"We are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further." - Richard Dawkins
What do you think of this quote?
2006-12-30 06:27:40 · 13 answers · asked by Penguin King 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
About as true a statement as you can make. There is still a huge gulf between religionists and rational thinkers. They just can't give up that one dumbass god.
2006-12-30 06:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a paraphrase of a quote by Stephen Roberts that's been going around the net for quite a while.
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
It's a slightly less literal definition of the term 'atheist' than we're used to. But read the rest of the quote. It's absolutely true.
2006-12-30 14:37:15 · answer #2 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is defined as: "the doctrine or belief that there is no God [OR gods]" OR "disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings"
Saying "An atheist, by definition, believes in no deity. [therefore] Anyone who believes in even one deity would not be an atheist." is untrue because to say it's true, the definition would have to be "believes in no deitIES" - PLURAL.
A Christian ONLY believes in THEIR God, which also means they believe there is NO Jewish God or NO Egyptian Gods, etc... They lack the belief in the existence of those gods, making them Atheists - Christian Atheists.
Atheism is NOT defined as the lack of belief in ALL gods. So, in order for you to NOT be an atheist, you have to believe in EVERY God every society has ever believed in. And since no one believes that, we're all atheists. Period.
2006-12-31 14:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by DrowEthel 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I actually agreed with that initially, should have thought about it a bit more.
An atheist, by definition, believes in no deity. Anyone who believes in even one deity would not be an atheist. If Dawkins had said "We all disbelieve the existence of most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just believe in one fewer", that would be true, but it would not make a believer an atheist.
2006-12-30 14:34:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Another incisive and factual Dawkins observation.
2006-12-30 14:31:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't it amazing how one can be so gifted with intelligence in one area and yet be dysfunctionally stupid in another.
2006-12-30 14:35:00 · answer #6 · answered by Desperado 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Makes sense to me.
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2006-12-30 14:31:32 · answer #7 · answered by Chickyn in a Handbasket 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds very plausible to me and actually makes alot of sense
2006-12-30 14:35:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well you cant make any one believe anything they have to decide forthemselves please read this:
go to a PENTECOSTAL church
just for one day, if you never set foot in a church again
search for a pentecostal church, not any other, a pentecostal church. then you will know that there is a god.
2006-12-30 14:32:52 · answer #9 · answered by Indio 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
if you believe in god, you're not an atheist.
2006-12-30 14:30:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