(June 7, 2013 at 5:45 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote:Well, it says so in the dictionary that it is a credible reference... isn't that the same standard you hold for your holy book?(June 6, 2013 at 5:57 pm)pocaracas Wrote: Well, I go by the dictionary, not what some philosopher or group of philosophers think a given word means.
And the dictionary I tend to use these past few years is dictionary.com
So you care more about what Noah Webster thought a word meant more than the actual philosophers?Just giving you some grief, at least you are using something as a reference.

(June 7, 2013 at 5:45 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote:Actually.... disbelief has two parts dis- which means negation, or a simple not, and -belief... .... put them together and you get what? no belief, absence of belief.... lacking belief...Quote: noun
a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
Origin:
1565–75; < Greek áthe ( os ) godless + -ist
Note the "OR" in there.
Sure, but denying or disbelieving in the existence of God is not the same thing as merely “lacking a belief” in God or gods, you’re still taking a position. This has been my argument from the beginning; the whole “lacking a belief in god” is not an accepted definition for the term and stems from intellectual laziness more than anything.
"Lacking a belief" seems a lot like disbelief to me.
(June 7, 2013 at 5:45 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote:It's sad because some of them end up taking people out because they don't believe in the same deity as they.Quote: Sadly, you do see a lot of gnostic/strong theists
I see no reason why a person having enough intellectual and philosophical fortitude in order to take a position on the matter and defend it is something to be sad about; I wish more non-believers did the same.
and yep, non-believers don't generally claim to know for sure that there is no god whatsoever... Would we be honest if we would claim such a thing?
(June 7, 2013 at 5:45 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote: Nope, because the “a” is not modifying belief (-ism), so you still have a belief, it’s a belief in (atheos) no god.So -ism means belief... does it?....
Communism
Socialism
Schism

Sectarianism
Racism
cannibalism
Extremism
etc
etc
etc
How about we use that Webster guy?
Quote:-ismEnjoy the reordering of your brain.
a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs ( baptism ); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc. ( criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism ).
Compare -ist, -ize.
Origin:
< Greek -ismos, -isma noun suffixes, often directly, often through Latin -ismus, -isma, sometimes through French -isme, German -ismus (all ultimately < Gk)
