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"chazwin" <chazwyman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157008855.756390.181760@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Sean wrote:
>> > Atheism is not a claim, atheism is simply an absence of
>> > Virgil's religious belief that there might be a magic invisible deity
>> > anyway, even though there is no such thing known in reality, it's just
>> > a
>> > part of his religion.
>> >
>> > "Atheism is characterized by an absence of belief in the existence of
>> > gods." -- http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/mathew/intro.html
>> >
>>
>> I have no doubt that you and many others believe what you Claim. ;-)
>>
>> imho "Atheism is characterized by a belief in the non-existence of gods."
>>
>> Other people's beliefs in a God or creator, and religions in general has
>> very little to do with that. So describing it as an absence of belief is
>> a
>> comparative term about others, and not about your own particular views
>> and
>> how those were arrived at.
>>
>> If the only way you can accurautely describe your own pov is in relation
>> to
>> others pov, then I suspect you may not have really looked that closely at
>> how you have arrived at your own conclusions about what is, or isn't.
>> Underpinning that is usually a whole pile of beliefs. That's not a
>> criticism, just an observation about human nature and what all people do.
>> Atheists in general really aren;t that different than everybody else.
>> imho.
>
> The point about "atheist" is that it implies a negative. There is a
> perfectly good word for someone who positively rejects the notion of a
> belief in god: antitheist, and another one who has declared for "i
> don't know": agnostic.
> "A - theist" means NO belief in god. It is most bizzarre, I find, that
> those that insist there is a god usually insist that "atheist" is some
> kind of faith belief system - this I find utterly strange, but probably
> reflective of the type of thought processes that form the theist
> position.
>
> Generally I classify myself as atheist, and normally give no thought
> whatsoever to the topic. That is, until I read a thread which causes me
> to think about why I have rejected the god notion. At this point I
> become antitheist and prepare myself to produce arguments as to why I
> think the god idea is utterly incoherant.
> But I insist that I have no "system of belief" which comprises atheism.
> If someone tries to convince me that "wheat is purple" and I attempt to
> argue against it, I do not say that i am an "Apurplewheatist".
>
Well I enjoy the way you put things! ;-)
and I do take the point about a-theist/anti-theist that you are making, and
that's how you do see it, and am willing to say that without any reactive
clap trap.
Let me be clear that I am not arguing the point, or saying you are wrong
about your views on atheism/god/creator, and how you arrive at those. They
are valid, for you. and I accept that without any problems at all. I am not
*insisting* on anything either.
My distinction could be explained by saying that I am not claiming a "system
of belief" as such .... maybe have another look at this part of what I said
to the other chap and I'll highlight a few keys words
then I *suspect* you may not have really looked that closely at
>> *how* you have arrived at your own conclusions about **what is, or
>> isn't.**
>> *Underpinning* that is usually a whole pile of beliefs.
and i'll clarify that again by saying a " whole pile of *personal beliefs*
...."
You should notice that I didn;t use the word "atheist" just above. I am
speaking to a deeper level than just a non-belief or rejection of others
religious beliefs. Can you see what I mean?
as a rough analogy, I'd call athesism an F18 fighter jet. I am speaking
about the aircraft carrier that supports the fighter jet. I thinks that
fair, given ur "Apurplewheatist". hehehe
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