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"Is Atheism a Belief or a Lack of Belief?"

Spirituality

twhitehead

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06 Jun 16

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
No one outside of the atheist describes their thought process in the negative: .
antiabortionist
antiacademics
antiadministration
antiapartheid
antiaristocratic
antiauthoritarian
antiblackism
antibourgeois
anticapitalism
anticlericalism
anticolonialism
anticommercialism
anticonservationist

Find many more here:
http://www.morewords.com/starts-with/anti/

And don't forget antidisestablishmentarianism.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by googlefudge
I thought that given your arguing for a flat Earth there was no longer any statement you could
make so stupid that it could surprise me...

Apparently I was wrong.

Someone who believes that a claim is false, also by definition lacks belief that that claim is true.
I explained it all with a diagram for those who like looking at pictures.

[quote ...[text shortened]... ng like this.

http://s33.postimg.org/yltgvfkb3/Sets_of_theists_and_atheists.jpg
[/i][/quote]
Well, wasn't that a wall of gobbledygook!
A diagram which is based on error might look appealing to some, but it certainly doesn't come anywhere near supporting whatever nonsense you're trying to sell.

Someone who believes that a claim is false, also by definition lacks belief that that claim is true.
This person doesn't lack a belief: they believe something is false or the accept something as true.
The comically pathetic attempt at re-engineering a perfectly good and appropriate definition which has been in place for thousands of years only serves to expose those in such an effort.

Without question, man has been and will always be spiritually minded.
This is demonstrably true throughout recorded history.
When atheists attempt to couch the term with words which suggest something (belief) was never present, they are are really just trying to erase it altogether.
Some things are written in sand, some on paper and some even on stone.
By making man in His own image, God has written Himself into man's very nature and only He is able to fit that space.
The atheist is so keen on eliminating God from the picture, he resorts to this type of nonsense.
Sad, but obvious.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by twhitehead
antiabortionist
antiacademics
antiadministration
antiapartheid
antiaristocratic
antiauthoritarian
antiblackism
antibourgeois
anticapitalism
anticlericalism
anticolonialism
anticommercialism
anticonservationist

Find many more here:
http://www.morewords.com/starts-with/anti/

And don't forget antidisestablishmentarianism.
antiabortionist
Believes abortion exists, but is against the practice thereof.

antiacademics
Believes academics exist, but is in opposition to the same.

antiadministration
An informal pact of founding fathers who were united in their opposition to Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, especially as it related to repaying national debt. AH and GW wanted one thing, but James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and others believed a different course of action was more prudent.

antiapartheid
This is someone who believes apartheid exists but that it is morally wrong and works against the same.

antiaristocratic
This is someone who believes aristocrats exist, but finds themselves in opposition to that type of ruling class.

antiauthoritarian
This is someone who knows authority exists, but reserves judgement related to any obedience to the same based upon their own personal values.

antiblackism
This person knows black people exist, and opposes them on that basis.

antibourgeois
This person is nearly a mirror opposite of the anti-aristorcatic, believing there is a class of society which could be labeled bourgeois and harboring ill-will toward the same.

anticapitalism
This person believes capitalism exists and opposes a society or economic framework based upon the same.

anticlericalism
This is a person who knows clerics exist, but opposes their function in society as a whole.

anticolonialism
This is a person who recognizes the existence of nations engage in colonial activities and opposes the same.

anticommercialism
This is a person who knows commercialism exists and detests its influence on society.

anticonservationist
This is a person who knows conservationism exists but opposes its application in society.

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a kind of a pattern.
What do you think?

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a kind of a pattern.
What do you think?
Would you consider the words anti-theist and atheist to mean the same?

F

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1 edit

Originally posted by FMF
Would you consider the words anti-theist and atheist to mean the same?
What kind of idiocy are you trumpeting now?
Are words this foreign to you that their meaning is lost on you?
A-theist is a person to whom the topic of God or gods is a matter of rejection.
Anti-theist is a person who is opposes theists as a group.
Did you have anything meaningful to add, or just more tripe?

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
What kind of idiocy are you trumpeting now?
Are words this foreign to you that their meaning is lost on you?
A-theist is a person to whom the topic of God or gods is a matter of rejection.
Anti-theist is a person who is opposes theists as a group.
Did you have anything meaningful to add, or just more tripe?
You were talking about seeing patterns.

The prefix a- of Greek origin, meaning without, or lacking in [so not at all like "anti-"]

amoral ~ lacking morals (in contrast to immoral)
apolitical ~ lacking a political stance (as opposed to anti- one side or anti- the other side)
ahistorical ~ lacking historical perspective (not a rejection of history)
asymmetrical ~ lacking in symmetry, not a rejection of it
anaerobic ~ living with a lack of oxygen, not a rejection of oxygen
apathy ~ a lack of enthusiasm or emotion
atheism ~ a lack of belief in gods

I see a pattern, do you?

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FMF
You were talking about seeing patterns.

The prefix a- of Greek origin, meaning without, or lacking in [so not at all like "anti-"]

amoral ~ lacking morals (in contrast to immoral)
apolitical ~ lacking a political stance (as opposed to anti- one side or anti- the other side)
ahistorical ~ lacking historical perspective (not a rejection of history)
asymme ...[text shortened]... a lack of enthusiasm or emotion
atheism ~ a lack of belief in gods

I see a pattern, do you?
In any of the a-words, is there an implied or stated position of disbelief in the existence of the thing it sets itself against?

Didn't think so.

