24 Jun 07
2 edits
atheist [noun] someone who believes that God or gods do not exist.
agnostic [noun] someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god exists.
Are most self-proclaimed "atheists" here, truly "agnostics"? From where I sit, it seems that an atheist would require a similar amount of unproven faith as a theist as to the non-existance / existance of God.
If you are truly an atheist, what do you see as "proof" of the non-existence of God?
24 Jun 07
Originally posted by ThinkOfOnewhat would you call somebody who believes in god but does not care about god and all the books and stuff?
atheist [noun] someone who believes that God or gods do not exist.
agnostic [noun] someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god exists.
Are most self-proclaimed "atheists" here, truly "agnostics"? From where I sit, it seems that an atheist would require a similar amount of unproven faith as a theist ...[text shortened]... d.
If you are truly an atheist, what do you see as "proof" of the non-existence of God?
24 Jun 07
I have asked this question before, too, and I never exactly see an informative answer...
Just for variety, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
agnostic -- one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
atheist -- one who believes that there is no deity
(http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/agnostic)
(http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/atheist)
24 Jun 07
Originally posted by ThinkOfOneI agree with you.
atheist [noun] someone who believes that God or gods do not exist.
agnostic [noun] someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god exists.
Are most self-proclaimed "atheists" here, truly "agnostics"? From where I sit, it seems that an atheist would require a similar amount of unproven faith as a theist ...[text shortened]... d.
If you are truly an atheist, what do you see as "proof" of the non-existence of God?
I think the strong/weak atheism debate is just another way of saying atheism/agnosticism.
I'm an atheist. Some would call me a strong atheist. I just consider myself atheist.
I have unproven faith in the non-existence of god.
This began for me as a refusal to accept the 'proof' of the existence of god. All such proofs are circular and unconvincing. But my world has moved on and I now recognise my belief as faith without proof - much as a religious person would have.
24 Jun 07
1 edit
Originally posted by Bad wolfThis was from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary. You'll have to take it up with them.
[/i]Wrong.
You aren't disguinishing between strong and weak atheism.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=4607&dict=CALD
What's your source? What's the difference between "strong" and "weak" atheism? Where does agnosticism fit?
24 Jun 07
Originally posted by amannionThis is interesting. How is it you started with finding the lack of proof as to the existence of God unacceptable, yet you find the lack of proof in atheism acceptable? Was there a transition period where you were comfortable with "I don't know"?
I agree with you.
I think the strong/weak atheism debate is just another way of saying atheism/agnosticism.
I'm an atheist. Some would call me a strong atheist. I just consider myself atheist.
I have unproven faith in the non-existence of god.
This began for me as a refusal to accept the 'proof' of the existence of god. All such proofs are circular ...[text shortened]... and I now recognise my belief as faith without proof - much as a religious person would have.
24 Jun 07
Originally posted by amannionExcept that the believers faith leads to a relationship with a real God. Whereas the faith of an atheist leads to nowhere.
I agree with you.
I think the strong/weak atheism debate is just another way of saying atheism/agnosticism.
I'm an atheist. Some would call me a strong atheist. I just consider myself atheist.
I have unproven faith in the non-existence of god.
This began for me as a refusal to accept the 'proof' of the existence of god. All such proofs are circular ...[text shortened]... and I now recognise my belief as faith without proof - much as a religious person would have.
24 Jun 07
Originally posted by ThinkOfOneAtheism is not a belief. It is a lack of belief.
atheist [noun] someone who believes that God or gods do not exist.
agnostic [noun] someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god exists.
Are most self-proclaimed "atheists" here, truly "agnostics"? From where I sit, it seems that an atheist would require a similar amount of unproven faith as a theist ...[text shortened]... d.
If you are truly an atheist, what do you see as "proof" of the non-existence of God?
If I were to do nothing else in my life but clarify this singular point, it appears there would still be christians out there falsely claiming that atheism is a belief. Why do christians so desperately want to believe that atheism is a belief? It seems to be hard-wired into your psyche, or something.
24 Jun 07
3 edits
Originally posted by rwingettMaybe because by definition that's what it is. By the way, I don't think this is limited to Christians. It'll be quite the undertaking.
Atheism is not a belief. It is a lack of belief.
If I were to do nothing else in my life but clarify this singular point, it appears there would still be christians out there falsely claiming that atheism is a belief. Why do christians so desperately want to believe that atheism is a belief? It seems to be hard-wired into your psyche, or something.
Like I told Bad Wolf:
This was from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary. You'll have to take it up with them.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=4607&dict=CALD
And from wittywonka:
Just for variety, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
agnostic -- one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
atheist -- one who believes that there is no deity
(http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/agnostic)
(http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/atheist)