NationStates Jolt Archive

Atheism is the theory or belief that God does NOT exist.

Agnosticism is the belief that nothing is known or can be known about the existance of a God or not, claiming neither faith NOR DISBELIEF in God.

Please, people, GET THIS RIGHT!

I have seen far too many times people confusing these words, not even knowing what an agnostic is, and occasionally using "atheist" like it's a four-letter-word! And the word "agnositc" suddenly means, what satan-worshipping scum to some of the Christians and Catholics I've met! Come on people! Just use a swear word like any normal person: just don't start flinging out states of being as derogatory terms! It is rude, horrifying, and just generally dumb.

Now, as far as debating religion goes, many people (not just on this site, mind you) have done so in a manner that... well, doesn't exactly prove their point. Sometimes is has even resulted in simple mudslinging, which proves nothing other than what dirty names you can call people. There have been some very good arguments for and against religion, however.

The best argument I've heard FOR the existance of God came from my six year old sister when someone at school asked why she went to church (since God isn't real). Her response:

"Because I think that God is real. That's it." :)

I love my sister. :D Religion is about balancing faith with fact/proof to the other side. I hold a great deal of respect for those who accept the theories and facts proven through science, and yet still have faith in their God. It is impossible to prove the existance of God, though many have tried. However, feelings can be just as strong as (if not stronger than) facts in a human mind.

The best arguments I've heard AGAINST the existance of God are far too long to post here, as they include half of a physics textbook and the entire happenings of the Scopes Monkey Trial, and then some.

I, personally, sort of half-believe in (a) God(s).

Just not the Bible, which is a whole other story.:p

Ta.

I have already discussed this with my agnostic friend, and I agree with you.

atheists are those who dont believe in god or gods.

if its those who believe that gods dont exist, then all christians are atheists because they dont believe that the greek gods exist, that the hindu gods exist, that the eqyptian gods exist, etc.

If you knew a bit of etymology....A-theism is the lack of/without belief in god(s)

Atheism is the theory or belief that God does NOT exist.

Nope. It is just simply not believing. Like you probably don't believe in pixies.

I think you're confused about the content of the Scopes Monkey Trial.

May I suggest this link (http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Scopes_Monkey_Trial).

Atheism is the theory or belief that God does NOT exist.




If you're going to start a thread like this it's advisible to at least ensure that your definition is correct.

It isn't. Atheism is the lack of belief in God(s); it is not the belief that God does not exist.

There is an important difference between these two statements; one of them makes athiesm sound arrogant.

Hmm...I wonder why theists always seem to use that one?

you may want to read the quote in fass's signature.

and think about it.

*sighs*

Explicit or Strong Atheism is the belief that God does not exst. It is a positive assertion.

Implicit or Weak Atheism is the simple lack of belief in God. It is a negative.

Come on people, get with the program.

Atheism is the theory or belief that God does NOT exist.

Agnosticism is the belief that nothing is known or can be known about the existance of a God or not, claiming neither faith NOR DISBELIEF in God.

Please, people, GET THIS RIGHT!


Your level of ignorance preceeds you. The prefix 'A' on gnostic or theist means "without or not having". Learn this before you spew your ignorant diatribe.

1. Atheism vs. Theism
theism = with belief in god
atheism = without belief in god

Atheism does not consist of belief in anything supernatural; it is the opposite -- lack of belief. Atheists do not belief that your god does not exist; it is not necessary to believe this.

2. Agnostic vs. Gnostic
gnostic = with or having knowledge
agnostic = without or not having knowledge

Agnosticism does not have *anything* to do with belief, but knowledge instead.

Jesus f*cking christ, I can tell you are filled with the filth of ignorant religious piety: I can smell you through my internet connection.

Your level of ignorance preceeds you. The prefix 'A' on gnostic or theist means "without or not having". Learn this before you spew your ignorant diatribe.

<snip>

Jesus f*cking christ, I can tell you are filled with the filth of ignorant religious piety: I can smell you through my internet connection.

Your arrogance doesn't smell too great either, honey. Maybe you should think about using that deodorant yourself before spraying it on other people, hmm?

Your arrogance doesn't smell too great either, honey. Maybe you should think about using that deodorant yourself before spraying it on other people, hmm?

He smells, but he smells right at least.

He smells, but he smells right at least.

Sure, he's correct, but smothering correctness with condescention and arrogance is more likely to make someone ignore your point than acknowledge it. Why not just make the point without acting like an arse?

