(December 24, 2015 at 4:40 pm)Evie Wrote:(December 24, 2015 at 12:53 am)excitedpenguin Wrote: I don't only define in that way, just in this case, as was obvious per context. The word atheist can describe these both things at the same time. It is defined as a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods. Notice that nothing in that neutral definition points to one's beliefs previous to becoming an atheist.
Point is I'm used the standard definition of the word... which means merely nonbelief in gods. As I said, by the definition you are using I am not an atheist.
Why are you being so obtuse, Evie? My definition is included in the standard one. And I was making it clear what I meant by atheist when I made the thread. I wouldn't ask about how you became an atheist if I was talking to the people who were "born atheists" - which is everyone, right? But, ok, claiming you were always an atheist is fine, even if extremely unlikely and incorrect either way since you can't make an informed decision about something like that as a child. Saying someone is born an atheist because they don't believe in Gods is merely used by older atheists to point out the fact that religion is taught and not necessarily something you're born with. Yet that point becomes moot with skeptics who think we're all religious to some degree and we'll never get rid of it(which is mere laziness, if you ask me). Point is, it's ridiculous to point out that you're born an atheist. It's like saying you were born an asexual. Well, most of us develop a sexuality eventually.
