A question about atheistic “beliefs” (opinions, guesses, etc.)

[arewethereyet]

Okay, I need an explanation.  Having you call yourself an atheist would make those of us who already do appear smarter?


Bwahahahahaha!

Worth the price of admission.

You think atheists appear smarter than...who?

Scooter - that's what you said... I realize counting people like me among your numbers would strengthen your group intelligence values...

[Frank Apisa]

You think atheists appear smarter than...who?

Scooter - that's what you said... I realize counting people like me among your numbers would strengthen your group intelligence values...

My name is not Scooter. It is Frank. 

Yeah, I think counting people like me among your numbers would improve your intelligence values.

But I am asking you to tell us who YOU think atheists appear smarter than?

Read what you wrote...then you should understand my question.

[arewethereyet]

Scooter - that's what you said... I realize counting people like me among your numbers would strengthen your group intelligence values...

My name is not Scooter. It is Frank. 

Yeah, I think counting people like me among your numbers would improve your intelligence values.

But I am asking you to tell us who YOU think atheists appear smarter than?

Read what you wrote...then you should understand my question.

Frankly Scooter, I asked for an explanation first. I'll wait.

[Frank Apisa]

My name is not Scooter. It is Frank. 

Yeah, I think counting people like me among your numbers would improve your intelligence values.

But I am asking you to tell us who YOU think atheists appear smarter than?

Read what you wrote...then you should understand my question.

Frankly Scooter, I asked for an explanation first.  I'll wait.

You are a rude person. I think I will just ignore you for a bit.

[arewethereyet]

Frankly Scooter, I asked for an explanation first.  I'll wait.

You are a rude person. I think I will just ignore you for a bit.

Oh - you mean "some big mouth" with a moronic name...who also has no balls? Oh, wait, I don't have balls. I'll give ya that one.

Gee, you ignoring me really, really hurts. What will I do?

[Astreja]

I am not an atheist...

Every atheist lacks a belief in gods, but not every person without a belief in god is an atheist.

I'm confused, Frank. I'm a strong agnostic (because I don't think it's even possible to know whether or not any particular entity is actually a god), and I do not assert "There are no gods," and yet I identify as an agnostic atheist because I do not believe that gods exist. Are you saying that my self-identification is somehow inaccurate?

[Frank Apisa]

I am not an atheist...

Every atheist lacks a belief in gods, but not every person without a belief in god is an atheist.

I'm confused, Frank.  I'm a strong agnostic (because I don't think it's even possible to know whether or not any particular entity is actually a god), and I do not assert "There are no gods," and yet I identify as an agnostic atheist because I do not believe that gods exist.  Are you saying that my self-identification is somehow inaccurate?

I am not. If you want to identify as a agnostic atheist...that is fine. I know several people who do identify that way.

I do not. I prefer not to use "atheist" as part of any descriptor I use...and I try not to use any descriptor unless it almost has to be used.  Obviously my position on the question of gods is an agnostic position...and I used to identify as an agnostic. Now, I just give my take...and leave it at that. But I have no problem with people who want to identify in any way they choose.

I do not like it when some people insist I must identify a particular way, thougjh.

[The Grand Nudger]

You don't have to identify any particular way, but people will probably still identify you, correctly, as an agnostic atheist, when you explicate your position on those matters. You've told us that
a: that's what you are
and
b: you don't like the word.

Agnostic atheism, meanwhile, is the position of the vast majority of posters on the board, and, in fact, the vast majority of atheists outside the board as well.

[Frank Apisa]

You don't have to identify any particular way, but people will probably still identify you, correctly, as an agnostic atheist, when you explicate your position on those matters.  You've told us that
a: that's what you are
and
b: you don't like the word.  

Agnostic atheism, meanwhile, is the position of the vast majority of posters on the board, and, in fact, the vast majority of atheists outside the board as well.

As for "a" above...wrong.

I am NOT an atheist...not an agnostic atheist or an atheistic agnostic.

If you absolutely must apply a descriptor to me (you do not really have to do it) you can use plain old agnostic.

The notion that atheism means the opposite of theism...and that it derives from theism...is a mistake that may have been an intentional mistake on the part of some debating atheists. In any case, that etymology does not hold water.

[The Grand Nudger]

You've told us that you don't believe in gods, and you don't know whether or not there are gods. That's what an agnostic atheist is telling you when they say "Hi, I'm an agnostic atheist"..which is what nine out of ten (if not more) people on these boards and anywhere else will tell you.

- that's what the descriptor accurately describes. A person who does not believe, and does not know.

Fwiw, it is a weird tick of language, as atheism as a term was used in opposition to the prevailing form of god belief at the time, theism. Could have been called anything, we could call it a ham sandwich today. I am a ham sandwich, and by a ham sandwich I mean a person who doesn't believe in gods, like you. People who do believe in gods decided to call us atheists....and this happened before the big bc ad turnover.