RE: Do you have the right to be an atheist?
July 6, 2015 at 9:08 am
(This post was last modified: July 6, 2015 at 9:12 am by The Grand Nudger.)
(July 6, 2015 at 6:41 am)pool Wrote:(July 6, 2015 at 6:35 am)Mr.wizard Wrote: Even the concept that, "if theism didn't exist, atheism wouldn't exist", is ridiculous. If the belief in god didn't exist then everyone would lack a belief in god, making everyone an atheist by definition, the position would still be there but there probably wouldn't be any use for the label.
If you are saying that "A lack of belief in god." is Atheism.
Then Pool comes along one day and says that Pool lacks a belief in atheism.
Seeing how Theism is no longer existent.
Where the burden of proof now?
In this contention...surrounded by atheists who have told you as much? It lies with you. Atheism is a statement of a persons status of belief. Either you accept that I do not believe or you do not, but there's never a point at which I must prove to you that I do not. The situation is identical for theists, either I accept that they believe or I do not, but there's no compulsion or requirement that they prove as much to me.
You're confusing the situation regarding ones status of belief with the status of the thing referred to -by- belief. People may or may not believe in electricity, and regardless of that status of belief, electricity does or doesn't exist. Separate questions, you see. So stop whining about the burden of proof and pony up some "god" already?
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