Are babies atheist?

[LuisDantas]

To expect a symetry of requirements between theism and atheism is IMO as odd as expecting such a symetry from, say, literacy and illiteracy, or political motivation and the lack of same.

Theism requires the ability to conceive and express at least one of the myriad forms of god-concepts and to claim allegiance to it.

Atheism... does not.

It is quite simple really.

 

[Thief]

To expect a symetry of requirements between theism and atheism is IMO as odd as expecting such a symetry from, say, literacy and illiteracy, or political motivation and the lack of same.

Theism requires the ability to conceive and express at least one of the myriad forms of god-concepts and to claim allegiance to it.

Atheism... does not.

It is quite simple really.

so...to be simple minded is a strong frame of argument?

 

[ArtieE]

There is no rational reason that the word should be considered a-theism (without belief in gods) rather than athe-ism (the doctrine or belief in being without gods).

The rational reason that the word should be considered a-theism (without belief in gods) is simply that if a person says "I'm an atheist" you know with 100% certainty that this person is not a theist but you don't know if this person actively believes gods don't exist. Using athe-ism would mean that the members of organizations like American Atheists wouldn't actually be atheists! How rational is that?

 

[Thief]

The rational reason that the word should be considered a-theism (without belief in gods) is simply that if a person says "I'm an atheist" you know with 100% certainty that this person is not a theist but you don't know if this person actively believes gods don't exist. Using athe-ism would mean that the members of organizations like American Atheists wouldn't actually be atheists! How rational is that?

and if a three year old told you he is an atheist.......
you would ask him ...why?

and he might say.....Daddy gives me a sucker when I say it!

I'm sorry .....are we on the same side?

 

[leibowde84]

Are babies atheist? What do you think? Yes? No? Please explain.

Sure. Not that it matters one iota, but, technically, they are "without theism", as they do not hold any beliefs about God. They haven't been made familiar about the subject, to the best of our knowledge.

To claim otherwise would require some pretty amazing evidence.

 

[Thief]

Sure. Not that it matters one iota, but, technically, they are "without theism", as they do not hold any beliefs about God. They haven't been made familiar about the subject, to the best of our knowledge.

To claim otherwise would require some pretty amazing evidence.

potatoes have no belief in God
and they have eyes!

 

[1137]

I think this Reddit atheist summed it up well lol.

 

[leibowde84]

potatoes have no belief in God
and they have eyes!

But, they aren't people. So, they aren't included in the definition.

 

[ArtieE]

and if a three year old told you he is an atheist.......
you would ask him ...why?

and he might say.....Daddy gives me a sucker when I say it!

I'm sorry .....are we on the same side?

A three year old? Read this article! Why I let my three year old call herself an Atheist

 

[Sanzbir]

No.

Babies don't have the ability to conceptualize a group-based identity at their age, and therefore they could not have such a group-identity label.

 

[Thief]

A three year old? Read this article! Why I let my three year old call herself an Atheist

I took a look......and it is what I expected.....
an adult makes proclamation....
and the child follows.....me too!

this was unexpected?

the father in the story is shallow minded!
he thinks his child is bright?!

 

[Thief]

But, they aren't people. So, they aren't included in the definition.

hmmmm.......

and people having empty heads are sufficient?

 

[leibowde84]

hmmmm.......

and people having empty heads are sufficient?

People having empty heads? Are you saying that babies have no brains? Can you explain yourself here?

 

[Thief]

People having empty heads? Are you saying that babies have no brains? Can you explain yourself here?

it was obvious.....
and so are you

 

[leibowde84]

No.

Babies don't have the ability to conceptualize a group-based identity at their age, and therefore they could not have such a group-identity label.

Seeing how the term "atheism" is not a group identity label, this is pretty ludicrous. It merely means "without theism" or "without a belief in deities". We aren't saying that they are strong atheists who express their belief that no gods exist.

 

[leibowde84]

it was obvious.....
and so are you

No, what you wrote was incredibly unclear. You are often very vague and not straight forward. Can you explain what you meant by "empty head"?

 

[Thief]

No, what you wrote was incredibly unclear. You are often very vague and not straight forward. Can you explain what you meant by "empty head"?

babies have empty heads.....

ask one
then come back to this thread

 

[Thief]

Seeing how the term "atheism" is not a group identity label, this is pretty ludicrous. It merely means "without theism" or "without a belief in deities". We aren't saying that they are strong atheists who express their belief that no gods exist.

write atheist on a baby's forehead......

that works for you?

 

[leibowde84]

babies have empty heads.....

ask one
then come back to this thread

Atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of a belief. To lack something means to be without it. So, an "empty head" would certainly be adequate to be without any number of beliefs.

 

[leibowde84]

write atheist on a baby's forehead......

that works for you?

Why not. A baby is merely an atheist by definition. It doesn't matter at all. What, are you seriously trying to say that a baby is harmed by the word or something?