(October 22, 2012 at 10:34 am)TROC Wrote: I have been a non-believer in God or gods as long as I can remember. When people asked I reported as an Atheist. This year, with the kids growing and some time available, I was wanting to become more involved in the community. I really had not paid much attention until now.
In the first year of looking around I've learned that I am a 'non-cognitive', and there is a community theme that a non-cognitive isn't 'really' an atheist. Which may be true (I've no issue re-naming myself), but I'm not sure where to go at the moment. Some background:
As early as 8 or 9, I'm certain no older than 11, the question of God/Jesus came up and I stated to myself "I don't believe this do I?... Nope." It was not much more complex than that. The certainty of my non-cognitivism is that I know I was at an age when I had limited information and was not capable of 'analysis' or to call my statements a skeptical response to a proposed theory: I could not be a proper 'skeptic' having neither data nor methodology. I -DID- make an emotional statement based upon limited information. Later I learned the many cognitive arguments for/against but my origin is simply described that the emotional 'value proposition' of religion/God never appealed to me so I didn't look too closely.
As a result I conduct myself as non-cognitive: I listen to people and without a belief in God/gods I think about what they 'mean' and what needs they are fulfilling. When someone says Jesus makes them feel good I'm as inclined to chastise them as strongly as when someone tells me they enjoy casino gambling; the former is a tedious discussion and the latter has good data why it is likely a 'net bad' for them in a way that they are already fully aware of (they know they're loosing money but enjoy the entertainment - De gustibus non est disputandum)
After this first year of reading and hanging out among the community I think I concur that I am likely not an 'Atheist' in the way the community accepts. Awkward to say "I'm an atheist but other atheists would not agree" so given my profile and disposition I'm inquiring to the forum for assistance to answer:
- What is the appropriate title/group?
- What groups/people/blogs/books are appropriate or useful. For example "Religion for Atheists" (De Botton) is more my theme.
Thanks for any help
TROC
Texas
I think the term you are looking for is theological noncognitivism or ignosticism.
Can you your position a little better? For example, you say that upon encountering a proposition for god, you analyze the desires and needs of the person presenting it rather than analyzing the position itself. I find that irrelevant to atheism. Whether or not you are an atheist would be determined by your actual position on the proposition itself. Judging by your statements, it would seem than you are an atheist and I believe most of the other atheists here would agree.
