A poll for our Atheist members.

[psychoslice]

For me its like trying to prove there are no fairies in the garden to a child, what on earth do you do?.

 

[Bunyip]

Both?

I consider both as atheists.

I've been leaning on both sides of those definitions but I still identify as an atheist either way.

That's a good point - they are not at all mutually exclusive positions..

 

[Quagmire]

Myself I would have

I would have to say that there is no god, for not one has ever proved there is a god, and its been a long time, so by that I would have to say there is no god. I actually don't like the name god, for what does it really mean, I don't think anyone really knows what their saying when they say they believe in god. For me god would be the whole cosmos being one, every single thing is the cosmos........but god, sort of brings a bad taste to my mouth and I want to spit lol.

In that case, if you voted for option 1, you should go back and change your vote.

 

[Quagmire]

In general, the term "atheist" means one who lacks belief in God.

On the other hand, you asked the question personally; what do I mean when I say I am an atheist ... What I mean about me is that I have a firm conviction that there is no God. So I put myself in the second group.

As I understand things, however, "atheist"; the definition; is the first answer.

If we are to adopt Hitchens' terminology, I, and others who have the "firm conviction that there is no God" should be called an "Antitheists" rather than an "atheist".

Thank you.

 

[Quagmire]

It was what I mean, and what I take 'atheist' to mean. There's no need to get agro just because the poll isn't going the way you thought.

No need to get "agro" because I caught you sandbagging.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I strongly doubt that God exists, a feeling of disbelief. A bit stronger than merely an absence of belief.

Semantically I look at "atheist" as meaning "not theist", so I regard it as covering a range of positions, including both those in the poll. I don't like the term "anti-theist", and prefer the idea of a spectrum, weak and strong atheism.

 

[Bunyip]

No need to get "agro" because I caught you sandbagging.

I'm neither agro - nor do I have any idea what 'sandbagging' means. I gave you a straight, honest and polite answer.

 

[Quagmire]

Just to clear up my personal opinion I do believe atheism is an active choice. Yes a lack of belief will suffice, but this is different from lack of belief from lack of choice. Idk if that helps or only confounds more.

I agree, but I'm not asking for a general or objective definition of "atheism" atm. For the purpose of this poll I don't care if people call themselves rutabagas.

What I'm asking each person qualified to vote in the poll is: do you merely lack a belief in deity? Or are do you hold a definite opinion that there i no deity?

 

[psychoslice]

In that case, if you voted for option 1, you should go back and change your vote.

Yea I have to say I was a bit confused to what to vote for, maybe more options would have been better ?.

 

[Quagmire]

I'm neither agro - nor do I have any idea what 'sandbagging' means. I gave you a straight, honest and polite answer.

Next time I see you giving someone a hard time for believing something in opposition to the evidence, I'll be sure to link to this post.

 

[Bunyip]

Yea I have to say I was a bit confused to what to vote for, maybe more options would have been better ?.

Or perhaps some explanation of how they could be exclusive categories?

 

[Bunyip]

Next time I see you giving someone a hard time for believing something in opposition to the evidence, I'll be sure to link to this post.

Why would you want to do that? What is the problem? I gave you a straight and honest answer. You are trying to pick a fight that I am not interested in. But sure, by all means - cite that post all you wish, I stand by it.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

What I'm asking each person qualified to vote in the poll is: do you merely lack a belief in deity? Or are do you hold a definite opinion that there i no deity?

I regard atheism as a spectrum which includes but is not limited to these 2 options.

 

[Quagmire]

Yea I have to say I was a bit confused to what to vote for, maybe more options would have been better ?.

I have a feeling more options would just add to the confusion.

I mean it's pretty straight forward:

Bob: "Hey Bill, when you say you're an atheist, are you saying you just lack a belief in God? Or do you hold a definite opinion that there is no God?"

Bill: "Well you know, the term atheist was first coined in 1675 by a Russian monk named Valdamir the Cranky in response to blah blah blah blahblah blahblah blahblah blah (3 hours later). . . ."

Really, it seems like a simple question to me.

 

[Quagmire]

I regard atheism as a spectrum which includes but is not limited to these 2 options.

Great.

That wasn't the question though.

 

[Bunyip]

I have a feeling more options would just add to the confusion.

I mean it's pretty straight forward:

Bob: "Hey Bill, when you say you're an atheist, are you saying you just lack a belief in God? Or do you hold a definite opinion that there is no God?"

Bill: "Well you know, the term atheist was first coined in 1675 by a Russian monk named Valdamir the Cranky in response to blah blah blah blahblah blahblah blahblah blah (3 hours later). . . ."

Really, it seems like a simple question to me.

Well if you put that way - what is the difference? Sure, I lack belief in gods and believe there are no gods.
Are you asking if it a positive claim?

 

[psychoslice]

I have a feeling more options would just add to the confusion.

I mean it's pretty straight forward:

Bob: "Hey Bill, when you say you're an atheist, are you saying you just lack a belief in God? Or do you hold a definite opinion that there is no God?"

Bill: "Well you know, the term atheist was first coined in 1675 by a Russian monk named Valdamir the Cranky in response to blah blah blah blahblah blahblah blahblah blah (3 hours later). . . ."

Really, it seems like a simple question to me.

Yes I see what your saying, so I would really just have to say no, there is no god, I don't need proof because how can you prove something that doesn't exist, but yea, I know what the god belivers would say, " put how can you prove that", oh those words annoy me lol.

 

[Curious George]

I agree, but I'm not asking for a general or objective definition of "atheism" atm. For the purpose of this poll I don't care if people call themselves rutabagas.

What I'm asking each person qualified to vote in the poll is: do you merely lack a belief in deity? Or are do you hold a definite opinion that there i no deity?

I answered for my opinion and with regard to what I meant when I answered your poll. I checked the first one because I am fearful of commitment. the term definite gives me pause. But when I refer to myself I mean an active lack of belief.

 

[Quagmire]

Well if you put that way - what is the difference? Sure, I lack belief in gods and believe there are no gods.

Option one says, [Do you] "Merely lack a belief in God(s)"

"Merely". That word is very important here. It means:

1. only as specified and nothing more; simply:
merely a matter of form.

Lets try your quote with "merely inserted:

Sure, I merely lack belief in gods and believe there are no gods.

Doesn't make sense now, does it?

Are you asking if it a positive claim?

Did you see that on the poll?

 

[LuisDantas]

I'm mainly trying to gauge what most people in here mean when they say "I'm an atheist".

Being an atheist, by itself, means just a refusal to claim belief in some sort of deity.

The consequences and meaning may well be negligible, though, because deities have no well-established boundaries, attributes or qualities. Anyone may ultimately claim anything or anyone to be a deity - or not to be.

In practice, an atheist is just someone who does not want to use a deity concept as part of his or her morality or religious practice for whatever reason - or even for no reason at all.

Edited to add: come to think of it, atheism does not actually mean anything. Nothing at all.

It is only what happens when someone lacks the drive to claim a belief in something that he or she wants to call a deity for whatever reason.

So it can be indicative of a lack of affinity for quick answers and unclear concepts. But it might just as well simply be a lack of of affinity to using a deity concept of any kind. Perhaps due to a desire to cut the middle man and go straight for the actual moral values?