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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 18, 2013 at 10:45 am
I suppose that if I could not provide compelling evidence for belief in a particular god/gods or rational arguments for why they might exist, I could instead distract everyone by wondering whether atheists all agree on what "atheist" means. It comes off as being just a bit more sophisticated than "well you can't prove god doesn't exist."
"Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's in this century, but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from ape- like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered."
-Stephen Jay Gould
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 18, 2013 at 10:49 am
(October 18, 2013 at 10:03 am)whateverist Wrote: Hey, give me the stick. It's my turn to whack the donkey.
Is that a euphemism, like spank the monkey or bash the bishop?
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 18, 2013 at 9:39 pm
I see what you mean. Then again flogging the pope does tend to take it all out of me.
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 18, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Coming in short pants, in fact.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 19, 2013 at 1:49 am
(October 18, 2013 at 10:49 am)Stimbo Wrote: (October 18, 2013 at 10:03 am)whateverist Wrote: Hey, give me the stick. It's my turn to whack the donkey.
Is that a euphemism, like spank the monkey or bash the bishop?
No, no, no. I think you are describing pastimes, not euphemisms. I tried to consult my dictionary, but the pages are stuck together.
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 19, 2013 at 2:03 am
(October 19, 2013 at 1:49 am)cato123 Wrote: (October 18, 2013 at 10:49 am)Stimbo Wrote: Is that a euphemism, like spank the monkey or bash the bishop?
No, no, no. I think you are describing pastimes, not euphemisms. I tried to consult my dictionary, but the pages are stuck together.
So... Your dictionary has a centerfold? 
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 19, 2013 at 2:57 am
Don't they all?
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 19, 2013 at 4:07 am
(October 19, 2013 at 2:03 am)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: So... Your dictionary has a centerfold?
Featuring the sexiest verb of the month. Or, if the publishers are feeling particularly kinky, a noun. 
"YOU take the hard look in the mirror. You are everything that is wrong with this world. The only thing important to you, is you." - ronedee
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 19, 2013 at 4:13 am
Oh yay, another thread about definitions 
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RE: The definetion of atheism
October 19, 2013 at 8:05 pm
(This post was last modified: October 19, 2013 at 8:13 pm by ManMachine.)
(October 17, 2013 at 12:09 am)Lemonvariable72 Wrote: Since some users on here seem to have a hardon for a alternate definition of this word, I am going to repeat as I have heard every atheist I have encountered use it
Atheism- The lack of belief in god or gods
Atheist- A person that lacks belief in god or gods
If you are a atheist who disagrees with this, then please elaborate.
Neither, for me it is an assertion that deities do not exist. I can see there are people who 'believe' in god(s), I do not differentiate myself by absconding from their belief, I assert that the thing they 'believe' in simply does not exist. For me there is no 'lack of belief' in god(s) - which implies a missing 'belief' on my part - it is just that there is no god(s) for me to believe in.
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
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