Defining "Atheism"

[The Omnissiunt One]

"Atheism means whatever the majority wants it to mean," is problematic. I thought we were moving to the convention that meanings are found in dictionaries - not a stance I would take but hey, if that's the rule, who am I to break it?

On reflection, it probably is a problematic way of defining something. Generally, though, dictionaries reflect the current usage of a word.

My dictionaries are giving the most popular meaning as "denial of the existence of God" or words to that effect. Disbelief is secondary. That is the way the word is being used in the world today according to the dictionary compilers. Do we need a worldwide vote on what atheism means? Is that practical?

No, but in my experience, the usage by the atheist community (if such a thing exists) is to mean merely 'a lack of belief'. Certainly, the dictionary backs you up, but I think if you subscribe to a descriptivist, rather than a prescriptivist, view of language, you have to admit that 'a lack of belief' is the more common definition.

[Existentialist]

No, but in my experience, the usage by the atheist community (if such a thing exists) is to mean merely 'a lack of belief'. Certainly, the dictionary backs you up, but I think if you subscribe to a descriptivist, rather than a prescriptivist, view of language, you have to admit that 'a lack of belief' is the more common definition.

I do agree with you that the usage by the atheist community does favour the definition "a lack of belief" but I think, and I should stress this is a personal opinion at the time of writing, that this particular definition appears to me to have been in the ascendency in the last 5-10 years since atheists have been better able to congregate around websites. The number of atheists who prefer the "atheism is a lack of belief in god"-type of definition, as opposed to the number of atheists who prefer the "atheism is the belief that god doesn't exist" -type of definition (accepting for the sake of argument that inclusion of the concept of belief is necessary to make a comparison) seems to me to be about 20 to 1 at the moment. If I'm right I'd anticipate most standard dictionaries will catch up with this in the next decade or so, if they haven't already. In the meantime, though, I think I'm on reasonably firm ground in my arguments.

Obviously others are free to disagree with me - I thank all of you who have done so politely

[Ervin]

I understand Atheism to be a belief that there is no creator or any other supernatural forces/beings that we can see measure or experience.

I sugest that Atheism is a belief, so you need faith in order to be an atheist.

Thanks

[LastPoet]

I understand Atheism to be a belief that there is no creator or any other supernatural forces/beings that we can see measure or experience.

I sugest that Atheism is a belief, so you need faith in order to be an atheist.

Thanks

Atheists simply lack the belief in god or gods. Its the rejection of the claim by theists that god(s) exists.
Your suggestion is wrong. Do you need faith to not believe in fairies?

[Ervin]

I don't think that the belief in fairies is as the same as belief that there is a creative inteligence behind everything that exists.

No one apart from litle kids claims that fairies exist while there are a lot of arguments by adults for the Creator.

As its hard to imagine the begining of time or should I say infinity of time and space it is hard to imagine someone being around since eternity.

I just think that there is probably someone out there or atleast other life, I mean I believe that lots of things are possible.

I am simply open to posibilities!

Thanks

[Tiberius]

Whilst some atheists do have an active belief, it is certainly not true of all of them. I'd say that most atheists would reject the statement "there is no God", preferring not to put such a high level of certainty on their disbelief. We are open to the idea of God...we just haven't seen any reason to believe there is one yet.

[Paul Els]

I would have to agree with Adrian here.
One of the main things about theists are that they can be extremely close-minded, in my experience it can be rewarding to be open-minded (Would a single theist be able to 'lose his faith' if they weren't).

[LastPoet]

I don't think that the belief in fairies is as the same as belief that there is a creative inteligence behind everything that exists.

Oh? Explain the difference to me then, I'm open to that...

No one apart from litle kids claims that fairies exist while there are a lot of arguments by adults for the Creator.

So adults can't have stupid beliefs? Just because adults believe something doesn't mean its right. Look at the numerous suicide cults like waco, etc. Furthermore these adults you speak of usually were indoctrinated children.

As its hard to imagine the begining of time or should I say infinity of time and space it is hard to imagine someone being around since eternity.

Huh? I didn't get what you mean by this, can you clarify?

I just think that there is probably someone out there or atleast other life, I mean I believe that lots of things are possible.

I am simply open to posibilities!

Thanks

I agree, its possible to exist other life out there, but until evidence has been presented, its just a possibility amidst an infinity of possibilities. I am also open to alot of possibilities, and once evidence is presented I will definately take any possibility more seriously. So far, as god concerns, there is none, just a bunch of fallacious arguments based on ancient scriblings from people that didn't know better. Hence my point last post, one needs no faith to not believe in something, its the ones that believe that need faith or in the case of scientific knowledge, evidence.

[Skipper]

I don't think that the belief in fairies is as the same as belief that there is a creative inteligence behind everything that exists.

No one apart from litle kids claims that fairies exist while there are a lot of arguments by adults for the Creator.

There is exactly the same amount of evidence for the existence of fairies as there is for a creator. Zero. Just because adults believe it, it does not make it any more likely. Some adults believe the earth is flat, would you listen to them?

[Ervin]

Ok, its a bit late and I can't sleep so I might as well type away a few words.

When I say infinity is hard to imagine but it exists most likely, like the infinity of time and space we can't comprehend it bu it exists most likely, now we can't comprehend there being beginingles God but we can try and imagine it like we do with infinity. Now I am not a scientist or a philosopher so don't ask me to further explain this point please.

I am also open to the idea that there is no God or karma or whatever but I am not convinced yet either way. I don't want to blindly accept anything, also I don't want to blindly reject.

Anyway I still believe that you need belief in order to be an atheist.

Thanks