The meaning of Atheism.

[Shell B]

Good afternoon Shell. How's the hangover?

It would be more pronounced if the last time I drank wasn't three years ago.

[Minimalist]

Far too long, dear.

[Shell B]

Far too long, dear.

Yeah, I know.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

apart from one that this geezer keeps talking about on Atheist Forums who keeps talking about the said Ms. Punt in the most degrading and defamatory terms. I hope she has a good lawyer.

Pardon?

That must be another bloke. I've never said an untrue word about her. Actually she IS a lawyer.


Your argument? I thought I'd answered that question.Perhaps I was too was too subtle. .I'll answer again: I can't be bothered with you. I hope that's clear enough.

[everythingafter]

When somebody feels the need to add a statement like "simply" and "simple" to any definition, it tends to suggest that it is not quite as simple as is being suggested, otherwise the simplicity would be self-evident and the statement would be unnecessary. Am I being ungenerous? It could of course mean that the matter is very simple. The question is, do I believe the people when they claim they see it as simple? I cannot help feeling it is simple in the same way that a bottle top screwed down on a pressurised liquid is simple. It hides terrible potential beneath. It has the feel of the lady doth protest too much. Methinks.

It's a nuance for sure, at least in my statement. My "simply" didn't mean to imply that there was anything "simple" to the choice to not believe (for some it may be, for others, maybe not). I was using the word "simple" more as a tool of language than anything else, to say that defining atheism was not complicated. That's all.

[leveni]

Dear everybody who participated in the above debate.
Thanks.
And sorry for not returning sooner. I've been to about 5 atheist forums on the web, and some how I didn't get back to you guys. How unfortunate for me, because you guys certainly did thrash it out.

Anyway, I think the problem was, I had made up my mind in regards to what atheism was at the age of 12, and since then I had never given atheism a second thought. I just assumed people who called themselves atheists had the same notion as I do.

Just in case anyone is interested, I'm going to preserve my concept. Maybe I'm not an atheist. I'm definitely not a theist. For me, at the age of 12, it was a time when I decided to take a 'stance' against those that wished to impose their own personal beliefs on me. I no longer feel such a need, but I will continue with my 'stance' for the sake of nostalgia.

In regards to the meaning of words though: Who has control over them? Is it those that consider themselves educated and knowledgeable in regards to the meaning of words? or is it those that have no understanding of words and so use them as they wish, disregarding their 'true' meaning.

Some interesting words are:
awful, tart, gay: if we look at their etymology they once had different meanings.
ain't: for some people ain't is perfectly acceptable but for others not aint
kangaroo: from the Guugu Yimithirr language meaning a large black macropod. But many Australians, due to their ignorance, believe it means "I don't know" in 'Aboriginal'.

So, are the so called young and ignorant among us in control over the popular meaning of words or are the so called intelligentsia in control over the popular meaning of words?

Again thanks for the input, and sorry for responding so late.