Can You Define Atheism?
BigBusinesses
16-08-2005, 22:41
Its a comminly misunderstood subject so lets here the peoples ideas on it
Kroisistan
16-08-2005, 22:43
2 entries found for atheism.
a·the·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (th-zm)
n.
1. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.
The doctrine that there is no God or gods.
2. Godlessness; immorality.
Definition #1 is the most correct interpretation. #2 appears rather outdated, methinks.
Green israel
16-08-2005, 22:45
A- part of the word that mean negative. (from latin)
thism- believing in god/s
Athism- un-believing in god.
all the other things are optional.
Anarchtyca
16-08-2005, 22:48
a·the·ism
n.
1. a. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.
b. The doctrine that there is no God or gods.
2. Godlessness; immorality.
Also, since it seemed relevant:
a·the·ist
n.
1. One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.
Irish Empire
16-08-2005, 22:50
Simply put by Oxford English Dictionary, the best available, of course.
atheism
/aythi-iz’m/
• noun the belief that God does not exist.
— DERIVATIVES atheist noun atheistic adjective atheistical adjective.
— ORIGIN from Greek a- ‘without’ + theos ‘god’
Atheism is the belief that there is no spiritual being that influences the world. This is different from agnosticism which is a state of being unsure about the existence of such a spiritual being.
New Granada
16-08-2005, 22:54
Simply put by Oxford English Dictionary, the best available, of course.
atheism
/aythi-iz’m/
• noun the belief that God does not exist.
— DERIVATIVES atheist noun atheistic adjective atheistical adjective.
— ORIGIN from Greek a- ‘without’ + theos ‘god’
THE Oxford English Dictionary gives: (definition + quotations)
Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a God. Also, Disregard of duty to God, godlessness (practical atheism).
1587 Golding De Mornay xx. 310 Athisme, that is to say, vtter godlesnes. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. i. §3 A little or superficial knowledge of philosophy may incline the mind of man to atheism. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 119 35 Hypocrisy in one Age is generally succeeded by Atheism in another. 1859 Kingsley Lett. (1878) II. 75 Whatever doubt or doctrinal Atheism you and your friends may have, don't fall into moral Atheism.
Jewington
16-08-2005, 22:54
How many atheism/anti-atheism topics must there be before people grow weary? /sigh
lame topics ------->:sniper:
atheism is a group od losers
Jewington
16-08-2005, 22:58
Atheism is the belief that there is no spiritual being that influences the world. This is different from agnosticism which is a state of being unsure about the existence of such a spiritual being.
Agnosticism is the way to go. How can you be sure he's not there? How can you be sure he is there? You can't. No tangible proof for either side of the argument. Logical choice in my opinion.
Now who answered "What the hell is atheism"? :D
Swilatia
16-08-2005, 23:02
Atheism is the refusal to believe in god/gods. I myself am an atheist.
Cruel tyrany
16-08-2005, 23:09
Who better to ask this question than.....A DICTIONARY
(opinions wont tell u ANYTHING)
:mp5: :sniper: :mp5:
The Armed Republic Of Cruel Tyrany
Takeizahausen
16-08-2005, 23:10
atheism is a group od losers
A group of losers who can spell two letter words. :eek:
Agnosticism is the way to go. How can you be sure he's not there? How can you be sure he is there? You can't. No tangible proof for either side of the argument. Logical choice in my opinion.Logical, yes, but I'm not going to tell anyone what they're supposed to believe.
Anticephas
16-08-2005, 23:15
If people took the time to read a little about it, it wouldn't be so misunderstood. For a good introduction to atheism and its branches check out:
http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/intro.html
It may help you better than any defintion.
There is PLENTY of information on the net about this stuff, I'm surprised it is such a prevalent topic on these boards!
The Orthodox Synod
16-08-2005, 23:17
agnostisism, if only that worked in math class...
anyway, atheism is simply not believing in the god/diety/emperor type thing that is presently being discussed.
Polycarp, the early (christian) church father, was, at his 'trial' held in Rome, told that he was to "denounce the athiest, and accept the good will of the Emperor", and his responce was: "Yes, indeed, I do denounce the athiest, and yet maintain that Jesus Christ is Lord!"
