On Defining Atheism: An Essay

[Excited Penguin]

Manalive, your writing influences concerning expression ring familiar with me, though I can't mentally pinpoint what they are right now. Keep reading what you're reading though, you're on the right path.

Kudos for the overall style and development of thought. Just because some are lucky enough to be in the right about such a simple yet complex issue does not detract from your perseverance to prove them right. Some people fail to distinguish that from your idiotic beliefs in a monotheistic god. I don't.

That being said, some but not all of your egregious inanities were pointed out by JennyA. I won't consider finishing the job unless you show some sign of sticking around in order to prove you're not just a bowl of stirred copypasta but more like a hot potato in a library.

[robvalue]

Do I believe you have a watch on? No, I have no reason to believe that.

Do I believe you don't have a watch on? No, I've no reason to believe that either.

I'm withholding judgement on the watch. It's a perfectly reasonable idea, which could easily be true or untrue. But until I see some evidence either way, I can't make a judgement. This is the neutral, default position. This is analogous to weak atheism.

Now. Do I believe you've got a dragon in your garage? No.

Do I believe you haven't got a dragon in your garage? Yes.

The difference is that the claim is so outrageous that the likelihood of it being true is very small, and so it's perfectly reasonable to believe it is in fact untrue if no evidence is being presented. This is like strong atheism. But no one is required to answer "yes" to the second question. They can withhold judgement, as in the watch example, and remain a weak atheist.

I've talked about beliefs here. Do I know you don't have a dragon in your garage? No, I can't be absolutely sure. But I don't need to be absolutely sure of things in order to make decisions. We can't spend our lives trying to investigate every ridiculous claim that is put to us, we'd never do anything else. It's up to the person making the claim to show you the evidence. If they don't have any, they are wasting our time.

[ignoramus]

OP wrote:

In essence, we have said nothing worth saying.

Matey, that's the most sensible thing you've said so far... (you poor indoctrinated fool)

[Bob Kelso]

Pants please me greatly.

[Jenny A]

[robvalue]

So, is that it?

Is the definition safely returned to its correct state now?

Resistance is futile. The A-train is coming. We will eat your babies.

[Little lunch]

It worked so well in the Church Gazette.
And then all his friends dared him to write it on a piece of paper and drop it into the pits of hell.