RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:26 pm
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2011 at 7:27 pm by mayor of simpleton.)
(November 19, 2011 at 7:10 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: It is in the sense that it's a reference to theism. a- "without" + theos "a god"
Technically I'd have to agree with you here.
Atheism is the negation of the position of theism. (theism does not denote religion, but the connotation is there...)
The problem here is that the act of negating a position is confused with being "negative in stance/attitude" regarding other positions. I suppose the negation of the proposal 2+2=5 would be misinterpretated as a negative stance/attitude toward mathematics, provided you live under the assumption that 2+2 does indeed equal 5.
The subjective connotations (often non sequitur) associated with the answer to a single question are often the foundation for such hasty generalizations of character; thus the view that a negation is the same as a negative stance/attitude.
Context and perspective is always crucial for clarity. Otherwise, language will become muddled.
From the perspective of an atheist, this negation of a single question does not imply a negative stance/attitude toward any other position (connotation-free). It is just an answer to a single question, nothing more nothing less.
Meow!
GREG
Moral is as moral does and as moral wishes it all too be. - MoS
The absence of all empirical evidence for the necessity of intuitive X existing is evidence against the necessary empirical existence of intuitive X - MoS (variation of 180proof)
Athesim is not a system of belief, but rather a single answer to a single question. It is the designation applied by theists to those who do not share their assumption that a god/deity exists. - MoS
I am not one to attribute godlike qualities to things that I am unable to understand. I may never be in the position to understand certain things, but I am not about to create an anthropomorphic deity out of my short-commings. I wish not to errect a monument to my own personal ignorace and demand that others worship this proxy of ego. - MoS
The absence of all empirical evidence for the necessity of intuitive X existing is evidence against the necessary empirical existence of intuitive X - MoS (variation of 180proof)
Athesim is not a system of belief, but rather a single answer to a single question. It is the designation applied by theists to those who do not share their assumption that a god/deity exists. - MoS
I am not one to attribute godlike qualities to things that I am unable to understand. I may never be in the position to understand certain things, but I am not about to create an anthropomorphic deity out of my short-commings. I wish not to errect a monument to my own personal ignorace and demand that others worship this proxy of ego. - MoS
