What do people think "atheist" means?

[ThePainefulTruth]

So basically, you dislike the the word atheist being used for someone who merely lacks a belief in god because you are to lazy to keep the definitions straight?

Whine all you like.
The fact is that someone who lacks a belief in god is an atheist.

Absolutely correct. And so is someone who disbelieves in God. They/you try to jump from one to the other in order to confuse the issue when there's no difference. Keep at it if you want, but more and more. LCDers are catching on--even the "dumbest".

Since when?

Since forever. Maybe I should have specified rationally deduced morality, thought that was obvious, since what else is there.? If you disagree, what should morality be based on?

 

[Cephus]

If it's knowledge, it's past tense.

Edit: What I mean is, if it's knowledge then it's already true. If it has no truth value, such that it has to be demonstrated, then it's not knowledge.

Yet there are a lot of people who claim to have knowledge that has no demonstrated truth value, in particular, when it comes to religion. If it's not demonstrated, it's not knowledge, no matter how much they wish it was.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

I graduated in '78.

I feel so young, now.

Good for you. Does it make you feel wiser?

 

[Willamena]

Yet there are a lot of people who claim to have knowledge that has no demonstrated truth value, in particular, when it comes to religion. If it's not demonstrated, it's not knowledge, no matter how much they wish it was.

Good for them. Doesn't work for me.

 

[Cephus]

Good for them. Doesn't work for me.

Doesn't work for anyone rational, but that doesn't stop them from making the claim and refusing to listen to reason.

 

[Willamena]

Doesn't work for anyone rational, but that doesn't stop them from making the claim and refusing to listen to reason.

And...?

 

[Cephus]

And...?

And this is a debate forum and people need to at least agree to certain ground rules in order for any kind of meaningful debate to go on?

 

[Desert Snake]

But only so far as that knowledge can actually be externally demonstrated. Just having an unsupported belief that your so-called knowledge is true doesn't actually make it true and claiming that's how it works is painfully circular.

Agreed.
Actually I think you mean , claiming that your so called knowledge, is proof of truth; but close enough.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

And this is a debate forum and people need to at least agree to certain ground rules in order for any kind of meaningful debate to go on?

Are you trying to run off all the liberals and anarchists?

 

[Cephus]

Are you trying to run off all the liberals and anarchists?

Wouldn't that be nice?

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

Wouldn't that be nice?

Yeah, each one trying to establish their vision of utopia on the rest. Subjective reality is such a *****.

 

[`mud]

Who are these people talking about ?
Being aware of one's end, or fearing it ?
It means not worshipping imagined fantasies.
That's all it means !
~
`mud .

 

[Kartari]

Hi Legion,

How many words in any language refer to "quite simply" a lack of belief in anything? Virtually none. There are no words for lack of belief in unicorns, lack of belief in elves, lack of belief in biomedical model of psychiatry, lack of belief in quantum consciousness, lack of belief in stupid asinine assertions made by ignorant members of online discussion boards (such as yours truly), etc. Why the special treatment for atheism?

A very good point. However, I propose that there is a practical need in a world such as ours, where theism holds a far more prominent place in society than the belief in unicorns, etc.

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

A very good point. However, I propose that there is a practical need in a world such as ours, where theism holds a far more prominent place in society than the belief in unicorns, etc.

There is never a need for a word to describe a belief you lack if this is understood to be different from not believing (agnostic) or disbelieving (atheist). One cannot logically or physiologically lack a belief in a concept one is capable of verbalizing. The ability to use the word "theism" or "god" changes the patterns of neural activity in your brain that we do not find to be true of e.g., infants.