Atheists & Agnostics

malthaussen

(18,602 posts)

39. Eh, human behavior is subject to the tyranny of the bell-curve.

Sat May 10, 2014, 11:03 AM

May 2014

I doubt I'm the only one who knows such people, and it's not a claim I would make. Nor, indeed, would I claim to know "many, many" atheists. Atheists do remain a minority, after all. It would be extraordinary if I knew a disproportionate number.

Now, if you'd like to argue that one who maintains the absolute non-existance of a god-thing of any kind is unworthily taking the name "atheist," then that's a definitional issue and not one I care much about. I think the whole point of the OP comes from the fact that atheism means different things to different people. The absolutist are just one end of the curve.

-- Mal

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How do you define atheism? [View all] LostOne4Ever May 2014 OP

I define it as a 'failure to launch'. AtheistCrusader May 2014 #1

I want to go on the record LostOne4Ever May 2014 #2

Personally, ChairmanAgnostic May 2014 #3

Atheism: "Pending further evidence, I reject your magical sky man proposition." Bryce Butler May 2014 #4

The word is self-explanatory pscot May 2014 #5

Exactly. trotsky May 2014 #7

They're not 'making it difficult'. They are attempting to validate their special pleading by AtheistCrusader May 2014 #12

I side with the Greeks on this one Act_of_Reparation May 2014 #6

Isn't the belief that there is no god the same thing as Brainstormy May 2014 #8

no. Warren Stupidity May 2014 #14

Warren's got it exactly right. EvolveOrConvolve May 2014 #19

No, because belief and knowledge aren't the same thing. Act_of_Reparation May 2014 #22

Most people would say that Brainstormy May 2014 #30

I misread your post :\ Act_of_Reparation May 2014 #57

You are a gnostic atheist. LiberalAndProud May 2014 #51

Eh, a belief that there is no god-thing is the same as a belief that there is... malthaussen May 2014 #9

It is an issue when belief in the improbable magical sky being is then Warren Stupidity May 2014 #17

Logically equivilant, yes. malthaussen May 2014 #18

Can you point to ANY atheists skepticscott May 2014 #35

Yep. malthaussen May 2014 #36

Nice dodge skepticscott May 2014 #38

Eh, human behavior is subject to the tyranny of the bell-curve. malthaussen May 2014 #39

Another nice dodge skepticscott May 2014 #44

Im trying to keep my involvement in this thread to a minimal LostOne4Ever May 2014 #46

Agreed skepticscott May 2014 #48

I just don't believe in any gods. JNelson6563 May 2014 #10

I'd go with that definition. onager May 2014 #13

Well said, as usual. :) JNelson6563 May 2014 #16

Hey, that definition works for me. uriel1972 May 2014 #32

Not as a "non-belief," for sure ... Auggie May 2014 #11

An atheist is a person who doesn't believe in a god or gods. Iggo May 2014 #15

Definitions nil desperandum May 2014 #20

Definitions, indeed. malthaussen May 2014 #40

If you're here to tout "other ways of knowing" skepticscott May 2014 #47

Lack of belief in any god(s) LeftishBrit May 2014 #21

The Father Christmas reference... onager May 2014 #24

Speaking only for me... Solly Mack May 2014 #23

A lack of sufficient evidence. Promethean May 2014 #25

The Theists tried to plant questions in our heads Mr.Bill May 2014 #26

Personally, I don't believe in god because I don't believe god exists Heddi May 2014 #27

Not theism. It's like being pregnant. Either you're pregnant or you're not. valerief May 2014 #28

The way I see it, atheism is a lack of belief in any god or gods. Curmudgeoness May 2014 #29

Lack of belief in Gods. bravenak May 2014 #31

+1. deucemagnet May 2014 #49

non-theist defacto7 May 2014 #33

Lack of belief in any gods TxDemChem May 2014 #34

Atheism is a state of being unconvinced skepticscott May 2014 #37

Raises the question of what would constitute convincing evidence... malthaussen May 2014 #41

There is convincing evidence that the moon exists skepticscott May 2014 #45

This video is a great start. Promethean May 2014 #53

This message was self-deleted by its author LiberalAndProud May 2014 #54

I have no knowledge of frogmarch May 2014 #42

Yep. It's not a lack or an absence of belief. Iggo May 2014 #43

I'm an apatheist mr blur May 2014 #50

Thanks! skepticscott May 2014 #55

Ah, that was suposed to be a joke, mr blur May 2014 #56

and I don't care. AlbertCat May 2014 #60

As a lack of belief. jaded_old_cynic May 2014 #52

The disbelief, or lack of belief, in gods sakabatou May 2014 #58

To echo many previous responses Beearewhyain May 2014 #59