Modal Argument: The Mind is Not the Brain

[The Reality Salesman01]

If you're a Theist, you can't tell the atheist what he believes anymore than he can tell you yours. If the Atheist tells you that he defines Atheism as a lack of belief in Gods, then that's the end of it. He has given you a description of the term he used to describe his position toward beliefs in God(s). Forcing your own definition on him will get you nowhere. If a Christian tells me he doesn't hold a belief in polytheism, I can't tell him that he actually does since he believes in the trinity. In these conversations, we are analyzing the views of individuals, and each individual may hold beliefs based on a multitude of different ideas and perceptions. In this sort of exchange, it is the other person that gets to tell you how they interpret the terms they use to describe their position. It's THEIR position. This is where objective and subjective intersect. If we are to fully understand a different position, we have to accept that their position is different. The position should be assessed on the merit of the arguments that support it. Once they've outlined the terms contained in their arguments, move on (with the exception of equivocation). These debates over semantics are a real time waster. It's no way to have a productive exchange of ideas.