalsifiable, it remains immune to contradiction, allowing religious systems to persist even in the face of evidence that challenges their claims.
This core assumption is the axiomatic foundation of all religions. It is not derived from evidence, rather it is inherited from ones birth culture. In this way, religion differs fundamentally from systems based on falsifiable claims—such as science or rational philosophy—where beliefs must be open to revision or rejection based on evidence.
Why Atheism Is Not a Religion
Atheism, by contrast, is not built on an unfalsifiable assumption. It is the absence of belief in deities, grounded in the lack of empirical evidence for supernatural claims. Atheists do not assume the existence of a divine authority; instead, they reject it in the absence of credible proof. This position is not based on faith in the unseen, but on evidence-based reasoning.
Crucially, atheism can be disproven! If compelling, testable evidence for the existence of God were presented, it would falsify the claim that no gods exist. For example, a verifiable divine revelation, a supernatural intervention, or empirical data confirming the existence of a transcendent being would discredit the core foundation of atheism. In this sense, atheism is falsifiable—it is open to revision in light of new evidence.
This is the key difference: religion relies on an unfalsifiable core, while atheism rests on a falsifiable claim.
The absence of evidence is not a dogma, but a provisional conclusion. If and when evidence emerges, atheism can be disproven. Religious belief, by contrast, does not require evidence—and cannot be overturned by it.
The Significance of the Unfalsifiable Core
The presence of an unfalsifiable core assumption is what distinguishes all religions from atheism. It allows religious systems to remain stable across time and change, even as scientific knowledge advances. It also explains why religious beliefs resist rational debate—because they are not open to empirical challenge.
Religion is a worldview built on a core assumption (God) that cannot be proven or disproven, but upon which the entire system depends.
Note: I created this is article using AI tools, then I edited and refined it to reflect my views and opinions. But it contains ideas and/or information that I’m not completely familiar with and haven’t independently verified so I suggest you do so before relying on it. Follow this link for more information on how I use AI tools on this site.