"Theism" isnt a personal description of belief. Atheists have to define what atheism means

[Unveiled Artist]

Perfect rubbish. Theism means something very precise, and very well defined. One who says "I am a theist" is saying neither more nor less than "I believe in a deity, and more specifically, I believe in a personal deity." A deist would be able to leave out that last bit -- the theist cannot.

Hinduism deity isn't a personal deity like the god of abraham; the definition of Brahma is totally totally different. A Pagan's deity is not the same as the god of abraham, and so far I've seen, none of them here says their deity is "that" personal.

They are both theists.

It's not deism since both parties seem to have a good connection with who or what deit(ies) they are with.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

Your current listed religion, 'temple of the ham sandwich'. Since you aren't even using the word atheism yourself, as a religious descriptor, your suppositions aren't meaning much.

No suppositions, observations. Pretty much all of your posts for the past week or two have consisted of your struggle with this.

It's right there in your post history.

As for why anyone would define atheism as a religion? Who knows, but your assertion that one should speaks to said struggle.

 

[Quintessence]

Theism isn't a personal descriptipn of belief. It's too broad to have any meaning besides some vague idea.

It is, but many do not view the term in that fashion, for better or for worse. It is not uncommon to find people defining the term in ways that exclude multiple forms of theism from its framework, or that nest within particular theological concepts or religious practices that are not universal to theists nor theism. Our multicultural, globalized world is great and all, but it does make for quite the mess when it comes to things such as this.

That aside, I would think it is important for people to utilize good communication skills when articulating their worldview regardless of what sorts of labels and identifiers we are talking about. No need to pick on atheists about it. Many theists are just as awful at this sort of articulation.

 

[Revoltingest]

Ultimately it is up to atheists to figure out what atheism means.

We already have, ie, we don't believe in gods.

There....now that's settled.
Now for some advice....
I recommend that people not obsess over the etymological evolution of words.
It illuminates how the current meaning originated, but it doesn't determine meaning.
The initial "a" in "atheism" has its function, but ultimately meaning is created by how
people use the word. In this case, it is disbelief in gods.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

What part of 'your label, your problem,' are you having difficulty understanding?

To say 'I am a theist', patently, is to say 'I believe in a personal deity'.

To be an atheist is simply to not hold that belief.

It's quite simple to everyone but you.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Ultimately it is up to atheists to figure out what atheism means.
/since atheists are using the word theism to describe their belief or lack of it, ie "atheism"./

Have a nice day.

We already have, so you can stop obsessing over non-existent problems now.

Have a nice day.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

To say 'I am a theist' means, patently, is to say 'I believe in a personal deity'.

To be an atheist is simply to not hold that belief.

It's quite simple to everyone but you.

I see a pattern with some a-rationalists that there is often a pattern of making the simple complex, and the complex simple. I imagine this approach results in a lot of confusion about the world.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm not obsessing over your problem. I don't identify as a "buddhist", either;not obsessing over that.
Realize how this works?

Your multiple posts on the subject, and clearly agitated manner about it, indicate otherwise. We atheists know perfectly well what atheism is. The problem is well in hand. You can go back to worrying about going to hell for coveting your neighbor's ***, or whatever else you were fretting about before this.

 

[Revoltingest]

I see a pattern with some a-rationalists that there is often a pattern of making the simple complex, and the complex simple. I imagine this approach results in a lot of confusion about the world.

But such methods do have the advantage of being able to prove anything.

Arguments about religion v science remind me of the old puzzle.....
You're in a room with a table, but no windows or doors.
It's completely sealed off.
How do you get out?

Eezy peezy!
1) Look at the table.
2) You saw it.
3) Use the saw to cut the table in half.
4) Put the table back together so it's whole again.
5) use the hole to exit the room.
Hey, presto! You're out!

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

Huh?
Anyone can define their religion as whatever they want.

Well sure, I guess you could define a chicken nugget and a telephone pole as religions too, but it wouldn't make much sense.

 

[DavidFirth]

I've heard so many different definitions of atheism that I don't know what to believe about it.

 

[PureX]

Theism isn't a personal descriptipn of belief. It's too broad to have any meaning besides some vague idea.

Ultimately it is up to atheists to figure out what atheism means.
/since atheists are using the word theism to describe their belief or lack of it, ie "atheism"./.

I'm thinking that you meant to write "Atheism isn't a personal description of belief. ... " As that's the only way that makes sense of this post, for me. And I am assuming that you are referring to the annoying and nonsensical habit, of late, of atheists trying to claim atheism is a "non-belief" in the existence of gods, but not a belief in the non-existence of gods.

In which case I agree with your observation, if that's what you meant to say.

 

[viole]

Theism isn't a personal descriptipn of belief. It's too broad to have any meaning besides some vague idea.

Ultimately it is up to atheists to figure out what atheism means.
/since atheists are using the word theism to describe their belief or lack of it, ie "atheism"./




Have a nice day.

Atheism is like a-fairism. It has meaning only because there are many theists and not so many fairists,

You guys give meaning to our stance.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I've heard so many different definitions of atheism that I don't know what to believe about it.

Your problem is you do not pay attention to who is giving you the "definitions"-- if it's from a theist? It's likely incorrect....

Do you ask a garbage collector to define brain surgery? You could-- but the answer is likely to be incorrect.

 

[DavidFirth]

Your problem is you do not pay attention to who is giving you the "definitions"-- if it's from a theist? It's likely incorrect....

Do you ask a garbage collector to define brain surgery? You could-- but the answer is likely to be incorrect.

Garbage. But thanks, anyway. For nothing.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

^

So much for that.

Yep. So much for it.

 

[McBell]

What part of 'your label, your problem,' are you having difficulty understanding?

Right back at you.

Or are you saying that you are done with dictating to atheists what they do and do not think, feel , believe, etc.?
I highly recommend you do.
At the very least, discontinuing it will stop you from losing credibility as fast.

 

[McBell]

I've heard so many different definitions of atheism that I don't know what to believe about it.

Atheism is lack of a belief in all deities.

People who believe deities do not exist are atheists because they lack a belief in all deities

 

[DavidFirth]

Atheism is lack of a belief in all deities.

People who believe deities do not exist are atheists because they lack a belief in all deities

Yes, I prefer that definition. Very good.

 

[McBell]

Yes, I prefer that definition. Very good.

That is how I and most other atheists I have talked to, define it.

Now theists are all over the board with their definitions.
And I freely admit that I have talked to some atheists whose definition is way out there.