2007-04-30 02:05:06 · 25 answers · asked by CHEESUS GROYST 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
David Attenborogh is a professional naturalist but ordinary people like myself can also be naturalists, we believe in nature and natural science in the same way, there is no contradiction.
2007-04-30 02:12:53 · update #1
Sorry if I have confused anyone, I have happily called myself atheist in the past and probably will in the future but I mean simply that the name atheist defines us from a theists point of view... as though to be a theist is normal and to be atheist is lacking something, even if all we lack is theistic delusion.
2007-04-30 02:29:45 · update #2
momodogamous: That's exactly what I'm getting at, thank you!
2007-04-30 02:34:08 · update #3
Naturalist is a bit like naturist maybe but atheist is also too similar to a theist and you know how many times it causes confusion here on R&S.
2007-04-30 02:37:41 · update #4
I think I get your point, is that like American ethnic minorities calling themselves non-white?
2007-04-30 02:23:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
atheist shouldnt be regarded as a negative term because it is the most correct term to define someone who is not a theist.
As you mentioned, anyone can be a naturalist, but when if a Christian or religious person asks an atheist if they believe in God, the term atheist is the best fit, rather than saying, no, I'm a naturalist, know what I mean?
2007-04-30 02:20:55 · answer #2 · answered by town_cl0wn 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A naturalist is an actual occupation and there already many naturalists. Being a naturalist has no bearing on your beliefs, or lack of them. So there is no point in atheists doing so as the two words are not synonymous. Anyone can be a naturalist.
2007-04-30 02:09:09 · answer #3 · answered by A-chan 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Atheist is a extra wide definition. So it applies to extra human beings. i like the term humanist. I describe my self as Atheist first then trans-humanist. i like the term Atheist because of the fact this is the different of theist. that's a extra direct term then humanist. i believe I even have my own unique experience of morals. that are coming up and alter in each problem. So it incredibly is far less demanding to be an Atheist and we are able to communicate approximately what i believe is sweet and incorrect from my point of view. I i'm hoping that made experience.
2017-01-09 03:47:28 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because not all atheists are naturalists. Most atheists are actually 'fatalists'. I think most religionists are 'fatalists' too. I think the distinction between 'religionists' and 'atheists' in this modern age is irrelevant since there is so much overlap, as the real distinction is in materialism/idealism, and most, well, human beings, fall into the former.
2007-04-30 02:08:24 · answer #5 · answered by Sorrowful W 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I don't see atheist as a negative term. I don't go around calling myself one, I am more spiritual than that term implies, but I don't beleive in religion and there isn't anything negative about the people who do use the term atheist.
2007-04-30 02:10:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A word is defined in two ways; denotatively and connotatively. In the case of "atheist," the denotation is "one who does not believe in God," at its most simple.
The connotative meaning of the word is connected to one's emotional response to that word. If one views the word "atheist" as a negative, then the word has a negative connotation. Of one views the word as a positive, then it has a positive connotation.
2007-04-30 02:17:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would agree however it is not us who chose the label it was found for us.
Also Naturalist is very close to that of those who like to go naked in natural settings. This could lead to confusion.
2007-04-30 02:14:38 · answer #8 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because most people think that being a naturalists involve running around without clothes on, and I burn easy in the sunlight.
2007-04-30 02:09:57 · answer #9 · answered by U-98 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
When you wallow in the minutae of definitions and social standards you are imitating the 'great' religions of the world (christian, judism, muslim)
What is the point. I am committed to my beliefs and I were them for the world to see unless it will compromise my job or create real problems with certain people or communities. I have to live in this world and wish to have some happiness........ sooooooo
2007-04-30 02:19:12 · answer #10 · answered by larrydoyle52 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That 'negatively defining name' is most accurate: we're non-theists = a-theists = atheists.
You might think it negative - but then some people think 'Christian' is a positive appellation. Wahahaha.
CD
2007-04-30 02:16:24 · answer #11 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