Basically, the Romans called him an atheist for not beiliving in their false pagan dieties, and Polycarp called them an atheist for not believing in the True God, so you know, it's kinda relative.
athiesm is ignorance. now, I'm not saying that you should go join a religion, i have my reservations about them too. But a true athiest will beleive that we are the highest entity in this world. we are a surperior species, and science is a god upon itself, but it is not the god. i don't care what you beleive. some religion, karma, spiritual forces, as long as you realize that we cannot possibly be the highest being in the universe. it is almost blasophmous to say so. i support the agnostics (those who beleive in a higher entity or spirituality without choosing a specifiec religion) who have the eyes to see that there must be something more powerful then us, something unseen, and have an open mind as to go out and seek the truth in whatever form it may be in.
Dictionaries only supply usage, not meaning, and are historical to some extent.
Agnostics are not uncertain, the consider the question unanswerable.
Atheists run the gamut from believing gods do not exist to not beliving gods exist. Those are two very different statements and only the former is a belief.
Personally, I am a militant agnostic - skeptical atheist.
I don't know if gods exist and neither do you and without evidence I cannot assent to any claim of their existance.
athiesm is ignorance. now, I'm not saying that you should go join a religion, i have my reservations about them too. But a true athiest will beleive that we are the highest entity in this world. we are a surperior species, and science is a god upon itself, but it is not the god. i don't care what you beleive. some religion, karma, spiritual forces, as long as you realize that we cannot possibly be the highest being in the universe. it is almost blasophmous to say so. i support the agnostics (those who beleive in a higher entity or spirituality without choosing a specifiec religion) who have the eyes to see that there must be something more powerful then us, something unseen, and have an open mind as to go out and seek the truth in whatever form it may be in.That's not true. Atheists only believe that there is no divine being. Doesn't mean anything else.
Drunk commies deleted
16-08-2005, 23:27
athiesm is ignorance. now, I'm not saying that you should go join a religion, i have my reservations about them too. But a true athiest will beleive that we are the highest entity in this world. we are a surperior species, and science is a god upon itself, but it is not the god. i don't care what you beleive. some religion, karma, spiritual forces, as long as you realize that we cannot possibly be the highest being in the universe. it is almost blasophmous to say so. i support the agnostics (those who beleive in a higher entity or spirituality without choosing a specifiec religion) who have the eyes to see that there must be something more powerful then us, something unseen, and have an open mind as to go out and seek the truth in whatever form it may be in.
You totally don't understand atheism. I hope you selected "no" on the poll.
Atheism doesn't necessarily mean that you think that we are the "highest entity in the world". A person can be an atheist and not see humanity as the most advanced or well adapted animal on earth.
Atheists don't see science as a god. They have no gods. Science is a tool to gather knowledge.
Why can't we be "the highest being in the universe"? What evidence do you have to support the existance of a more advanced species?
a·the·ism
n.
1. a. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.
b. The doctrine that there is no God or gods.
2. Godlessness; immorality.
a·the·ist
n.
1. One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.
Alright, that's lovely. We can all quote dictionary.com. Now can any of you children here point out the parts of this definition that are not only wrong but blatantly biased?
I'll give you a hint, they're in bold.
Basically, the Romans called him an atheist for not beiliving in their false pagan dieties, and Polycarp called them an atheist for not believing in the True God, so you know, it's kinda relative.
It's sentences like these that make the irony all the more painful.
Kevlanakia
16-08-2005, 23:49
Alright, that's lovely. We can all quote dictionary.com. Now can any of you children here point out the parts of this definition that are not only wrong but blatantly biased?
I'll give you a hint, they're in bold.
Damn those dictionaries and their wrong definitions! Good thing you were here to correct their errors, person on an internet forum!
"Atheism is the state either of being without theistic beliefs, or of actively believing in the non-existence of deities" -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism
New Granada
17-08-2005, 03:40
Damn those dictionaries and their wrong definitions! Good thing you were here to correct their errors, person on an internet forum!
No, "kevlanakia," the OED, which I was good enough to quote earlier, is here to do that.
Glinde Nessroe
17-08-2005, 03:47
Alright, that's lovely. We can all quote dictionary.com. Now can any of you children here point out the parts of this definition that are not only wrong but blatantly biased?
I'll give you a hint, they're in bold.
Oh shut up, no one cares, stop pooing in jars just so you can stir shit up.