Definition of "atheism"

[robvalue]

Yes exactly, I have said before that I don't think atheism really means anything, neither does theism, until you lay out at least some definition of God. But since most people won't even do that, it's a bit of a problem!

As I wrote on my website, my "atheism/theism" is split in a very trivial way. If the "God" in question is just something that clearly exists, then I'm a theist. So this is the universe, an apple, whatever. If it is something untestable or that I've never experienced, then I'm atheist.

It is rather a silly situation. But then God claims are silly. We're really talking about nothing more than disbelief in Santa or the Loch Ness monster.

I'd be happy to accept that God has to be intelligent... but you need more than that or else I am a god. It seems you almost have to make it unfalsifiable in some way before it counts as a god, thereby automatically rendering atheism the logical position.

[TheoneandonlytrueGod]

It is annoying. While there are contradictory definitions present in dictionaries and in a significant number of people's minds, all we can do is agree at the start of the discussion with them what terms mean.

If they want atheism to mean "belief there is no God" then I say fine, I'm not an atheist. And we establish what I am, whether or not they have a word for it. They don't get to tell me what I am, using their definitions, then strawman me. Well they can, but they'll be talking to Mr. Chainsaw pretty quickly.

The Christian definition of atheism seems to include:

1: Believes in evolution religiously (coz the only alternative is obviously Yahweh)
2: Hates god.
3: Loves satan.
4: just wants to sin.
5: Has a closed mind, not willing to accept that bronze age goat farmers knew more about the universe than all those people with scientific equipment and PHds
6: Has replaced religion with "scientism" the belief that science can answer all questions about things by using "evidence" and "facts".
7: Had some sort of experience that separated them from god.
8: Say atheists miss the point that there are a lot of false gods but obviously theirs is the correct one coz it says so in the bible
9: Scientific knowledge breaks down at the beginning of the universe therefore god, atheists just can't accept that.
10: we don't have fossils of the first life form therefore god, atheists just can't accept that

Did I miss anything?

Actually #10 is not entirely true. There have been found in rocks ±3.6*10^4 years old the oldest fossils of viruses or some sort of fossil life. Mostly in Australia and Canada.

[rexbeccarox]

Nice necro.

[Ludwig]