The True Definition Of Atheism?

[ArtieE]

When push comes to shove, a theist is someone who believes in god(s).

A theist is someone who believes in the existence of god(s).

Someone who believes the opposite/oposition of is an a- theist.

Someone who believes the opposite (someone who believes in the non-existence of gods) is a strong atheist.

It expressing a statement and an opposition of that statement.

A theist states he believes god(s) exist, a weak atheist doesn't state he believes god(s) exist, a strong atheist states he believes god(s) don't exist.

As far as strong and hard theism goes, it sounds like personal opinion. I am a hard atheist: an atheist who Knows god(s) do not exist.

A hard atheist is the same as a strong atheist. An atheist who says he knows gods don't exist is a gnostic atheist.

 

[ArtieE]

Atheism is not about what you "believe in", or don't.

Atheism is about not believing in the existence of gods.

It's a philosophical position on the existence or non-existence of gods. In this case, that they do not exist.

That would make theism a philosophical position on the existence or non-existence of gods. In this case, that they do exist.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

We have had this discussion before now. The last time I gave my definition of a god was in Sunstones recent thread regarding the definition of a god. Feel free to quote me from there.

Which thread and post was that?

But this is the process.

Step 1: define one's concept of god.

Step 2: determine whether you believe that something within that category exists.

It is a relatively easy process.

I'm sure that a person can give a personal definition for "god," but I haven't met a person yet who actually uses the term as if it has a consistent definition.

 

[PureX]

Atheism is about not believing in the existence of gods. That would make theism a philosophical position on the existence or non-existence of gods. In this case, that they do exist.

Theism IS a philosophical position based on the existence of God/gods. Theism is a subcategory of philosophy in that it postulates various theories about the nature and purpose of reality: in this case of a reality that includes the meta-concept of deity.

 

[Curious George]

Which thread and post was that?


I'm sure that a person can give a personal definition for "god," but I haven't met a person yet who actually uses the term as if it has a consistent definition.

This one

My definition of god

A god= an intelligent, immortal entity that has a degree of control over all things in the universe and more control over at least one specific aspect of the universe than any mortal thing.

Now that I have shown you mine?

 

[ArtieE]

Theism IS a philosophical position based on the existence of God/gods. Theism is a subcategory of philosophy in that it postulates various theories about the nature and purpose of reality: in this case of a reality that includes the meta-concept of deity.

"A philosophical theory or philosophical position[1] is a set of beliefs that explains or accounts for a general philosophy or specific branch of philosophy." Theism or atheism isn't "a set of beliefs." It's just the presence or absence of one belief. Philosophical theory - Wikipedia

 

[PureX]

"A philosophical theory or philosophical position[1] is a set of beliefs that explains or accounts for a general philosophy or specific branch of philosophy." Theism or atheism isn't "a set of beliefs." It's just the presence or absence of one belief. Philosophical theory - Wikipedia

"Theism" covers a whole myriad of ideas about the nature and purpose of existence/reality. I agree that theism and atheism are not "sets of beliefs". They are not "beliefs" at all. They are philosophical propositions that form the basis for ways of understanding the nature and purpose of reality/existence. Whether or not one "believes in" the proposition is their own business. Beliefs do not define the term "theism" or "atheism". The acceptance or rejection of the existential theistic proposition is what defines them.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

This one

Everything you consider a god has "a degree of control over everything in the universe?"

Are you saying that you think pagan gods meet this definition or are you implying that they aren't gods?

 

[ArtieE]

"Theism" covers a whole myriad of ideas about the nature and purpose of existence/reality. I agree that theism and atheism are not "sets of beliefs". They are not "beliefs" at all. They are philosophical propositions that form the basis for ways of understanding the nature and purpose of reality/existence. Whether or not one "believes in" the proposition is their own business. Beliefs do not define the term "theism" or "atheism". The acceptance or rejection of the existential theistic proposition is what defines them.

Nonsense. "belief in the existence of a god or gods (opposed to atheism )." the definition of theism

 

[Curious George]

Everything you consider a god has "a degree of control over everything in the universe?"

Are you saying that you think pagan gods meet this definition or are you implying that they aren't gods?

Yes

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yes

It wasn't a yes or no question.

 

[Curious George]

It wasn't a yes or no question.

The first was. And that is the one that mattered. The answer to the second is also yes as if the pagan god in question does not meet the definition then I wouldn't consider that god a god.

I am failing to see how my answer was not sufficient.

 

[PureX]

Nonsense. "belief in the existence of a god or gods (opposed to atheism )." the definition of theism

Proclamations without reason don't mean much.

 

[ArtieE]

Proclamations without reason don't mean much.

Proclaiming that proclamations without reason don't mean much don't mean much.

 

[Cary Cook]

What is the true definition of atheism? I mean, I know that I said that I was an atheist before, but I'm not actually sure what I should or shouldn't believe in, to be completely honest.

That being said, does anyone have any answers?

Edit (4/12/2018) — Thanks for the likes, guys; I really appreciate it.

A "true" definition of anything cannot be shown to exist.
Definitions can be categorized according to content:

A genetic definition tells where something comes from, or what it's part of.

A compositional definition lists enough of its parts to distinguish it from everything else.

An attributive definition lists enough of its attributes to distinguish it.

Definitions can be categorized according to usage:

A precise definition contains no ambiguity and minimal vagueness.

A lexical definition is another term for a dictionary definition. It just tells how words are used - correctly or not.

A theoretical definition proposes an understanding of a term in relation to a certain theory or theories.

An official definition is one recognized as authoritative. Recognized by whom? Well, by whoever is talking and whoever is listening - hopefully by the general public, or at least by the target audience. Legal definitions are official definitions, at least when you're in a courtroom.

A persuasive definition attaches emotive significance to a term. The term "faith" gets a lot of this. But usually you see this in reverse; you assign an emotionally charged term to a concept. If positive, it's a euphemism; if negative, it's a pejorative. Metaphors are common.

A stipulative definition arbitrarily defines a term for use in a particular context.

 

[columbus]

I think that the "truest", most commonly used, meaning for the word atheist is "believes that religion is fiction".
Not all religious beliefs include a deity image, God(s). But they're all human inventions, created by humans for their own purposes.

Atheism is the recognition of that.
Tom

 

[ArtieE]

I think that the "truest", most commonly used, meaning for the word atheist is "believes that religion is fiction".

Believes that gods are fiction. Obviously you can't believe that religion is fiction, given that it's a fact that religions exist.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think that the "truest", most commonly used, meaning for the word atheist is "believes that religion is fiction".
Not all religious beliefs include a deity image, God(s). But they're all human inventions, created by humans for their own purposes.

Atheism is the recognition of that.
Tom

Except that there are religious atheists.

Atheism really is just a lack of belief in gods. Thinking that religion is fiction can be compatible with this, but it certainly isn’t required to be an atheist.

 

[columbus]

Except that there are religious atheists.

Could you explain what this means?
Tom

 

[columbus]

Believes that gods are fiction. Obviously you can't believe that religion is fiction, given that it's a fact that religions exist.

I don't understand.
I believe that Gandalf and Sauron exist as fictional characters in Middle Earth, the fictional world created by Tolkien.
Similarly, I believe that angels and deities and other disembodied anthropomorphic persons are fictional characters in religious fiction.
I accept that the fiction exists. But not that the characters have any objective existence, they only exist between people's ears.
Tom