(November 20, 2013 at 5:46 pm)Vincenzo "Vinny" G. Wrote: Why not just accept that philosophical or intellectual views are one type of -ism, medical conditions are another. And all philosophical/intellectual views about reality are characterized by what they affirm.
To this I would answer that atheism is not an -ism, but a lack of a different -ism. That is:
http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootchart.php
The root a- means not\without. Theism is defined as the belief in the existence of god. Therefore, a-theism is simply not having\being without that belief and that -ism.
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.