Christians~ Define Atheism

The bible is a lot more complex that being merely a work of fiction. Some of it is reasonably accurate history, some is folk wisdom, some is 'historical novel", some exaggeration, some dreams, some stuff that is simply made up.
AKA fiction.

To believe all of it is the "word' of a "god" is just bonkers.

There may be a god, but it aint that one.

 

I have to say that both this post and your signature line is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Both traditions have fantastic and transcendent truths within them. Rooting them out can be challenging, but to see them as simply fiction or evil is to miss so much.

 

Atheist and Agnostic are NOT mutually exclusive.

How many times does this need to be explained?

One deals with belief, the other with knowledge. It is possible to be a gnostic atheist or an agnostic atheist (a gnostic atheist claims to know that God doesn't eixst, an agnostic atheist doesn't claim to know whether or not god exists).

The same applies to theists. There are gnostic and agnostic theists.

 

Yet he is still an atheist if he doesn't believe in a god.

 

I understand your explanation, and accept it.

But, I am an Agnostic....not an agnostic atheist soft core christian semi religious confusion of words.

I leave open the possibility of something bigger and more powerful watching, toying with, or simply laughing from afar......but as I do not know it exists, or even pretend I do I define myself as Agnostic. You of course can call me whatever you wish....still, I think I probably understand myself better than you do.

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I understand your explanation, and accept it.

But, I am an Agnostic....not an agnostic atheist soft core christian semi religious confusion of words.

I leave open the possibility of something bigger and more powerful watching, toying with, or simply laughing from afar......but as I do not know it exists, or even pretend I do I define myself as Agnostic. You of course can call me whatever you wish....still, I think I probably understand myself better than you do.

 

No...I am not an Atheist, I simply do not believe in YOUR GOD, or anyone elses version....and to be honest those who say they DO know are foolish in my mind.

athe·ist
noun \ˈā-thē-ist\
Definition of ATHEIST
: one who believes that there is no deity

I do not "believe" there is no deity.

1ag·nos·tic
noun \ag-ˈnäs-tik, əg-\
Definition of AGNOSTIC
1
: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god


As I have stated....I do not know, thus do not "Believe" either way.

 

some use the term infidel

http://www.tfd.com/infidel

in·fi·del (nf-dl, -dl)
n.
1. Offensive An unbeliever with respect to a particular religion, especially Christianity or Islam.
2. One who has no religious beliefs.
3. One who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine, system, or principle.

 

Do you believe in a god?

I'm not asking if you have knowledge of one or not, or if you are open to possiblility of there being one or not.

Do you believe in a god?

 

Dictionary definitions of atheist are often the common colloquial definition. Not the definition based on what the word really means. Theism is "belief in a god". Adding "a" to the beginning of that contradicts its meaning.

Atheism is "no belief in a god". It is not "belief there is no god".

If you do not believe in a god, then you are an atheist.

 

I see, so your definition is the one I should go with, just as someone elses God is apparently the one I should believe in.

I will try it again as simply and clear as I can.

I do not know if there is a God.
I do not know if the is NOT a God.
I do not think I need to, want to, or in any way pretend I have some understanding others do not.

I have no "Belief" one way or another...because I am not arrogant enough to assume a belief that has no basis in the reality I must exist in.

I do not care what you call me, I KNOW what I am.....and there is a difference between NOT believing and not dismissing other possibilities.

 

Atheism does not require dismissing other possibilities. A gnostic atheist would do that.

You are BY DEFINITION an agnostic atheist. You don't have a belief in a god, yet you also don't know whether or not one exists. Not having a belief "either way" puts you in the default position, which is atheism.

 

Very well....thank you for helping me to understand the WHY, feel free to call me whatever you desire. I take it you are Christian?

 

Wow, this thread turned into a navel gazing bowl of crap.

 

No. I'm an Agnostic Atheist.

 

I didn't take your questions personal, that would require me to actually lend validity to your thoughts. I tried that, and it went well for about 2 posts afterward, and then it went south from there, so I was "done" at that point.

And my statements do not require your "approval" to meet my satisfaction, you really don't hold that much influence.

 

If thats your observation then that works for me. Others have sought the "truth", and found the Bible valid. So there may be differing opinions of truth.

 

you can call yourself "scooby doo" for all I care. He asked for what I considered the definition, I told him, and he was satisfied, so I'm done, and even if he wasn't satisfied, I would have still been fine. I would have maybe sought the dictionary, for a more educated opinion, but other than that I would have been fine.

 

I wouldn't use that one, because its definition starts of as "offensive", and I do try not to offend anyone, but it looks like that definition could be used as well.

 

You're on a forum making conversation. You don't need my approval for anything. I am trying to understand your point, and you are simply refusing to make one.
Why are you so defensive?
This is really quite bizarre.
If you can't hold up to questions about your positions, or have the integrity to change them when you find them to be in error, why are you here?
Can you point to where I was rude to you or asked the same question repeatedly? I don't recall it.

 

I made my points, they satisfied me. I've apologized to you in the past, and I refuse to consent to a further degradation of my disposition, due to a rather contenitous discourse.

 

What is "contenitous" (sp) about having a rebuttal to your arguments? That's what you do in a debate oriented forum.

 

Contentious ( I watched my typing that time) may be subjective. Needless to say, when felicity has to intercede in the exchange, then I've disappointed myself.

 

Why not just respond in a reasonable way, then. I honestly think I am.
By the way, I have never asked for any kind of apology.

 

no of course you never asked, and I would never ask for one from anyone either, but I try and hold myself to a higher standard, if I feel I've said something offensive I don't wait on a request for an apology.

 

There is nothing to take up....that is pretty much what I have been saying.