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In your own words - What does "Atheist" mean?

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

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Since it's clear there's very few "believers" here who understand what "atheist" means or what "atheism" is, I'm interested in hearing how people define those words.

In your own words, can you please post what you think "atheist" means?
Or, in your own words, can you please post what "atheism" means?

For example:

Atheism is the lack of belief in a god, or gods.

or

An Atheist does not believe in a god or gods.


Which in now way, shape, or form says/states that an Atheist claims there is no god.
There's a difference between saying:

1) I don't believe in a god(s).

and

2) There is no god(s).


Now I'm sure there are some Atheists who might proclaim "There is no god.", but that's not most from what I've seen. It's a very select few.

Most will stop at making a declarative, non-provable statement like that.

The stance is more, "There's insufficient evidence of god(s), therefore I don't believe in them."

So tell me, how do you define "atheist" or "atheism"? (in your own words please)
 
3 types;

atheist; Like when you were born and had never heard of God or god so clearly you did not believe.

Atheist; You have had a think about it and do not believe.

ATHEIST; You had a think and do not believe and will tell God-Botherers why they are talking drivel. Ardent Atheists. (Like me)
 
Dragonfly said:
In your own words, can you please post what you think "atheist" means?
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It means we’re in for another endless etymological argument that achieves less than nothing.

How about not attacking each other with labels and instead just explaining what you think and, more significantly, actually taking notice when others are explaining what they do?
 
HonestJoe said:
It means we’re in for another endless etymological argument that achieves less than nothing.

How about not attacking each other with labels and instead just explaining what you think and, more significantly, actually taking notice when others are explaining what they do?
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Do you see no benefit in clarifying terms?
 
Dragonfly said:
Do you see no benefit in clarifying terms?
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I see no benefit in using it in the context it generally is on these forums.

In circumstances where is could be of use, either it’s meaning is already clear or can be defined on first use. Trying to invest a singular all-purpose definition of the word (or indeed pretty much any complex word) is at best pointless and at worst counter-productive. :cool:
 
HonestJoe said:
I see no benefit in using it in the context it generally is on these forums.

In circumstances where is could be of use, either it’s meaning is already clear or can be defined on first use. Trying to invest a singular all-purpose definition of the word (or indeed pretty much any complex word) is at best pointless and at worst counter-productive. :cool:
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Is "atheist" a complex word?

Seems pretty simple to me. "A lack of belief in god or gods." Does it need to be any more complex than that?
 
Dragonfly said:
Since it's clear there's very few "believers" here who understand what "atheist" means or what "atheism" is, I'm interested in hearing how people define those words.

In your own words, can you please post what you think "atheist" means?
Or, in your own words, can you please post what "atheism" means?

For example:

Atheism is the lack of belief in a god, or gods.

or

An Atheist does not believe in a god or gods.


Which in now way, shape, or form says/states that an Atheist claims there is no god.
There's a difference between saying:

1) I don't believe in a god(s).

and

2) There is no god(s).


Now I'm sure there are some Atheists who might proclaim "There is no god.", but that's not most from what I've seen. It's a very select few.

Most will stop at making a declarative, non-provable statement like that.

The stance is more, "There's insufficient evidence of god(s), therefore I don't believe in them."

So tell me, how do you define "atheist" or "atheism"? (in your own words please)
Click to expand...


I just go with the dictionary, as I do with deciding what most words mean:

a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.


So, my question in turn, since your threads always seem to have a destination in mind when started, is why do you ask? :)
 
Theist - someone who believes in a god or gods.
Atheist - someone who does not believe in a god or gods.


This is very simple stuff. I don't see why people have such a hard time with it. The prefix "a-" literally means "without".

Theism - the belief in a god or gods
Atheism - without the belief in a god or gods

Atheism doesn't mean you think there isn't a god or that you know there isn't a god. You just don't believe in one.
 
OlNate said:
I just go with the dictionary, as I do with deciding what most words mean:

a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.


So, my question in turn, since your threads always seem to have a destination in mind when started, is why do you ask? :)
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Because just today I've seen Elvira and It's Just Me make posts that clearly come from a position of ignorance. (or perhaps just malice)

There's evidence galore that the term is widely misused.

So some clarity seems appropriate.
 
Dragonfly said:
Because just today I've seen Elvira and It's Just Me make posts that clearly come from a position of ignorance. (or perhaps just malice)

There's evidence galore that the term is widely misused.

So some clarity seems appropriate.
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Meh...that's just the game of tennis between fundies and Tim's ATHEISTS (post #2). I think everyone knows how to use a dictionary.

In my opinion, FWIW, you can't define another's belief system, as every belief system, whether it's entirely individual, or directed by a organized denomination or group, is as unique as the mind believing it. I would no more accept someone else's labelling or definition of an Atheist's belief system (even if that means a complete lack of belief) than I would an Atheist labelling or defining mine - or a theist, for that matter. The thread on Trinitarians being polytheists comes to mind...

We get in trouble as soon as we attempt to generalize...even more so when we generalize something we don't totally understand. This is why treading respectfully, if not carefully, is generally a good practice.
 
OlNate said:
even more so when we generalize something we don't totally understand.
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So starting from a common, working definition helps move things along.

The very concept of "Atheists Hate God!" is a position of ignorance.

How does one hate something they don't believe in?
 
Dragonfly said:
So starting from a common, working definition helps move things along.

The very concept of "Atheists Hate God!" is a position of ignorance.

How does one hate something they don't believe in?
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Well, without making any accusations, just answering the question, I think one could easily hate something they don't believe in. One might not believe in God, in terms of a deity that created the universe, but they could hate "God", as manifested by his followers - the concept of God, if you will, or perhaps the consequences.

