Sam Harris says that Atheists shouldn't use the atheist or atheism label. And they shouldn't 'call' themselves anything at all. Obviously himself included.
My only question on this matter is: When an Atheist is asked if he believes in God and he replies "no" then he/she is assumed to be an atheist anyway. And if he/she is asked if he is an atheist what is he/she supposed to say? "no"?. It seems misleading either way for me.
I can see that on occasions when NOT asked perhaps it could somehow help with going under the radar as Harris suggests? But still, how do you get around this problem of when asked if you believe/or don't and if you're an atheist or not?
And still how do Atheists overcome the herding cats problem?
evf
My only question on this matter is: When an Atheist is asked if he believes in God and he replies "no" then he/she is assumed to be an atheist anyway. And if he/she is asked if he is an atheist what is he/she supposed to say? "no"?. It seems misleading either way for me.
I can see that on occasions when NOT asked perhaps it could somehow help with going under the radar as Harris suggests? But still, how do you get around this problem of when asked if you believe/or don't and if you're an atheist or not?
And still how do Atheists overcome the herding cats problem?
evf
