I have decided that atheism has absolutely nothing to do with whether you believe or disbelieve in any deity. The only true atheists are those who have made a formal study of logic and are capable of providing detailed proofs in the subject. By this definition, I suspect that many of you who consider yourselves atheists are, in fact, not. I hope this doesn't come as a shock to you.
By the way - I'm in the middle of an argument with a purported atheist who has redefined Christianity so that it has nothing to do with Christ, and has therefore concluded that I'm not a Christian. I'm trying to make a point here, so please don't get all huffy. Just tell me - is this a reasonable position to take, or would my insistence on it be adequate proof that I've finally gone completely 'round the bend?
2007-12-20 07:44:50 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Gerry - thank you for your response. I really wasn't looking for a six-page definition of atheism. Did you actually read the entire question? There are surprises and fun in the last paragraph.
2007-12-20 07:55:09 · update #1
Catherine - That's pretty close to my definition, too. It isn't his.
2007-12-20 07:56:12 · update #2
Heading for work now. To those of you who actually read the entire question, thank you. I think my point is made. For the rest of you - if you ever read a work titled "A Modest Proposal", you should know that he wasn't actually advocating that the Irish eat their children.
2007-12-20 08:00:12 · update #3
I'm fine with that. That way, when an atheist says something illogical, we can say "Yeah, but he wasn't a real atheist."
2007-12-20 07:48:59 · answer #1 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
>>I have decided that atheism has absolutely nothing to do
>>with whether you believe or disbelieve in any deity.
Wrong. Atheism means nothing more than "no belief in deity". Just break the word down:
atheism = "a" + "theism" = "without" + "belief in deity"
>>The only true atheists are those who have made a
>>formal study of logic and are capable of providing
>>detailed proofs in the subject.
While a good number of atheists take an active interest in logic and debates (not necessarily "detailed proofs"; that's something you only find in mathematics), it's fallacious to say that this is what defines atheism, just as its fallacious to define Christianity as philanthropy. In fact, speaking of formal logic, most Logic 101 courses would call what you say the "No True Scotsman Fallacy".
2007-12-20 07:51:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you were truely a Jesus Christian ( as oppossed to a St.Paul Christian) , you would be a type of reformed Jew (sometimes referred to as a "Jew for Jesus "
Please read my response to this question :
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApgywzB8hrbIsBZnf7cmk2zsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071220114011AANqNh2&show=7#profile-info-yGEROlPnaa
Now about that definition or Atheism : It is flawed . Would you say someone isn't a Christian if they did not take extensive courses in theology and logic and Christian History ? Or would it simply be enough to read what was in the Bible and believe in God and the Writings in the New Testament ? Likewise many Atheists simply have read the "proofs" and "concepts" of a deity and decided they are wrong to believe in .
Once again though , your argument seems to come down to requiring Atheists to disprove the existance of God , the Easter Bunny , leprechauns , the FSM , Bufffy the Vampire Slayer , Zeus , and a trillion other entities . It doesn't work that way . You supply the "proof " We disprove it !
Yes you are round the bend !
Skuka ... Once again you are MAKING UP things to support your own feelings !
Those are not definitions of Atheists / Agnostics .
Please link me to the "Wiki" site that says so . I WILL sue them ! BUT I am sure this does not exist ! Except in your imagination .
Gerry ... Nice post !
2007-12-20 08:00:24 · answer #3 · answered by allure45connie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats not what an athiest is though. It might be something an athiest attempts but it is not what makes them athiest. Not all athiests are logical and their proofs are not actual proofs and they still do not believe in a diety which regardless of how they got that position, they are still athiests.
Your athiest debater had no authority to say you are or are not a Christian. Many try to menipulate the scriptures and often do to throw you off. They have such a lack of understanding of what Christianity is about it's quite annoying. They set up straw man arguements all the time. Don't let this bother you and learn to recognize this. You don't have to play on their terms because they often change them to make their point seem factual. Christianity cannot be redefined it can only be distorted. Let him conclude what he wishes in his ignorance. Present the truth and move on. If he wishes to reject the truth then you are only wasting your time arguing with him about your own salvation.
2007-12-20 07:59:26 · answer #4 · answered by spunn_out 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, the definition of "atheist" is very simple.
It's any person who does not believe in the existence of deities.
Nothing more complicated than that.
And as for the definition of "Christian", Christians argue more about the definition of "Christian" than atheists do. Atheists basically define anyone who believes in the divinity of Christ to be Christian. Christians will argue ad nauseum as to who is a "real" Christian, and argue like children that "my belief in Jesus is better than *your* belief in Jesus!"
(For what it's worth, it sounds like the atheist you're arguing with has "gone around the bend", too.)
2007-12-20 07:54:59 · answer #5 · answered by Jess H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am embarking on a formal study of logic, in order to prepare myself to teach it to my homeschooled kids. However I would be offended at being called an atheist because of it! I love the Lord with my whole heart, mind, body, and strength.
Logic does not belong to atheism alone, any more than good deeds belong to Christians alone.
2007-12-20 10:43:16 · answer #6 · answered by Thrice Blessed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my being an atheist has less to do with logic and reason, than it does with the absolute HATRED of religion. Im an atheist because i dont believe in any form of god. There are stupid atheists, there are smart christians.
I think the argument Can be made that christianity has nothing to do with christ for several reasons.
No one really follows the bible, or if they do, they manipulate it to their own desires and wishes
Christ isnt God, hes the son of god, so a christian, worships the son of god, and not god directly which just doesnt make sense
Churches have become more of a business and political platform then a place for fellowship, sharing, worship, and good deeds.
Many christians do not practice what they preach
2007-12-20 07:52:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
When defining a word, sometimes it helps to break it into syllables and study its etymology: a-the-ism. A means the without, or the opposite. So that we know right off the bat that an atheist is the opposite of a theist. So what is a theist? The "the" part means God (theos, deus), and -ist means one who believes or subscribes to. While we can always define words in novel ways, I think your proposed definition is etymologically unsound.
2007-12-20 07:52:50 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is a DISBELIEF and has everything to do with belief and disbelief. I cannot define disbelief any further other than to say that I, personally speaking, deny any supernatural deity or otherwise and purport that it does not exist - simply does not exist, based on research and education. That is my stand and I cannot and will never change it.
Both positions are unrealistic.
2007-12-20 08:08:13 · answer #9 · answered by Tricia R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are both wrong to try to redefine the words. Christianity obviously has to do with Christ, and atheism is nothing more than a lack of a god belief.
It's as simple as that.
2007-12-20 07:55:13 · answer #10 · answered by rbc_commish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really. atheism is simply defined as someone who does not believe in a god or gods. the logic part of being atheist is fairly simple. nothing states that logical arguments have to be long drawn out equations. humans have five senses - sight, touch, hearing, smelling, and taste. if something does not appeal to at least one of these, then it is nonexistant.
2007-12-20 08:01:15 · answer #11 · answered by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