Put another way, while I don't think an Atheist would hate God, they might hate "God". And of course, this would not apply to all Atheists...back to not generalizing.
 
Dragonfly said:
Since it's clear there's very few "believers" here who understand what "atheist" means or what "atheism" is, I'm interested in hearing how people define those words.

In your own words, can you please post what you think "atheist" means?
Or, in your own words, can you please post what "atheism" means?

For example:

Atheism is the lack of belief in a god, or gods.

or

An Atheist does not believe in a god or gods.


Which in now way, shape, or form says/states that an Atheist claims there is no god.
There's a difference between saying:

1) I don't believe in a god(s).

and

2) There is no god(s).


Now I'm sure there are some Atheists who might proclaim "There is no god.", but that's not most from what I've seen. It's a very select few.

Most will stop at making a declarative, non-provable statement like that.

The stance is more, "There's insufficient evidence of god(s), therefore I don't believe in them."

So tell me, how do you define "atheist" or "atheism"? (in your own words please)
Click to expand...

I like the way Sam Harris defines this word. He makes the very astute comment that the word means nothing really and was created by believers to label non-believers in order to persecute them. Is there a word for someone who does not believe in unicorns? No. Yet here we are yet again trying to define a person not by what they believe in but by what they consider to be not worthy of any real concern at all.
 
OlNate said:
Well, without making any accusations, just answering the question, I think one could easily hate something they don't believe in. One might not believe in God, in terms of a deity that created the universe, but they could hate "God", as manifested by his followers - the concept of God, if you will, or perhaps the consequences.

Put another way, while I don't think an Atheist would hate God, they might hate "God". And of course, this would not apply to all Atheists...back to not generalizing.
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How about this:

An atheist might hate how some people attempt to apply/implement god?

Most don't care what anyone believes. It's how those beliefs are then applied to others where the problem occurs.
 
Dragonfly said:
How about this:

An atheist might hate how some people attempt to apply/implement god?

Most don't care what anyone believes. It's how those beliefs are then applied to others where the problem occurs.
Click to expand...

Sure...I can accept that. I think we're saying the same thing, from two different perspectives.
 
Vadinho said:
He makes the very astute comment that the word means nothing really and was created by believers to label non-believers in order to persecute them.
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It surely seems like some try to make it a pejorative any chance they get.
 
Dragonfly said:
Because just today I've seen Elvira and It's Just Me make posts that clearly come from a position of ignorance. (or perhaps just malice)

There's evidence galore that the term is widely misused.

So some clarity seems appropriate.
Click to expand...

We're not ignorant, we know perfectly well what atheism is, but we also know that your actions do not match the dictionary definition.
 
it's just me said:
We're not ignorant, we know perfectly well what atheism is, but we also know that your actions do not match the dictionary definition.
Click to expand...

I think, though, that there's definitely a risk of "us" taking things more personally than "they" intend. You often see me talking to the "other side" of this discussion about that - the disconnect between people discussing the same thing, but coming at it from completely different places, resulting in one side taking it much more seriously than the other.

I think if you start out by understanding that there will never be about God between atheists and theists, you'll have a better time. You should never feel insulted by an atheist who doesn't see the value in your religion...only different than. Being ok with being different will allow you to decide whether you want to be offended or not...that's in your hands. Some atheists are cool about it, others wish to be assholes...and others are just clumsy. None of that, though, determines how many ****s *you* *decide* to give.

If you're having fun, keep at it...but there's nothing saying you have to. There's no winning this battle...there's only battling. :)
 
OlNate said:
I think, though, that there's definitely a risk of "us" taking things more personally than "they" intend. You often see me talking to the "other side" of this discussion about that - the disconnect between people discussing the same thing, but coming at it from completely different places, resulting in one side taking it much more seriously than the other.

I think if you start out by understanding that there will never be about God between atheists and theists, you'll have a better time. You should never feel insulted by an atheist who doesn't see the value in your religion...only different than. Being ok with being different will allow you to decide whether you want to be offended or not...that's in your hands. Some atheists are cool about it, others wish to be assholes...and others are just clumsy. None of that, though, determines how many ****s *you* *decide* to give.

If you're having fun, keep at it...but there's nothing saying you have to. There's no winning this battle...there's only battling. :)
Click to expand...

Actually, I care less than you might think but I sense more than just a little dishonesty in these threads.
 
it's just me said:
Actually, I care less than you might think but I sense more than just a little dishonesty in these threads.
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Meh...we all have our cross to bear. ;) I find the conversation gets better when you take a sec to be consider that, and not play the part some may expect and / or want you to play. Not that it's easy sometimes...hehe...
 
it's just me said:
Actually, I care less than you might think but I sense more than just a little dishonesty in these threads.
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Oh really?

What dishonesty do you see lurking about here?

I asked a simple question about defining a term(s) that gets used here quite often.

Where's the dishonesty in that?
 
Dragonfly said:
Oh really?

What dishonesty do you see lurking about here?

I asked a simple question about defining a term(s) that gets used here quite often.

Where's the dishonesty in that?
Click to expand...

Perhaps he thinks that all atheists hate his particular flavour of god and that we lie about it.
 
OlNate said:
Meh...we all have our cross to bear. ;) I find the conversation gets better when you take a sec to be consider that, and not play the part some may expect and / or want you to play. Not that it's easy sometimes...hehe...
Click to expand...

When someone singles me out by name and accuses me of speaking from ignorance, I take it personally, especially when they don't cite what it was I was supposed to have said.

I probably should have just reported the post.
 
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