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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm
(April 23, 2011 at 11:40 am)Garmston Ansell Wrote: I appreciate what you're saying however that's your definition, and it's fair. Would you say that atheists appreciate being defined by non atheists, or do they find it irritating?
It's not my definition and I take no credit for it, it comes directly from the original Latin term: A Theos, "A" meaning "Without" and "theos" meaning "belief/believes in a deity" - That's the very definition of Atheism.
If they call me an atheist because they have identified that I do not believe in a god then I have no problem with it, if they misuse the word to talk about something else, like "Atheism is a worldview" then I get a little irritated.
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 4:09 pm
(This post was last modified: April 23, 2011 at 4:10 pm by Garmston Ansell.)
(April 23, 2011 at 1:30 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Quote:So is it not acceptable to you for a theist to even talk about their views? In what ways does that make you feel uncomfortable?
Talk? Yes. Preach? No.
Do you understand the difference?
Telling others is talking about it. I gather there's a line which for you must not ever be crossed, is that correct?
(April 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm)theVOID Wrote: (April 23, 2011 at 11:40 am)Garmston Ansell Wrote: I appreciate what you're saying however that's your definition, and it's fair. Would you say that atheists appreciate being defined by non atheists, or do they find it irritating?
It's not my definition and I take no credit for it, it comes directly from the original Latin term: A Theos, "A" meaning "Without" and "theos" meaning "belief/believes in a deity" - That's the very definition of Atheism.
If they call me an atheist because they have identified that I do not believe in a god then I have no problem with it, if they misuse the word to talk about something else, like "Atheism is a worldview" then I get a little irritated.
I've heard some atheists refer to atheism as a worldview. Does that irritate you?
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Garmston, forgive me if I am wrong, but I am getting the sense that you are far less on the fence than you initially let on. I'm probably wrong, but you're not asking a lot of questions about atheism. It seems like the only thing you are interested in is what aggravates atheists. That sounds like a rather narrower topic for your essay than you initially let on as well.
Precisely what angle are you taking for this essay of yours, if you don't mind my asking?
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 4:42 pm
(April 23, 2011 at 4:30 pm)Shell B Wrote: Garmston, forgive me if I am wrong, but I am getting the sense that you are far less on the fence than you initially let on. I'm probably wrong, but you're not asking a lot of questions about atheism. It seems like the only thing you are interested in is what aggravates atheists. That sounds like a rather narrower topic for your essay than you initially let on as well.
Precisely what angle are you taking for this essay of yours, if you don't mind my asking?
As I say I have no particular angle at present. I'm just going with whatever people here are saying.
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 4:49 pm
(April 23, 2011 at 4:42 pm)Garmston Ansell Wrote: As I say I have no particular angle at present. I'm just going with whatever people here are saying.
Haha, then I suppose we atheists have a habit of making hostility seem like par for the course. If I were you, I would choose a broad angle, such as discussing famous atheists in history. If you are going to go for just atheism, it would be rather short. If you go for hostility among atheists, I would be sure to balance it with hostility against atheists in the religion part. I don't say that because I am an atheist. I say that because your essay would look more well-rounded that way.
There are certainly a number of angles you could take on the paper, but you aren't going to get much until you choose one. I would suggest starting a new thread, once you have chosen your angle. You are bound to get more theists in on the discussion that way. I am sure they are avoiding this thread for the simple reason that they are not atheists and the title suggests that only the help of atheists is needed.
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 5:31 pm
(April 23, 2011 at 4:49 pm)Shell B Wrote: (April 23, 2011 at 4:42 pm)Garmston Ansell Wrote: As I say I have no particular angle at present. I'm just going with whatever people here are saying.
Haha, then I suppose we atheists have a habit of making hostility seem like par for the course. If I were you, I would choose a broad angle, such as discussing famous atheists in history. If you are going to go for just atheism, it would be rather short. If you go for hostility among atheists, I would be sure to balance it with hostility against atheists in the religion part. I don't say that because I am an atheist. I say that because your essay would look more well-rounded that way.
There are certainly a number of angles you could take on the paper, but you aren't going to get much until you choose one. I would suggest starting a new thread, once you have chosen your angle. You are bound to get more theists in on the discussion that way. I am sure they are avoiding this thread for the simple reason that they are not atheists and the title suggests that only the help of atheists is needed.
All good ideas, thanks.
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Quote:Telling others is talking about it. I gather there's a line which for you must not ever be crossed, is that correct?
Oh, they can cross it. They are going to catch a lot of shit when they do.
As far as where that line is, I am reminded of Supreme Court justice, Potter Stewart's comment about obscenity. "I can't define it but I know it when I see it."
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 5:41 pm
(April 23, 2011 at 5:39 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Quote:Telling others is talking about it. I gather there's a line which for you must not ever be crossed, is that correct?
Oh, they can cross it. They are going to catch a lot of shit when they do.
As far as where that line is, I am reminded of Supreme Court justice, Potter Stewart's comment about obscenity. "I can't define it but I know it when I see it."
Have you ever been in a situation where you tell off a theist for crossing your line, and you don't get the desired reaction from them?
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Nope.
If nothing else, they are predictable.
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RE: Help needed with essay on atheism
April 23, 2011 at 6:20 pm
(This post was last modified: April 23, 2011 at 6:50 pm by Eleazar.)
(April 23, 2011 at 4:49 pm)Shell B Wrote: I am sure they are avoiding this thread for the simple reason that they are not atheists and the title suggests that only the help of atheists is needed. I don't know about the other theists here, but I've not given my views because I have no idea of even what the general subject of the essay is...
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