(November 20, 2013 at 7:03 pm)Darkstar Wrote:(November 20, 2013 at 5:46 pm)Vincenzo "Vinny" G. Wrote: Why not just accept that philosophical or intellectual views are one type of -ism, medical conditions are another. And all philosophical/intellectual views about reality are characterized by what they affirm.
To this I would answer that atheism is not an -ism, but a lack of a different -ism. That is:
http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootchart.php
The root a- means not\without. Theism is defined as the belief in the existence of god. Therefore, a-theism is simply not having\being without that belief and that -ism.
The root is perfectly consistent with the view that atheism is an -ism, not "a lack of a different -ism".
Seriously, why are you arguing for this so much?
