Results 1 to 10 of 46
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacksHybrid View
-
05-13-2010, 09:15 PM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- London, UK
- Posts
- 140
Thanked: 35
There is a real problem with the word "Atheism". Dictionaries give two definitions which are very different.
1. the doctrine or belief that there is no god.
2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.
In my view, these two definitions make the word "atheist" useless; to answer a simple question like "Are you an atheist?", requires a counter question: "What do you mean by atheist?".
Most people who call themselves atheist (including famous atheists like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens) actually fall under definition 2.
-
05-13-2010, 09:47 PM #2At this point in time...
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- North Idaho Redoubt
- Posts
- 27,068
- Blog Entries
- 1
Thanked: 13249
Hmmmmm I am not seeing the difference in this two statements, unless you missed a Capital (G) on the word god, making it into the Judea-Christian "God" of Abraham....
Originally Posted by jcd
-
05-13-2010, 10:23 PM #3all your razor are belong to us
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Location
- Fresno, CA
- Posts
- 1,368
Thanked: 446
An atheist believes that there is no god where as the agnostic wants to believe in god but hasn't seen any proof of existence. The difference is primarily in desire.
Last edited by red96ta; 05-13-2010 at 10:26 PM.
-
05-13-2010, 10:28 PM #4Customized
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Oslo, Norway
- Posts
- 5,079
Thanked: 1694
Well, kinda.. This Agnostic doesn't _want_ to per se, but definitely keeps an open mind to whatever might materialize Originally Posted by red96ta
Bjoernar
Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years....
-
05-13-2010, 10:36 PM #5There is no charge for Awesomeness
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- Maleny, Australia
- Posts
- 7,977
- Blog Entries
- 3
Thanked: 1587
I'm agnocchi - I have a fundamental disbelief in pasta being made out of potato.
James.<This signature intentionally left blank>
-
05-13-2010, 10:48 PM #6Customized
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Oslo, Norway
- Posts
- 5,079
Thanked: 1694
Hehe, Good one Originally Posted by Jimbo
And I wholeheartedly agree!
Bjoernar
Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years....
-
05-14-2010, 12:32 AM #7Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- London, UK
- Posts
- 140
Thanked: 35
The definitions refers to general gods, not God. Originally Posted by gssixgun
There is a subtle difference between:
1. Believing something doesn't exist (positive belief)
2. Not believing something exists (negative belief)
For example on the question of the Loch Ness Monster, I would say
"I don't think the Loch Ness Monster exists."
I wouldn't say
"I think the Loch Ness Monster doesn't exist."
Reply With Quote