Is atheism a belief?

[T0 Th3 M4X]

Not coherent to you, which makes you incoherent, not me.  If you're arguing that there's no coherent definition at all, then I would direct you to dictionaries, encyclopedias, journals, the Bible (if you're talking about the Judeo-Christian God, etc...)  Because those things define the subject(s).   That doesn't make me a troll.  It makes you inaccurate, incoherent, incorrect, and potentially ignorant.  Next.

I think what Bucky is trying to point out is that God has a "definition problem." At some points, he's the tribal god of the Israelites. That's what he is... because that's what the Bible says he is. He has so definite a form that you better be careful not to make a graven image of him.

At other times he is some "timeless," "ephemeral," or "spiritual" being. And people say "God is love" and things like that. That's what he is... because that's what the Bible says he is.

Believers and apologists slide back and forth between definitions as convenience dictates. It's rather frustrating (can't you understand?) to be on the other side of the debate and answer have to answer to such ad hoc nonsense.

Now, as someone who appreciates the philosophical side of things, I'm not necessarily troubled when something isn't easily defined. Many things evade a precise definition. But by the same token, it would be awesome if believers owned up to that rather than saying things like "go read a dictionary."
Some people think that God specifically favors America... after all, he favored the Israelites.

Something can exist in multiple forms with attributes that explain each.

Water - Solid, Liquid, Gas
Man - Father, Son, Uncle, Grandfather, Husband, and so on.

In discussion, usually it's best to assume something in dialogue for the sake of the argument.  That way it doesn't become a distraction from the true matter at hand. It also makes it easier when dealing with complex issues.  Truth is, none of us has all the answers for anything, and a little give and take is the best chance for winning the race.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.  I always appreciate you calm and reasonable approach to people.  I wish I shared the quality of that attribute in you, because I'm more likely to want to whack someone over the head with a frying pan.  Well played.

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Not coherent to you, which makes you incoherent, not me.  If you're arguing that there's no coherent definition at all, then I would direct you to dictionaries, encyclopedias, journals, the Bible (if you're talking about the Judeo-Christian God, etc...)  Because those things define the subject(s).   That doesn't make me a troll.  It makes you inaccurate, incoherent, incorrect, and potentially ignorant.  Next.

I think what Bucky is trying to point out is that God has a "definition problem." At some points, he's the tribal god of the Israelites. That's what he is... because that's what the Bible says he is. He has so definite a form that you better be careful not to make a graven image of him.

At other times he is some "timeless," "ephemeral," or "spiritual" being. And people say "God is love" and things like that. That's what he is... because that's what the Bible says he is.

Believers and apologists slide back and forth between definitions as convenience dictates. It's rather frustrating (can't you understand?) to be on the other side of the debate and answer have to answer to such ad hoc nonsense.

Now, as someone who appreciates the philosophical side of things, I'm not necessarily troubled when something isn't easily defined. Many things evade a precise definition. But by the same token, it would be awesome if believers owned up to that rather than saying things like "go read a dictionary."
Some people think that God specifically favors America... after all, he favored the Israelites.

Something can exist in multiple forms with attributes that explain each.

Water - Solid, Liquid, Gas
Man - Father, Son, Uncle, Grandfather, Husband, and so on.

In discussion, usually it's best to assume something in dialogue for the sake of the argument.  That way it doesn't become a distraction from the true matter at hand. It also makes it easier when dealing with complex issues.  Truth is, none of us has all the answers for anything, and a little give and take is the best chance for winning the race.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.  I always appreciate you calm and reasonable approach to people.  I wish I shared the quality of that attribute in you, because I'm more likely to want to whack someone over the head with a frying pan.  Well played.