The reality is, the perspective of the a-word is one which says, in essence, in light of this suggested thing, the preferred position is...

Once you touch it, it cannot be untouched, nor are you able to un-touch.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
In any of the a-words, is there an implied or stated position of disbelief in the existence of the thing it sets itself against?

Didn't think so.

The reality is, the perspective of the a-word is one which says, in essence, in light of this suggested thing, the preferred position is...

Once you touch it, it cannot be untouched, nor are you able to un-touch.
All the a- prefixes above [including in the word "atheist"] denote a lack of something.

To my way of thinking, you have a very weak case when you try to commandeer the word "atheist", anachronistically, for your own ideological purposes.

Didn't you once claim that all humans know deep down that there is a God but atheists just lie about it or are willfully disobedient, or words to that effect? Correct me if I have mis-paraphrased you.

You've certainly said things that are at least very adjacent to my paraphrase and such claims represent a tendency to superimpose your superstitions onto others; you therefore have much invested in characterizing people who don't share your beliefs as having rejected "the truth", where "the truth" is synonymous with your beliefs and opinions.

I would say that most atheists who are unconvinced by the sorts of things claimed by people like you, and robbie carrobie, and sonship (and others here) are not rejecting God because they have absolutely no reason to believe that you are talking about anything real or that you have any knowledge of any such a being.

The conjecture and ideology that Christians like you propagate therefore have no effect whatsoever on their lack of belief.

a
Not actually a cat

The Flat Earth

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
What kind of idiocy are you trumpeting now?
Are words this foreign to you that their meaning is lost on you?
A-theist is a person to whom the topic of God or gods is a matter of rejection.
Anti-theist is a person who is opposes theists as a group.
Did you have anything meaningful to add, or just more tripe?
A-theist is a person to whom the topic of God or gods is a matter of rejection.
With respect, you are wrong. I am an atheist, but I have never 'rejected' god. I freely accept that there might be a god or gods.

twhitehead

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07 Jun 16
1 edit

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a kind of a pattern.
What do you think?
Yes. There are a whole lot of words that contradict your claim that I responded to. ie you were flat out wrong (pun intended).

And people who call themselves atheists, believe theists exist. Atheists on the other hand do not all believe that theists exist. They universally, do not believe God exists.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FMF
All the a- prefixes above [including in the word "atheist"] denote a lack of something.

To my way of thinking, you have a very weak case when you try to commandeer the word "atheist", anachronistically, for your own ideological purposes.

Didn't you once claim that all humans know deep down that there is a God but atheists just lie about it or are willfull ...[text shortened]... that Christians like you propagate therefore have no effect whatsoever on their lack of belief.
In everything man thinks, he has a belief.
Some of those things are beliefs related to existence.
The only time someone could be rightfully described as lacking in belief is when they've yet to be exposed to the concept.
Once exposed, they formulate and come to a conclusion.
This is now their belief regarding the thing.
It's what they hold to be true.
The atheist who self-describes as lacking a belief cannot have an opinion on the topic.
That is utter nonsense... or lack of logic.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by twhitehead
Yes. There are a whole lot of words that contradict your claim that I responded to. ie you were flat out wrong (pun intended).

And people who call themselves atheists, believe theists exist. Atheists on the other hand do not all believe that theists exist. They universally, do not believe God exists.
There ya go: they believe God does not exist.
That's their belief.
No lack there, except common sense.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by avalanchethecat
[b]A-theist is a person to whom the topic of God or gods is a matter of rejection.
With respect, you are wrong. I am an atheist, but I have never 'rejected' god. I freely accept that there might be a god or gods.[/b]
Then you're agnostic, not an atheist.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
The only time someone could be rightfully described as lacking in belief is when they've yet to be exposed to the concept.
You mean "exposed" to the kinds of "concepts" that people like you and, say, sonship put out there? I think you are being a bit full of yourself.

I don't recall you ~ for example ~ ever once talking convincingly or credibly about "God". I do recall, however, you talking about some personal notion of God that you happen to have.

It's rather rich of you to equate finding you and your "concepts" completely implausible and irrelevant ~ on one hand ~ with "rejecting God" ~ on the other. Rejecting your opinions and imaginings is rejecting God? I don't think so somehow.

If someone lacks a belief in God, how on earth can they reject such a thing? People can only "reject" things that they have reason to believe are real. Theists of various persuasions the world over, peddling their motley versions of a supposedly revealed God, do not affect the lack of belief of most atheists.

F

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07 Jun 16

Originally posted by FMF
You mean "exposed" to the kinds of "concepts" that people like you and, say, sonship put out there? I think you are being a bit full of yourself.

I don't recall you ~ for example ~ ever once talking convincingly or credibly about "God". I do recall, however, you talking about some personal notion of God that you happen to have.

It's rather rich of you to ...[text shortened]... motley versions of a supposedly revealed God, do not affect the lack of belief of most atheists.
Gotta hand it to you: you can produce more smug in a single sentence than most people in several paragraphs.
So you got that going for you.

I don't know of a single theist anywhere who considers their work as exposing others to the concept of God.
Even missionaries who travel to the darkened corners of the world are assuming the folks they call on will have some existent concept of God.
The arguments and cases herein by those so inclined to state their positions are mostly centered on their particular perspectives as it relates to their affiliations.

Your question assumes it's own absurdity is real or possible.
As stated, the atheist has formed an opinion on the question of God; he now has a belief therein, albeit illogical... but def not a lack of belief.

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