Arseitude demeans the beauty that is Being Correct. It's like taking a beautiful, rare orchid and smothering it in dogshit because you can.

Sure, he's correct, but smothering correctness with condescention and arrogance is more likely to make someone ignore your point than acknowledge it. Why not just make the point without acting like an arse?

Arseitude demeans the beauty that is Being Correct. It's like taking a beautiful, rare orchid and smothering it in dogshit because you can.

Eh, the OP already came out with his ignorance and attutide all over the place, not to mention that little "for those who debate religion improperly" thing. Wouldn't suprise me if the OP didn't listen if he'd been polite about it.

Hm. Perhaps it would be simpler for people to just say what they meant, rather than assigning themselves and others to -isms?

Hm. Perhaps it would be simpler for people to just say what they meant, rather than assigning themselves and others to -isms?

-ism help you keep track. short and simple, rather than taking in the entirety of each persons philosophy.

Sure, he's correct, but smothering correctness with condescention and arrogance is more likely to make someone ignore your point than acknowledge it. Why not just make the point without acting like an arse?

Arseitude demeans the beauty that is Being Correct. It's like taking a beautiful, rare orchid and smothering it in dogshit because you can.

I love this one. It shoulda been written in Proverbs. hmm You know it can still be added to Proverbs ( Opens book ignores copyright jots down wise passage signs it with his own name ) There all better.

-ism help you keep track. short and simple, rather than taking in the entirety of each persons philosophy.

Well, we usually end up doing that anyway. Like now.

Yo got this wrongo! An atheist means that the person does not believe in deities, after all, af a person says that god is fake, that just means that the person is not monotheistic. Anyway, I am an atheist because the existance of deities is not a possible or practical concept.

*rolls eyes... a lot*

It's one 's' people. One 's'!!! I'm very sorry if this offended you, but really. I had just read a post about Christianity which annoyed the heck outta me before I posted this, so naturally I was thinking in that context. I'm sorry is that offended anyone. I should have been more careful with that. But if it didn't offend you, then why bother correcting me? It's one letter out of 26. Deal.

And I did a 18-page report on the Scopes Monkey Trial. I am, in fact, referring to all the little tidbits in the Bible that make absolutely no sense.

Your level of ignorance preceeds you. The prefix 'A' on gnostic or theist means "without or not having". Learn this before you spew your ignorant diatribe.

<snip>

Agnosticism does not have *anything* to do with belief, but knowledge instead.

Jesus f*cking christ, I can tell you are filled with the filth of ignorant religious piety: I can smell you through my internet connection.

Check the dictionary, and then your attitude. And then your nose. I just took a shower. Therefore, no smelling 'cept for shampoo and such.

And I'm not religious. Ya know the lttle phrase about assuming? What it makes out of you and me (emphasis on the former)? I'm not religious, simply respectful of other people's beliefs and in tune with my own feelings. Like most people, I don't want to die and go completly out of existance. Therefore, the idea of heaven is very comforting to me, though I know I don't truly believe in it. I partially want to believe in God for emotional reasons that are none of your damn business, as do many people so that they don't feel alone and purposeless in the world. Thus, I sorta half-believe in God, though most of that is just because I want to, not because I truly "know" (since, according to you, this is about knowledge and not belief) that God or Gods do or do not exist. I'd like to think of myself as... a spiritual agnostic.

And by the way, Dinaverg, I read the whole thing. ALL the replies. Polite ones, impolite ones, and judgemental ones. I read, absorbed, and am now replying. Are you shocked?

But really, everyone, look in a dictionary.

Main Entry: ag·nos·tic
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and prob. unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god

I said, and I quote, "Agnosticism is the belief that nothing is known or can be known about the existance of a God or not, claiming neither faith NOR DISBELIEF in God."

In essence, same thing.

Main Entry: athe·ist
Pronunciation: 'A-thE-ist
Function: noun
: one who believes that there is no deity

Oh no! Is that politiacally incorrect? Golly me. I wrote that "Atheism is the theory or belief that God does NOT exist." Again, in essence, the same.

Now, did anyone actually focus on the CONTENT of the post rather than the little tiny tidbits that, though they may have been politically incorrect, were not cause for attack? Sorry if this post sounds mean or whatever, but a few of the posts (especially the one quoted above) were actually very offensive, and in all honesty, f*cking pissed me off.

