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Atheism and Anti-Theism same thing?
#1
Atheism and Anti-Theism same thing?
What is the difference between atheism and anti-theism. I have seen some people use these terms as synonyms, are they the same?

Atheism
Antitheism
Are they basically the same thing or is there a difference?
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#2
RE: Difference between Atheism and Anti-Theism
Popcorn
 The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it. 




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#3
RE: Difference between Atheism and Anti-Theism
From what I understand they are different things. Atheism is lack of belief and anti-theism says that religion is harmful to the society and should be discarded in favor of humanism for example.
The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.

Mikhail Bakunin.

The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.

Socrates.
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#4
RE: Difference between Atheism and Anti-Theism
(January 31, 2016 at 3:17 am)pool the great Wrote: What is the difference between atheism and anti-theism. I have seen some people use these terms as synonyms, are they the same?

Atheism
Antitheism
Are they basically the same thing or is there a difference?

The difference is exactly "nti-".

They are synonymous. Imo.

*edit - anti-theism could maybe imply an active role in opposition of theism?
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#5
RE: Difference between Atheism and Anti-Theism
a = without thus atheism without god.
anti = against thus anti-theist against god.

In common usage atheism just means without a belief in god. Anti-theism is against theism. It's possible to be either, neither, or both.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god.  If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
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#6
RE: Difference between Atheism and Anti-Theism
Can an atheist identify as an anti-theist?
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#7
RE: Difference between Atheism and Anti-Theism
(January 31, 2016 at 4:25 am)pool the great Wrote: Can an atheist identify as an anti-theist?

Why not? There is nothing that makes it impossible or even improbable. If by anti-theism one means opinion that religion is harmful to the society then there is nothing preventing atheist from being both A.
The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.

Mikhail Bakunin.

The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.

Socrates.
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#8
RE: Atheism and Anti-Theism same thing?
Also, atheism is a descriptive term for a state of mind. Anti-theism is a philosophical position that someone chooses.

Sometimes anti-theism is used to mean anti-religion, although technically it's not the correct usage.

I'm anti-theist in as much as I think the whole idea is irrational, and that it's a stretch to assume that such a substantial belief won't have a knock-on effect somewhere in the actions of that person. This is particularly the case for anyone who professes that "faith" is anything other than wishful thinking. I think it's a very harmful idea, and one I don't think should be encouraged at all.
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#9
RE: Atheism and Anti-Theism same thing?
Antitheism generally takes the form of being actively opposed to theism, even when such theism doesn't affect you personally. In my own mind (and I admit that this is neither accurate nor particularly fair), I tend to equate antitheism with religious evangelism, as both positions involve getting yourself mixed up in things that don't concern you. For instance, if I'm sitting at home reading the paper and come across a story that a local church is building a new annex, as an atheist, I'd probably mutter, 'Bloody silly waste of time and money', and go on with my tea. As an antitheist, I'd be more likely to throw the paper down in a rage, being knocking together a protest sign, and heading over to the church to march up and down with a scowl on me mug.

Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
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#10
RE: Atheism and Anti-Theism same thing?
I was an atheist* until 2008, when "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" came along. Then I woke up and became an anti-theist.



*Actually, I used to say I wasn't religious enough to call myself an atheist.
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