RE: It is never Ok, OP/ED
February 15, 2015 at 5:51 am
(This post was last modified: February 15, 2015 at 5:59 am by jesus_wept.)
(February 14, 2015 at 12:51 pm)robvalue Wrote: How weasely can you get (no disrespect to weasels)? Trying to win an argument with a dictionary sideswipe. Telling you what you really believe.
A Webster's Strawman. Such utter desperation. Where is there God, that they need to go sniffing around to try and twist the meanings of every word to try and feel like they "win". Man!
I did say I was talking about fundies and apologists, the sort of people who think William Lane Craig and Ken Ham are good debaters, so I think their weaselyness and underhand tactics go without saying.
(February 14, 2015 at 12:43 pm)wiploc Wrote:(February 14, 2015 at 4:41 am)jesus_wept Wrote: the doctrine or belief that there is no God. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheism
Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defini...sh/atheism
You gave the first definition from dictionary.com, and it's certainly a good definition; that's a common usage.
Dictionary.com follows up that first definition with a second definition quite similar to the one from the OeD: "disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings."
So any theist arguing that dictionary.com provides the single definition of "atheism" should be made to face the fact that dictionary.com itself offers the alternative definition that you and I prefer.
I didnt say the definition wasn't a common usage, especially amongst fundies and apologists, i said the dictionary was crap and appeared to be tailor made for fundies and apologists. Which I still stand by.
And I'm pleased you told me to tell them that they're cherry picking from it too. I'd have never thought of that one.