If those who posted such comments don't have anything to say that isn't about being politically correct or missing one stupid letter in brackets, then stop attacking me just so you can seem smarter, since certain of you are clearly atheists, and are thusly not religious (see the last line of the quoted post above). Hell, I'd even have taken Philos Sophia's post if it hadn't been so blatantly rude.

Ta.

EDIT: When I said "since certain of you are clearly atheists, and are thusly not religious," I wasn't sayign that it's bad to be an atheist. I was saying that, since certain people here are blatantly NOT religious, they shouldn't be starting a verbal war over political correctness in reference to a religion that isn't even theirs. This is me being very angry and hotheaded. Sorry.

Check the dictionary, and then your attitude. And then your nose. I just took a shower. Therefore, no smelling 'cept for shampoo and such.

And I'm not religious. Ya know the lttle phrase about assuming? What it makes out of you and me (emphasis on the former)? I'm not religious, simply respectful of other people's beliefs and in tune with my own feelings. Like most people, I don't want to die and go completly out of existance. Therefore, the idea of heaven is very comforting to me, though I know I don't truly believe in it. I partially want to believe in God for emotional reasons that are none of your damn business, as do many people so that they don't feel alone and purposeless in the world. Thus, I sorta half-believe in God, though most of that is just because I want to, not because I truly "know" (since, according to you, this is about knowledge and not belief) that God or Gods do or do not exist. I'd like to think of myself as... a spiritual agnostic.

And by the way, Dinaverg, I read the whole thing. ALL the replies. Polite ones, impolite ones, and judgemental ones. I read, absorbed, and am now replying. Are you shocked?

But really, everyone, look in a dictionary.

Main Entry: ag·nos·tic
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and prob. unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god

I said, and I quote, "Agnosticism is the belief that nothing is known or can be known about the existance of a God or not, claiming neither faith NOR DISBELIEF in God."

In essence, same thing.

Main Entry: athe·ist
Pronunciation: 'A-thE-ist
Function: noun
: one who believes that there is no deity

Oh no! Is that politiacally incorrect? Golly me. I wrote that "Atheism is the theory or belief that God does NOT exist." Again, in essence, the same.

Now, did anyone actually focus on the CONTENT of the post rather than the little tiny tidbits that, though they may have been politically incorrect, were not cause for attack? Sorry if this post sounds mean or whatever, but a few of the posts (especially the one quoted above) were actually very offensive, and in all honesty, f*cking pissed me off.

If those who posted such comments don't have anything to say that isn't about being politically correct or missing one stupid letter in brackets, then stop attacking me just so you can seem smarter, since certain of you are clearly atheists, and are thusly not religious (see the last line of the quoted post above). Hell, I'd even have taken Philos Sophia's post if it hadn't been so blatantly rude.

Ta.

Yes, frankly, I am suprised, they rarely come back. Just what dictionary is this?



*whispers* someone has a bit of a temper

Merriam-Webster (m-w.com), but there's also a dictionary on my computer, of which I don't know the name.

And yeah, I'm all mad-like. But that just really pissed me off. Sorry... I'm usually pretty nice. *hides*

Now, did anyone actually focus on the CONTENT of the post rather than the little tiny tidbits that, though they may have been politically incorrect, were not cause for attack? Sorry if this post sounds mean or whatever, but a few of the posts (especially the one quoted above) were actually very offensive, and in all honesty, f*cking pissed me off.


pardon me for not considering the dictionary to be the end all and be all of the definition of atheism.

what else IS there to your post? do you want me to say "gee your little sister isnt much of a theologian?"

you declined to put in your reasons for not believing in god. so nothing to comment on there

if you want more, you have to put in more.

Merriam-Webster (m-w.com), but there's also a dictionary on my computer, of which I don't know the name.

And yeah, I'm all mad-like. But that just really pissed me off. Sorry... I'm usually pretty nice. *hides*

Ah, in that case.

Wikipedia:
Atheism, in its broadest sense, is an absence of belief in any deities. That is, all who do not have such a belief — whether they are nontheists, agnostics, or even Buddhists — are covered under this term. Atheism can also be defined more narrowly as the active rejection of the existence of gods, either of a specific or general kind, or even that gods can exist. Generally speaking, atheism refers to a lack of belief in all deities for whatever reason.

World Book Dictionary's etymological definition:

<Greek atheos denying the gods <a- without + theos a god]

Sorry if this post sounds mean or whatever, but a few of the posts (especially the one quoted above) were actually very offensive, and in all honesty, f*cking pissed me off.


