RE: 'Not labeling ourselves' Vs 'Bright' Vs just plain good old 'Atheist', etc.
May 13, 2009 at 3:06 pm
He has a point I think in principle. There is no real logical reason for WHY 'atheist' should be treated any differently to 'Non-astrologer' since it's really the same thing basically: In principle.
But in practical terms - as I said - I think there's a difference.
Like I said, if you say you don't believe in God OTHERS will label you as an atheist some times if you don't...and if you are an atheist by definition (since that's the commonly used word for a non-believer) and you are asked if you are one but you yourself simply: 'don't like the label'...what are you supposed to say? No? Are you supposed to say you're not an Atheist even when by definition you are? All very confusing I think.
And on the other hand; if you say you don't believe in astrology then I very much doubt you'll be labelled as a 'Non-Astrologer' lol
- and if you are; it's not a taboo word.
And if you indeed, don't believe in astrology - I doubt you'd have a problem being called a 'Non-astrologer' for a laugh at least lol...and the term isn't used, so in practical terms no one would label themselves as that anyway.
The word 'Atheist' has a big history...the term 'Non-Astrologer' does not. I think this difference matters in a practical sense, despite that, in principle - there isn't really any difference.
I think in principle the analogy is correct. In practical terms though I don't think the two can really be compared. The word 'Atheist' is taboo and has a much greater impact than 'non-astrologer', like I said, the word 'Atheist' has a history, the term 'Non-Astrologer' does not. In practical terms I don't think they can be compared the same...in principle, yes - I'd say they can. Atheist is to theist as non-astrologer is to astrologer. But in practical terms it's just not as simple as that, not so easy to apply.
You get called up on for not believing in God and can be called an 'Atheist', and it can be a problem for others, taboo, etc.
If you don't believe in astrology you don't really have the same problem. And you don't really get labelled as a 'Non-Astrologer' lol, and that's not taboo either
And yes, as you say. It's because atheism is the norm that we need to differentiate. Since being a vegan for example, isn't the norm (I.e: it isn't more common) and being an Avegan isn't exactly taboo (except perhaps to some very zealous vegans out there that are very strong animal lovers lol - but not really to anyone else; it's not really taboo lol) - it doesn't apply to those words/terms the same, practically speaking. And you don't have to go around labelling yourself as an Avegan if you're simply not a vegan. It isn't taboo, etc.
EvF
But in practical terms - as I said - I think there's a difference.
Like I said, if you say you don't believe in God OTHERS will label you as an atheist some times if you don't...and if you are an atheist by definition (since that's the commonly used word for a non-believer) and you are asked if you are one but you yourself simply: 'don't like the label'...what are you supposed to say? No? Are you supposed to say you're not an Atheist even when by definition you are? All very confusing I think.
And on the other hand; if you say you don't believe in astrology then I very much doubt you'll be labelled as a 'Non-Astrologer' lol
- and if you are; it's not a taboo word.And if you indeed, don't believe in astrology - I doubt you'd have a problem being called a 'Non-astrologer' for a laugh at least lol...and the term isn't used, so in practical terms no one would label themselves as that anyway.
The word 'Atheist' has a big history...the term 'Non-Astrologer' does not. I think this difference matters in a practical sense, despite that, in principle - there isn't really any difference.
I think in principle the analogy is correct. In practical terms though I don't think the two can really be compared. The word 'Atheist' is taboo and has a much greater impact than 'non-astrologer', like I said, the word 'Atheist' has a history, the term 'Non-Astrologer' does not. In practical terms I don't think they can be compared the same...in principle, yes - I'd say they can. Atheist is to theist as non-astrologer is to astrologer. But in practical terms it's just not as simple as that, not so easy to apply.
You get called up on for not believing in God and can be called an 'Atheist', and it can be a problem for others, taboo, etc.
If you don't believe in astrology you don't really have the same problem. And you don't really get labelled as a 'Non-Astrologer' lol, and that's not taboo either
And yes, as you say. It's because atheism is the norm that we need to differentiate. Since being a vegan for example, isn't the norm (I.e: it isn't more common) and being an Avegan isn't exactly taboo (except perhaps to some very zealous vegans out there that are very strong animal lovers lol - but not really to anyone else; it's not really taboo lol) - it doesn't apply to those words/terms the same, practically speaking. And you don't have to go around labelling yourself as an Avegan if you're simply not a vegan. It isn't taboo, etc.
EvF
