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Originally posted by butcherguy
If I believe there is, I would be a theist.
If I BELIEVE that there isn't, I would be an atheist.
Originally posted by Titen-Sxull
reply to post by adjensen
I could care less what definition was used hundreds or thousands of years ago.
Agnostic and Gnostic deal with knowledge on the subject of god(s)
Atheism and theism deal with belief on the subject of god(s).
Originally posted by -PLB-
It matters because it is wrong. Atheism = a lack of believe. If you define it as a disbelieve, and you define disbelieve as a belief in something, you are manipulating the meaning of atheism.
Originally posted by Daniem
Because he may not know the truth about the existance of gods, devils and angels
Originally posted by PuterMan
Probably for the same reasons that you continue to ignore the dictionary definition of Atheist. Someone who DOES NOT BELIEVE in God, and not someone who LACKS BELIEF in God. An Atheist is not lacking in belief. An Atheist BELIEVES that God does not exist.
Originally posted by Quasar_La-Zar
Whats the point of the people fighting here? this is a "no its soda!" "no its pop!" situation, you both could be right, but who cares? As to the beginning post I agree.
Originally posted by PuterMan
Probably for the same reasons that you continue to ignore the dictionary definition of Atheist. Someone who DOES NOT BELIEVE in God, and not someone who LACKS BELIEF in God. An Atheist is not lacking in belief. An Atheist BELIEVES that God does not exist.
Originally posted by traditionaldrummer
Originally posted by PuterMan
Probably for the same reasons that you continue to ignore the dictionary definition of Atheist. Someone who DOES NOT BELIEVE in God, and not someone who LACKS BELIEF in God. An Atheist is not lacking in belief. An Atheist BELIEVES that God does not exist.
You've just directly contradicted the very definition of atheist that you provided. "Does not believe" is not the same thing as "believe".
Originally posted by PuterMan
Originally posted by traditionaldrummer
Originally posted by PuterMan
Probably for the same reasons that you continue to ignore the dictionary definition of Atheist. Someone who DOES NOT BELIEVE in God, and not someone who LACKS BELIEF in God. An Atheist is not lacking in belief. An Atheist BELIEVES that God does not exist.
You've just directly contradicted the very definition of atheist that you provided. "Does not believe" is not the same thing as "believe".
No, "does not believe in God" is the same as "believes God does not exist".
If you do not believe in an abstract concept then to all intents and purposes that does not exist. No conflict of definition that I can see.
Read what I said in the post and not what you imagine I said.
Originally posted by PuterMan
OK, why is this so difficult.
"Believes that X does not exist" is exactly the same as "Does not believe that X exists"
What is difficult to grasp about that? In both of those terms there is no 'lack of belief'. Belief is applied in both cases.
You have to separate as I have said before 'belief' from 'a belief'
To me this is an issue of placing the negative in the incorrect place.
Originally posted by PuterMan
OK, why is this so difficult.
"Believes that X does not exist" is exactly the same as "Does not believe that X exists"
What is difficult to grasp about that? In both of those terms there is no 'lack of belief'. Belief is applied in both cases.
You have to separate as I have said before 'belief' from 'a belief'
Originally posted by Mike_A
Sod this I'm converting, I am now an agnostic seventh day scientologist. My nongod is bigger than your deity!
Originally posted by c g henderson
So who is this God person and why should I "believe" in him?
Originally posted by PuterMan
Originally posted by c g henderson
So who is this God person and why should I "believe" in him?
As far as I am aware this thread is about whether Atheism is a belief or not.