What is atheism


1)A disbelief in God?
2)A lack of theism?
3)A belief that God doesnt exist (or there is no God)



These three definitions have very different meanings.

The 3rd definition clearly implies that God doesnt exist- which would eliminate agnostics and "weak atheists"
The 2nd definition clearly implies that it is just a lack of belief- which would include babies, agnostic and all atheists
The 1st defintion clearly implies a positive disbelief- which would exclude babies (but still includes agnostics and atheists)



Another confusing issue is the fact that the word "atheism" shouldnt exist considering the fact that there is no word for those who do not believe in the toothfairy or unicorns.



The atheist/agnostic divide is another confusing issue. Agnostics are atheists in the sense that they also lack a belief in God (definition no 2).




Another confusing issue is that atheists can be religious despite atheism not being a religion. Buddhism is an atheistic religion according to some of its sects.

Hmm

Busuyib: Hmm

pensive

From the dictionary :

atheism /ˈeɪθɪɪz(ə)m/
noun
disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

The key word is "existence " so the answer is 3.

Atheists do not believe in the existence of god.
In other words,.atheists do not believe that God exists.

Apatheist: From the dictionary :


The key word is "existence " so the answer is 3.

Atheists do not believe in the existence of god.
In other words,.atheists do not believe that God exists.

There is no wrong definition among the three....they are all valid

You only picked the one you prefer

TheBigUrban2:


There is no wrong definition among the three....they are all valid

You only picked the one you prefer

Numbers 1 and 3 are the same.

1)A disbelief in God?

is the same thing as this:

3)A belief that God doesnt exist (or there is no God)

What do you mean by a "lack of theism" in number 2?

Apatheist:
Numbers 1 and 3 are the same.

Eba and soaked garri are the same

Apatheist:
Numbers 1 and 3 are the same.
is the same thing as this:


What do you mean by a "lack of theism" in number 2?

1) Is a disbelief

3) Is a belief

And your point is?

TheBigUrban2:



1) Is a disbelief

3) Is a belief

Explain?

AlfaSeltzer: And your point is?

other than the fact that you're a festering boil on Satan's dark azz cheek?


The point is that atheism is not easy to define

TheBigUrban2:


other than the fact that you're a festering boil on Satan's dark azz cheek?


The point is that atheism is not easy to define

Atheism is the opposite of theism.
Do you want a definition of theism?

God is even harder to define than the word atheism. It literally varies from person to person. Atheist wouldn't be so ambiguous a word if there was only one God.

well number 1 is just perfect.

I don't go around telling people that I'm anything (atheist, agnostic etc.) I simply explain that I don't believe in whatever horseshit that they are trying to peddle and watch the frustration mount up.

atheism and islam are both sides of the same coin. they exist primarily as an opposition to the Christ.

davidylan: atheism and islam are both sides of the same coin. they exist primarily as an opposition to the Christ.

You know there are thousands of religions, right? you know they don't believe in your christ, right?

What's with Christians and their persecution complex?

Apatheist:
You know there are thousands of religions, right? you know they don't believe in your christ, right?

What's with Christians and their persecution complex?

such "persecution complex" exists only in your minds. I dont think christians feel persecuted by atheists as much as atheists WANT to think so... at least it gives them a validation for their caterwauling. It is true that there are thousands of religions... but none get the attention of atheists as much as christianity... if in doubt please go through these pages. It is assumed to be the religion section but you will very rarely find a thread atheists dedicate to ridiculing ifa priests for example.

davidylan:

such "persecution complex" exists only in your minds. I dont think christians feel persecuted by atheists as much as atheists WANT to think so... at least it gives them a validation for their caterwauling. It is true that there are thousands of religions... but none get the attention of atheists as much as christianity... if in doubt please go through these pages. It is assumed to be the religion section but you will very rarely find a thread atheists dedicate to ridiculing ifa priests for example.

Congratulations, you just succeeded in saying nothing meaningful.

Atheists criticize Christianity most because they were former atheist -- most of them,anyway.

Apatheist:
Congratulations, you just succeeded in saying nothing meaningful.

Atheists criticize Christianity most because they were former atheist -- most of them,anyway.

I take it you mean you had no meaningful riposte so you took the usual ad hominems route? Take a look at the highlighted... does that make sense to you?

davidylan:

It is assumed to be the religion section but you will very rarely find a thread atheists dedicate to ridiculing ifa priests for example.

I have never met an Ifa priest, but I know lots of Christians and Muslimz. My criticism is proportionate to the number of adherents per religion.

davidylan:

such "persecution complex" exists only in your minds. I dont think christians feel persecuted by atheists as much as atheists WANT to think so... at least it gives them a validation for their caterwauling. It is true that there are thousands of religions... but none get the attention of atheists as much as christianity... if in doubt please go through these pages. It is assumed to be the religion section but you will very rarely find a thread atheists dedicate to ridiculing ifa priests for example.

Davidylan!!!!

You don come again!!!!!

Derailer, MAKE I NO SLAP SENSE COMMOT YA HEAD

mmsen: I don't go around telling people that I'm anything (atheist, agnostic etc.) I simply explain that I don't believe in whatever horseshit that they are trying to peddle and watch the frustration mount up.

That's a good one


noted.

AlfaSeltzer:

Atheism is the opposite of theism.
Do you want a definition of theism?

Theism is a belief in god or gods......

davidylan:

I take it you mean you had no meaningful riposte so you took the usual ad hominems route? Take a look at the highlighted... does that make sense to you?

Typo.
What I meant to say: Atheists usually criticize Christianity because they used to be Christians -- most of them anyway.

It was in response to this:

davidylan:
but none get the attention of atheists as much as christianity... if in doubt please go through these pages. It is assumed to be the religion section but you will very rarely find a thread atheists dedicate to ridiculing ifa priests for example.

davidylan: atheism and islam are both sides of the same coin. they exist primarily as an opposition to the Christ.

True, but for entirely different reasons. The atheist believes that Christ is a fictional character or just the name of some random illusionist. The followers of Islam believe that he was a prophet sent from another imaginary God called Allah. So far all the evidence points to the fictional character scenario, nothing has been able to link Christ to reality other than conjecture, non sequitur, and anecdotes.

Weah96:

I have never met an Ifa priest, but I know lots of Christians and Muslimz. My criticism is proportionate to the number of adherents per religion.

Because, frankly, you've never been interested in looking. Members of my own extended family were ogun worshipers... complete with a shrine.

TheBigUrban2:


Davidylan!!!!

You don come again!!!!!

Derailer, MAKE I NO SLAP SENSE COMMOT YA HEAD

and your point is?

Apatheist:
Typo.
What I meant to say: Atheists usually criticize Christianity because they used to be Christians -- most of them anyway.

It was in response to this:

Not really... a ton of people are "christians" in name only or by association only. A lot of people also identify as "christian" solely because they were not born muslim. This is a feckless, weak argument that i hear all the time as justification for why only christianity, and no other religion, brings out the same foaming in the mouth noise making from atheists.

Weah96:

True, but for entirely different reasons. The atheist believes that Christ is a fictional character or just the name of some random illusionist. The followers of Islam believe that he was a prophet sent from another imaginary God called Allah. So far all the evidence points to the fictional character scenario, nothing has been able to link Christ to reality other than conjecture, non sequitur, and anecdotes.

and this is of relevance to the atheist because? There are many other "fictional characters"... why is this one of most importance to you that you spend a whopping amount of your time caterwauling about?

davidylan:

Because, frankly, you've never been interested in looking. Members of my own extended family were ogun worshipers... complete with a shrine.

I don't have to look for Christians either. They make themselves available.