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I don't see much difference between me believing there are no gods and me knowing there are no gods. One leads to the other.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
February 12, 2015 at 3:21 pm (This post was last modified: February 12, 2015 at 3:21 pm by FatAndFaithless.)
(February 12, 2015 at 3:14 pm)Dystopia Wrote: It's called gnostic atheism.
But again, atheism is just a response to the assertive god claim, not a claim in itself.
Atheism is the middle ground between the claim "There is a god"
and the claim "There is no god". I'm just wondering if there is a term for specifically the claim 'there is no god'.
Because I have something in common with theists in my belief. We both don't accept the claim 'there is no god'. I'm an a-theist and an a-(whatever the claiming "there is no god" word is).
In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson
February 12, 2015 at 3:23 pm (This post was last modified: February 12, 2015 at 3:24 pm by Pizza.)
I don't understand why people can't just accept that words are vague and ambiguous.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism
"a : a disbelief in the existence of deity
b : the doctrine that there is no deity" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheist
": one who believes that there is no deity" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agnostic
": a person who does not have a definite belief about whether God exists or not
: a person who does not believe or is unsure of something
a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
2
: a person who is unwilling to commit to an opinion about something <political agnostics>"
This just what Webster's dictionary says. If you look at other dictionaries you will get other other definitions. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheism
"1.the doctrine or belief that there is no God.
2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings." http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/agnosticism
"the doctrine or belief of an agnostic.
2.an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge." http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/def...sh/atheism
"Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/def...nostic__13
"A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.
"
Dictionaries just record what the common definitions of word are. Many lexical definitions are vague. So getting mad at people for calling themselves agnostic not atheist is pointless.
It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all. - Denis Diderot
We are the United States of Amnesia, we learn nothing because we remember nothing. - Gore Vidal
I don't really care what people call themselves when it comes to labels, but I do care about it when I'm trying to have a discussion with them about these topics. Which is where we define the terms of the discussion so everyone is on the same page. They could call themselve gnostic atheist christians for all I care.
In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson
February 12, 2015 at 3:25 pm (This post was last modified: February 12, 2015 at 3:27 pm by robvalue.)
Yeah, I'm surprised I never thought of that before. Because mister "intellectual" agnostic in the OP I'm sure wouldn't want to take up the challenge of addressing the claim "there is no God" with his belief. And there is no requirement to do so for any atheist. But I would go that far.
Something like a nulltheist? I believe there is no God. An agnostic nulltheist.
I'm not mad at the guy for that, I find him obnoxious because he thinks he's superior when actually he doesn't know what he's talking about.
I'm not going to think badly of anyone who calls themselves just an agnostic, it's up to them. I consider them confused, but thats not my business unless they ask.
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.
Honestly I have no idea. If "strong atheist" is the best we have, then fine, but I think it'd be convenient to have a term for not accepting the opposite claim as well.
In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson
February 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm (This post was last modified: February 12, 2015 at 3:30 pm by robvalue.)
What about lukewarm atheist?
Quite strong atheist?
Getting-there atheist.
But it's true, many dictionaries get the definition of atheism wrong. At least, the common usage wrong. That really doesn't help, clearly the dictionary writers don't get it.
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.
February 12, 2015 at 3:30 pm (This post was last modified: February 12, 2015 at 3:31 pm by FatAndFaithless.)
(February 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm)robvalue Wrote: What about lukewarm atheist?
Quite strong atheist?
Getting-there atheist.
But if we already agree on the term "atheist" meaning only "I do not accept the claim -God exists-" in response to that question specifically, I wouldn't want to use it to address the opposite claim, which is an entirely different quesiton.
In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson