Define “Atheist”
- Thread starter ynot
- Start date
There's also a person that's not sure if there's gods.
The Greater Fool
Illuminator
Atheist = A person that does not believe god(s) exist.
This seems to me to cover both accepted definitions:
A person that believes no god(s) exist does not believe god(s) exist;
A person that does not believe in god(s) does not believe god(s) exist.
This seems to me to cover both accepted definitions:
A person that believes no god(s) exist does not believe god(s) exist;
A person that does not believe in god(s) does not believe god(s) exist.
No, an atheist is a person who does not believe in any god or gods.
Yes. there's this hair's difference and maybe a difference in attitude.
As I see it simple Atheism is merely the lack of a belief in God or gods. It's not a belief. It makes no positive assertion.
However Atheism can also be a statement of theology, that is "God does not exist." And as such is a statement of belief, "I believe God does not exist."
One may not say it directly in those words, but by making it a view to be advocated, it can easily become such a theological belief.
The person who believes god does not exist may go out of hir way to disallow any position that might serve god belief. For example, since "consciousness" is seen by some as some kind of divine property, ze might simply advocate the position that "consciousness" doesn't really exist (The P-Zombie).
The person who believes God does not exist will have little tolerance for agnostics, and call that a coward's position.
But I'm sure that a good number reading this will reply that they don't believe that God doesn't exist. They know God doesn't exist.
I can't say that for myself. Having no basis to know God exists, I simply neither have that belief or that knowledge that God doesn't.
However - "A person that does not believe god(s) exist" could also be a person that's not sure if a god or gods exist.
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theprestige
Penultimate Amazing
Atheist: Someone with a godless religion.
As I walked upon a stair, I saw a man the wasn't there.
I saw that man again today, I wish that man would go away.
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The Greater Fool
Illuminator
That would be semitheist.
Why not equally a semiatheist? Bit like being half-dead.
Or why not simply . . .
A person that does not believe god(s) exist isn't a person that believes a god does exist. Therefore not a theist, therefore an atheist (not theist).
ETA - If you own a car you're a car owner. If you don't own a car you're not a car owner. If you're deciding whether or not to own a car (or don't think it's possible to own a car) you're not a car owner.
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No, given that a religion requires a thing to worship. It can be a souvenier of a trumpf tird or a pile of dirty laundry, but it must be worshipped for it to be a religion.
fall down the stairs and break every bone in his body.
If only he had a body and bones to break
theprestige
Penultimate Amazing
Oh, atheists worship all sorts of things.
That's merely your belief.
By dictionary definitions of "worship" I don't worship anything.
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theprestige
Penultimate Amazing
I don't know anyone who goes to sleep at night comforted by the thought that whatever else, at least they lived up to the dictionary definitions of things. But hey, if that's your religion, who am I to judge?
Perhaps I should've said "By all definitions of "worship I know" (which just happen to be dictionary definitions).
If you have a definition of "worship" that's different from dictionary definitions then please share it with us all.
No, that's not my religion, but no doubt you will continue to judge anyway.
It really is pathetic when that type of reply is the best that some people can come up with.
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I certainly don't and if you are under the impression I do, you must be misinterpreting my words or misreading them. Though I do easily admit that I certainly and especially have no use for (i.e. anti-worship) republickers and their thug leader drumpf.
Egg
Graduate Poster
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But (1) only defines a type of atheist if you assume (2) is the definition.
I agree with the others who have pointed out that there are two understood and used definitions of "atheism" (which is essentially how dictionaries compile their definitions - and why monstrosities such as "irregardless" end up in dictionaries).
It seems pretty legitimate to see the word as either withoutgod - ism (belief in a godless universe) or without - godism (not having any god belief).
I'm not sure there's any real debate to be had there. If we were writing a dictionary, I'd feel we had to include both. Although I do quite like Wiki's opening line:
We could debate which is the more useful definition.
As an aside, it helps to have an agreed definition of "belief", which is its own can of worms.