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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 16, 2012 at 10:24 am
(This post was last modified: February 16, 2012 at 10:24 am by Whateverist.)
(February 16, 2012 at 9:26 am)RaphielDrake Wrote: -ism = religion?
Is cynicism a religion then? Cause if so I am definitely a member.
No, I wouldn't equate an -ism with a religion but it occurs to me that "religion" would be a pretty tough thing to define. I'm pretty sure if I go to any English dictionary I'll find a definition that is really rooted in the Abrahamic religions which tries to generalize to encompass the rest of the world's practices which seem to hold a similar place in society. Then you'll have to decide if Confucianism, Taoism or Shinto are or are not religions. Our western bent really wants religion to include gods but I'm not sure that is necessary, except given our local bias. Heck, maybe cynicism, romanticism or optimism would fit.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 16, 2012 at 12:09 pm
(February 15, 2012 at 9:55 pm)whateverist Wrote: When I think about making my garden it sometimes feels right to say I am just following its (the garden's) suggestions. Does my gardening activity turn my yard into a garden or me into a gardener? Both seem true. Fuzzy enough?
Your garden is offering you suggestions, in non-specific form and language which you as a human being have assigned to more organized concepts. "Water this", "cultivate that", "plant something low here", "beans along this fence" are all gardening shorthand for an assessment of the "garden situation" as it is, and plans of action that will get your garden to where you want it to be.
It's not so fuzzy if you really delve into the biology and agronomy. It can feel fuzzy, but thinking rationally isn't exactly a force-field against feelings. There is no need to invoke the fuzzy in the garden except as a feeling. Nothing fuzzy going on. It's a machine.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 16, 2012 at 12:13 pm
(This post was last modified: February 16, 2012 at 12:14 pm by thesummerqueen.)
Machine - Life - life still follows unfuzzy processes, even if humans don't really understand it.
There's some quote about gardening merely being a series of mishaps on the way to learning to think like a carrot, or something along that line. There's nothing woo-ish about it, unless you decide it's woo. You're just doing an activity that you'd do with botany and biology on your side, without all the latin and crap. It's all a series of experiments.
Except for Rhythm's yellow tomato ties.
PS - Rhythm, Justin gave up and is just letting me start tomato plants for him (as well as a surprise in the form of sunflowers for his wife. I'm the new best friend.) We still can't figure out what caused his tomato skins to do that.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 16, 2012 at 4:16 pm
(February 16, 2012 at 10:24 am)whateverist Wrote: (February 16, 2012 at 9:26 am)RaphielDrake Wrote: -ism = religion?
Is cynicism a religion then? Cause if so I am definitely a member.
No, I wouldn't equate an -ism with a religion but it occurs to me that "religion" would be a pretty tough thing to define. I'm pretty sure if I go to any English dictionary I'll find a definition that is really rooted in the Abrahamic religions which tries to generalize to encompass the rest of the world's practices which seem to hold a similar place in society. Then you'll have to decide if Confucianism, Taoism or Shinto are or are not religions. Our western bent really wants religion to include gods but I'm not sure that is necessary, except given our local bias. Heck, maybe cynicism, romanticism or optimism would fit.
I think you have a point that some religions are not purely religions as some have produced views of great philosophical value.
However, a religion is a belief system that makes a claim to the divine or some sort of an afterlife without proof. If there were proof of the divine or the afterlife then that would be demonstrable and researchable. It would cease to be a religion and become a subject of scientific investigation.
A philosophy is addressing problems or theories through reasoned and rational argument as a means to delve deeper into them.
There is a divide between the two and it is very clear to identify where the religion ends and where the philosophy begins.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 16, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I wouldn't even say theism is an -ism in the sense of an ideology or system of thought. It's a condition, like albinism: the condition of believing in at least one god. Atheism is the condition of not having the condition of theism.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 16, 2012 at 9:49 pm
You're always so thoughtful, Mister. I hate that after a bit of time has passed, I forget that I already repped you and want to do so again...and can't.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 17, 2012 at 12:16 am
I haven't repped him yet  I'll do it on your behalf 
.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 17, 2012 at 1:23 am
You can update your rep to say more nice things. 
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 20, 2012 at 4:32 pm
It is to blush.
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RE: Do atheists really have an -ism?
February 20, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Updated.
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