Are babies atheist?

[leibowde84]

Wrong his post suggested that the obvious meaning of atheist is without theism.



Cheers

He said that "atheism" = the absence of theism. I'm sorry, but it is pretty stupid to get "atheist" = without a theist from that. It is common sense that is not what he meant.

 

[leibowde84]

Off topic. The question is, do you realize the that your process of defining theism, then defining atheism as contrary to that, then defining atheist in relation to atheism is disconnected from the etymology?

It is common sense that the term "atheist" is defined in relation to "atheism". Atheist is a person who atheism applies to. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

 

[Thief]

if babies are atheists.....then participants here should quote them

 

[leibowde84]

That does not answer my question. Why are you choosing to have the a- relate to belief? I want you distinguish that. Show me the logic that leads to such a conclusion.

a-, an-
(Greek: prefix; no, absence of, without, lack of; not)
from (a-, an- - Word Information)

atheist. 1570s, from French athéiste (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god, denying the gods; abandoned of the gods; godless, ungodly," from a- "without" + theos "a god" (see Thea).

(from theism - Dictionary Definition)
If you believe that God created the universe, you believe in theism. Its opposite is atheism, which means not believing in any god or higher spiritual power. There are different types of theism, such as monotheism, which is belief in only one god, and polytheism, belief in more than one god. The root of theism is the Greek word theos, or "god." English philosopher Ralph Cudworth was the first to use the term theism, in the 1600s.

 

[leibowde84]

That does not answer my question. Why are you choosing to have the a- relate to belief? I want you distinguish that. Show me the logic that leads to such a conclusion.

Theism is a belief. What else would the "a" relate to? There isn't another option. Again, "atheist" derives from "atheism" not "theist".

 

[leibowde84]

if babies are atheists.....then participants here should quote them

Why?

 

[leibowde84]

if babies are atheists.....then participants here should quote them

The vast majority of atheists are never quoted on this site.

 

[Thief]

and like most non-believers and denials of faith.....
babies might be sent to fire and brim stone

 

[leibowde84]

and like most non-believers and denials of faith.....
babies might be sent to fire and brim stone

That is pretty ludicrous. Why would you think that?

 

[leibowde84]

and like most non-believers and denials of faith.....
babies might be sent to fire and brim stone

Is that your real issue with this? That babies will somehow be judged because a man-made word technically applies to them?

 

[Curious George]

He said that "atheism" = the absence of theism. I'm sorry, but it is pretty stupid to get "atheist" = without a theist from that. It is common sense that is not what he meant.

Read the post I quoted of his.

 

[leibowde84]

Read the post I quoted of his.

I did. He said that atheism = the absence of theism and atheist = a person that atheism applies to.

 

[Curious George]

a-, an-
(Greek: prefix; no, absence of, without, lack of; not)
from (a-, an- - Word Information)

atheist. 1570s, from French athéiste (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god, denying the gods; abandoned of the gods; godless, ungodly," from a- "without" + theos "a god" (see Thea).

(from theism - Dictionary Definition)
If you believe that God created the universe, you believe in theism. Its opposite is atheism, which means not believing in any god or higher spiritual power. There are different types of theism, such as monotheism, which is belief in only one god, and polytheism, belief in more than one god. The root of theism is the Greek word theos, or "god." English philosopher Ralph Cudworth was the first to use the term theism, in the 1600s.

So then you are aware that atheism came before theism. And theism was used in contrast to atheism, not the other way around?

 

[Curious George]

It is common sense that the term "atheist" is defined in relation to "atheism". Atheist is a person who atheism applies to. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

That is not the point. The point is that atheist/atheism came before theism.

There was no theism to be without. It was the doctrine of denying a personal god.

 

[Curious George]

I did. He said that atheism = the absence of theism and atheist = a person that atheism applies to.

The earlier post. The one that I quoted in the same post that I replied to you(post #254).

 

[Thief]

are you guys getting anywhere?

 

[leibowde84]

So then you are aware that atheism came before theism. And theism was used in contrast to atheism, not the other way around?

Not that it matters, but you are incorrect. The greek word "theos", meaning "gods", came well before the term "atheos", which means "without gods". "Atheism" is merely the english version of the term "atheos" (without gods) that goes a step further in explanation, meaning "without belief in the existence of gods".

 

[Curious George]

are you guys getting anywhere?

Lol, of course not. Never seem to with this topic. But maybe it will change this time.

 

[Curious George]

Not that it matters, but you are incorrect. The greek word "theos", meaning "gods", came well before the term "atheos", which means "without gods". "Atheism" is merely the english version of the term "atheos" (without gods) that goes a step further in explanation, meaning "without belief in the existence of gods".

Yes but theism wasn't a word yet.

First theos, then atheos, then atheist/atheism, then theist/theism

 

[Thief]

you would think with all of these declarations going back and forth.....
someone would catch on