Posts: 3
Threads: 1
Joined: October 29, 2010
Reputation:
0
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 10:49 am
(October 30, 2010 at 8:40 am)Zen Badger Wrote: (October 29, 2010 at 9:39 pm)Existentialist Wrote: (October 29, 2010 at 9:35 pm)Tiberius Wrote: Atheism is the opposite of theism. Not really. The a- is a prefix to -theos, therefore atheism is the -ism of the athe-, not the a- of the theism.
Just a heads up E, this is a Atheist forum, not a grammar forum.
Just thought you'd like to know...........
I'd still say that what the prefix is, matters. Words like "theory," "philosophy," etc can be defined by looking at the etymology.
Posts: 282
Threads: 7
Joined: August 25, 2010
Reputation:
4
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:02 am
(This post was last modified: October 30, 2010 at 11:36 am by Existentialist.)
Posts: 491
Threads: 16
Joined: August 6, 2009
Reputation:
20
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:16 am
(October 30, 2010 at 11:02 am)Existentialist Wrote: And while you're at it why don't you get rid of that stupid Hipster Hitler avatar? It's only funny if it's ironic.
Woah, now you define what is funny too?
P.s. you don't get to tell people what they can have as their avatar.
"God is dead" - Friedrich Nietzsche
"Faith is what you have in things that DON'T exist. - Homer J. Simpson
Posts: 282
Threads: 7
Joined: August 25, 2010
Reputation:
4
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:18 am
(This post was last modified: October 30, 2010 at 11:22 am by Existentialist.)
(October 30, 2010 at 11:16 am)Shinylight Wrote: Woah, now you define what is funny too? Woah, you don't know the difference between an opinion and a definition without it being spelt out?
[EDIT] P.S. You don't seem to know the difference either between telling somebody what their avatar is and asking them a question about it.
Posts: 491
Threads: 16
Joined: August 6, 2009
Reputation:
20
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:24 am
(October 30, 2010 at 11:18 am)Existentialist Wrote: (October 30, 2010 at 11:16 am)Shinylight Wrote: Woah, now you define what is funny too? Woah, you don't know the difference between an opinion and a definition without it being spelt out?
Woah, you don't understand the difference between sincerity and a joke without it being spelled out?
You see, it was a joke based on the widely known fact, that you (Existentialist), like to throw out the dictionary's definitions and make up your own.
Tell that to 6 million Jews.
"God is dead" - Friedrich Nietzsche
"Faith is what you have in things that DON'T exist. - Homer J. Simpson
Posts: 282
Threads: 7
Joined: August 25, 2010
Reputation:
4
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:34 am
Posts: 2080
Threads: 52
Joined: April 11, 2010
Reputation:
47
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:39 am
All it takes to be considered atheism is to lack a belief in gods. Holding a belief that there is no god is also atheism, but that belief is not necessary for a position to qualify as atheism, only the lack of belief is needed.
I do not understand why you cannot understand that.
Posts: 282
Threads: 7
Joined: August 25, 2010
Reputation:
4
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:40 am
(October 30, 2010 at 10:49 am)Strongappleby Wrote: I'd still say that what the prefix is, matters. Words like "theory," "philosophy," etc can be defined by looking at the etymology. I agree. Suffixes matter too. Atheism has one of each!
Posts: 491
Threads: 16
Joined: August 6, 2009
Reputation:
20
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:43 am
"God is dead" - Friedrich Nietzsche
"Faith is what you have in things that DON'T exist. - Homer J. Simpson
Posts: 282
Threads: 7
Joined: August 25, 2010
Reputation:
4
RE: Defining "Atheism"
October 30, 2010 at 11:50 am
(October 30, 2010 at 11:39 am)Paul the Human Wrote: All it takes to be considered atheism is to lack a belief in gods. Holding a belief that there is no god is also atheism, but that belief is not necessary for a position to qualify as atheism, only the lack of belief is needed.
I do not understand why you cannot understand that.
Thanks Paul. It seems to me that the subject of atheism is an enquiry into the existence or non-existence of god. That is the primary issue.
Belief is a different subject.
Knowledge is a different subject.
If God exists, he will continue to exist whether humans believe it or not. He will exist whether humans have knowledge of his existence or not. He will exist whether humans have reasons to know or not to know whether he exists or not. It seems that in many discussions about atheism, the subject of whether or not God exists is getting mixed up with the subject of whether or not a human being has a belief or a lack of belief, and also with another subject again about whether a human can have knowledge of god's existence and then even whether he can have a reason to have knowledge of it. This seems to me to be making things very complicated. That is why I am having trouble understanding some of the things being said to me. When you add in a lot of unnecessary anger from certain quarters, it does not help the process of understanding, in fact it's a little bit like being at school - a bad one.
|
