Atheism is not a belief, so why would anyone lie that it is?

[Sheldon]

I can barely imagine anything more trivial than semantic quibbling about definitions with no practical difference (it can be fun to argue about, but that doesn't make it important).

Message received I'll not bother you in this thread again.

 

[John53]

I hear the sounds of heads smashing into computer tables all over gods green earth everywhere.

 

[Kenny]

Sorry but that is preposterous do atheists create the Oxford English dictionary, or Merriam Webster's now?

I don't know. We do have an atheist over the Religious education at Harvard.

It was a direct response to part of your post, which I quoted for context.

I don't think it was in context.

Words are not correct in that sense, but they do have a primary definition that reflects common usage. The best reference tools for this are the largest mainstream dictionaries.

Dictionary.com is a mainstream dictionary... I can't just pick and choose.

That's preposterous sorry, how can atheists change the dictionary exactly?

Religion
noun

1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

I don't see anything in that link that comes close to that definition. I also fail to see what this has to do with the primary definition of atheism? Google atheism definition, and link what comes up for me. Which do you think samples a larger demographic dictionary,com or Google? I'm guessing it's Google.

Primary definition is still its entomology. Atheism is a faith in that it positions itself without having all knowledge to make a determination of "There is no god or gods".

 

[Laika]

I think the problem has been that atheists had to redefine their definition because they realized they were painting themselves into a hole. So, over time, they do try to change the usage to adjust with the logical position that ultimately it is a faith... a religion of sorts IMO.

I think what needs to be said is that there is a distinct possibility that you can be an atheist and can still be wrong. How we accommodate that capacity for doubt and honest reflection creates deep tensions on a central question for understanding the world. The philosophical challenges on how we debate the nature of truth, knowledge and how we employ evidence and reasoning to attain it make it really difficult to stick to a consistent definition of atheism.

 

[Suave]

No, I believe on balance of probabilities that there are no gods.

That makes sense to me. gods are more likely not to actually exist than the likelihood of them really existing.

 

[Trailblazer]

Clearly atheism is not a belief, one has only to look it up in any dictionary to see this. So lets see if anyone wants to misrepresent it as a belief in this poll.

Atheism is a lack of belief in God or gods.

 

[Trailblazer]

And nothing we say will change their minds or their hatred of atheists.

I do not hate any atheists. I like atheists just as much as anyone else, sometimes even more.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Clearly atheism is not a belief, one has only to look it up in any dictionary to see this. So lets see if anyone wants to misrepresent it as a belief in this poll.

Of course it's a belief.
And no I didn't take your biased poll.

 

[John53]

I do not hate any atheists. I like atheists just as much as anyone else, sometimes even more.

Unfortunately there are many who do but I've never counted you in that group

 

[Sheldon]

I hear the sounds of heads smashing into computer tables all over gods green earth everywhere.

Careful that level of prescience might have them screaming prophecy or miracle.

 

[Trailblazer]

Clearly atheism is not a belief, one has only to look it up in any dictionary to see this. So lets see if anyone wants to misrepresent it as a belief in this poll.

Atheism is not a belief but I don't think that people who say that it is are lying, I think they are just trying to say that atheists have a belief in something other than God or Gods.

 

[John53]

Careful that level of prescience might have them screaming prophecy or miracle.

I had to google "prescience" and I was surprised it didn't mean before science. Is that sad and pathetic?

 

[Sheldon]

I don't know. We do have an atheist over the Religious education at Harvard.

And how does this evidence your assertion atheists can alter dictionary definitions?

Dictionary.com is a mainstream dictionary... I can't just pick and choose.

You seem to have done just that, and ironically enough chosen one that suits your own opinion...."The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely accepted as the most complete record of the English language ever assembled. Unlike typical language dictionaries, which only define words in terms of their current uses and meanings, the OED is a historical dictionary."

In a list of best online dictionaries Dictionary.com ranked 8th...

Primary definition is still its entomology.

I think you mean etymology, and no one is derived from current common usage, while other is the study of the origin of words, and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. I made it clear which my poll was studying.

Atheism is a faith in that it positions itself without having all knowledge to make a determination of "There is no god or gods".

Atheism is not a faith or a belief according to the OED, and mine certainly is neither. Though the irony of you objecting to a belief held in the absence of knowledge it pretty ironic. It's theism and christianity in particular that has traditionally championed blind faith as a virtue. So again it's pretty ironic you are trying to falsely claim atheism is a faith here as some sort of pejorative.

So are all the deities you don't believe a separate faith each time? You only disbelieve one less than me from the many thousands of deities humans have created after all.

 

[Sheldon]

Atheism is not a belief but I don't think that people who say that it is are lying, I think they are just trying to say that atheists have a belief in something other than God or Gods.

While that may be true for some, that isn't the context I'm addressing here. If someone asserts some atheists believe a deity doesn't exist I can't argue, but if someone asserts that atheism is a belief, I think they are misrepresenting that as the primary definition, or the common usage of the word.

 

[Valjean]

Strong atheism is a belief.
Weak atheism (agnosticism) is not.

Good point. Atheism has several subdivisions, indicated by modifiers like "strong" ot "weak."
Atheism, per se; unmodified, is simply a lack of belief.

 

[wandering peacefully]

Clearly atheism is not a belief, one has only to look it up in any dictionary to see this. So lets see if anyone wants to misrepresent it as a belief in this poll.

RivalDex Me Gart
Staff MemberPremium Member
***THREAD LOCKED**

Any idea why this happened? I've seen religious topics condoning all sorts of beliefs going on for literally thousands of posts.

Why do you suppose this thread about atheism and non-believers was shut down with absolutely no explanation and certainly no obvious swearing, name calling ( other than @PureX calling us all liars) which doesn't bother me in the least, personal attacks or any other forum rule breaking that I could observe. .

What type of place would shut down a civil conversation asking hard questions about the real meanings behind lack of belief in deities would be closed for no apparent reason?

I'm certainly perplexed. Did I miss some forum rule breaking? If so, can you or someone else on this forum explain the reason?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Valjean]

Atheism is a belief that there is no God.

No. That's a variety of atheism. There are several varieties, but the only feature they have in common; the definitive feature, is lack of belief in God.

What is Atheism?

 

[Valjean]

That's incredibly silly. Its a response to the assertions there is a god.

You can't believe what isn't there.

No, it's not necessarily a response to anything. Cultures or religions that have never had any god concept to reject are still atheist, as long as they lack a belief in God.

I was born without a belief in God; born an atheist. At six months old I wasn't in a position to respond to anything but hunger or a soiled nappie.

 

[Valjean]

I go by the entomology.

"One without Gods"

Silly bugger.

 

[Valjean]

Words change their meanings or have nuanced meanings when used in tandem with other words of course, so accepting those definitions do define nuanced positions, we are only dealing with just the primary definition of atheism in the poll. However anyone is free to extend the discussion in whatever direction they feel will be edifying.

OK:
A definition involves a feature common only to the thing defined.
The only unique feature, among all flavors of atheism, is lack of belief.
Ergo, Lack of belief is the definition of atheism.