Nothing personal, but your opening post seemed a bit condescending and obnoxious. Phrases like "People, get this right" are just as unlikable as anything anybody said to you.

Remember that other people often have tempers too, and if you open up with that kind of thing, you have to expect some back.

Honestly, don't dish it out if you can't take it back.

I think this is all very child-ish.... I mean do you people have nothing better to do than to preach/ criticise to other people about whether or not they got the definition of atheistism or agnosticism correct?And if you are don't get all bitchy if people come back and say some things that you don't want to here. I mean seriously....people get a life... I mean i am agnostic and i don't go around telling whether or not someone is wrong about what i believe.....I mean i don't want to sound rude...but this is pretty sad....i mean oh well whats the use....not like you people care about my opinion.....
anywho just to clear you people up on agnosticism heres the definition:

One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something
Word History: An agnostic does not deny the existence of God and heaven but holds that one cannot know for certain whether or not they exist. The term agnostic was fittingly coined by the 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley, who believed that only material phenomena were objects of exact knowledge. He made up the word from the prefix a-, meaning “without, not,” as in amoral, and the noun Gnostic. Gnostic is related to the Greek word gnsis, “knowledge,” which was used by early Christian writers to mean “higher, esoteric knowledge of spiritual things” hence, Gnostic referred to those with such knowledge. In coining the term agnostic, Huxley was considering as “Gnostics” a group of his fellow intellectuals“ists,” as he called themwho had eagerly embraced various doctrines or theories that explained the world to their satisfaction. Because he was a “man without a rag of a label to cover himself with,” Huxley coined the term agnostic for himself, its first published use being in 1870.

here's atheisticism:
One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods

don't care much for atheists.....i mean you can't completly deny something that can't be proven one way or the other.....no offense.....i mean i have plent of friends who are i just don't get why people would go that way....
well have a nice day
<3

I think this is all very child-ish....

do you people have nothing better to do than to preach/ criticise to other people

don't get all bitchy if people come back and say some things that you don't want to here.

get a life...

don't care much for atheists.....

i just don't get why people would go that way....

well have a nice day
<3
A sprinkle of disdain, outright condescencion, have a nice day.

If you're going to start a thread like this it's advisible to at least ensure that your definition is correct.

It isn't. Atheism is the lack of belief in God(s); it is not the belief that God does not exist.

There is an important difference between these two statements; one of them makes athiesm sound arrogant.

Hmm...I wonder why theists always seem to use that one?

Maybe for the same reason you might always try to make it sound much different than it really is? Arrogant? To say the least it is, and my opinion is based on the fact that i am an agnostic but atheist's never miss a chance to try and include me into their ranks.

"The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Atheism \A"the*ism\, n. [Cf. F. ath['e]isme. See Atheist.]
1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or
supreme intelligent Being.

ah a stereotypical american

Wasn't trying to be condecending in my first post. Sorry. I was just a little ticked when I saw an 'extreme believer' start using the term "agnostic" as an insult. It wasn't exactly about the definition, more about the use of the word. I wasn't exactly dishing it out, as some people put it, and those who started criticizing the post weren't the people the post was even directed at.
And Saint Curie, sorry if the "people get this right" this sounded offensive. I was trying to steer clear of "you f***ing b****es are pissing me off with your ignorant insults," which is sorta how I felt at the time. ;)
Dinaverg: keep in mind that Wikipedia can be changed by whoever has a mind to, but yeah, that does seem pretty accurate. I wasn't, however, stating anything about who atheists were.

Maybe for the same reason you might always try to make it sound much different than it really is? Arrogant? To say the least it is, and my opinion is based on the fact that i am an agnostic but atheist's never miss a chance to try and include me into their ranks.

"The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Atheism \A"the*ism\, n. [Cf. F. ath['e]isme. See Atheist.]
1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or
supreme intelligent Being.

Ah yes, the atheist power machine trying to suck them in. Look, follow here:



A-. A prefix. Meaning "without" or "lack of"
theism. A word, a root. Meaning, essentially "belief in a god or gods"
So.....A- + theism = Atheism
"Without" + "belief in god or gods" = "Without belief in god or gods"

Agnostic involves knowledge, Atheism involves belief, or the lack thereof.

sorry homie, everyone in this forum already knows this stuff. you just wasting out time. this thread could be the space for a much more interesting topic.