Atheists & Agnostics

frogmarch

(12,251 posts)

21. Yes, you’re right.

Fri Jul 20, 2012, 02:14 PM

Jul 2012

There appears to be a lot of confusion surrounding the word ”atheist,” even among people who consider themselves atheists. My atheist family members and I consider an atheist to be someone who doesn’t believe in any gods – not necessarily someone who claims to know that no gods exist. I suppose some people would call us “agnostic atheists,” because we don’t claim to know that no gods exist, only that there is no evidence that they do, and we therefore have no belief in them. We feel the same way about fire-breathing dragons, about which many stories have been written as well.

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Agnostics are not Atheists and they deserve their own forum. [View all] RegieRocker Jul 2012 OP

On the other hand... rexcat Jul 2012 #1

Huge difference between the two RegieRocker Jul 2012 #2

Obviously you don't understand the definition of "atheist"... rexcat Jul 2012 #3

Noted RegieRocker Jul 2012 #4

Would you accept the opinion of the guy who invented the word to desctibe himself? dmallind Jul 2012 #11

Sure he is stating that Agnostics are not Atheists RegieRocker Jul 2012 #12

No - he's stating that agnosticism is in fact nothing to do with belief. Atheism is not mentioned. dmallind Jul 2012 #14

He mentioned atheists in the sentence just before your quote started muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #66

The issue here ais the multiple usages for "atheist" dmallind Jul 2012 #83

Only a true agnostic knows what an agnostic is. AlbertCat Jul 2012 #50

Albert Cat, perfect response to pure and utter rubbish being spread here by cowards who hide under . Brewinblue Jul 2012 #87

I'm an agnostic atheist OriginalGeek Jul 2012 #5

I believe something exists when there is evidence of that somethings existence michael811 Jul 2012 #6

This is bullshit: mr blur Jul 2012 #7

Yes, it sure is. frogmarch Jul 2012 #16

Nah it's just the ones who don't understand the meaning of the word. dmallind Jul 2012 #17

Yes, you’re right. frogmarch Jul 2012 #21

Badda bing! valerief Jul 2012 #55

You know what my favorite hobby is?... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2012 #69

I see it as "a theism" kurtzapril4 Jul 2012 #86

My suggestion to you JNelson6563 Jul 2012 #8

Just curious skepticscott Jul 2012 #9

I kind of like what it shines a light on JNelson6563 Jul 2012 #10

Great video... rexcat Jul 2012 #19

Looks like something for Meta-discussion rexcat Jul 2012 #13

No surprise to your post and some others either RegieRocker Jul 2012 #22

And what is your point? rexcat Jul 2012 #31

I say the non-religious should stick together. FiveGoodMen Jul 2012 #15

I think there has to be a 3) though dmallind Jul 2012 #18

and... rexcat Jul 2012 #20

Sure - so what's your beef with atheists again? (definitions matter - or what about blurgelpibs?) nt dmallind Jul 2012 #84

Why would I have a beef with atheists? rexcat Jul 2012 #110

I've long wanted to add "& Humanists & Freethinkers" Warpy Jul 2012 #23

I'm just exhausted by the hair-splitting over labels FiveGoodMen Jul 2012 #25

+1 million... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2012 #70

RegieRocker, meet Starboard Tack, cbayer, and rug. 2ndAmForComputers Jul 2012 #24

Nice job 2ndAmForCoumputers! rexcat Jul 2012 #41

That one isn't banned from this forum. 2ndAmForComputers Jul 2012 #46

More than likely... rexcat Jul 2012 #48

Respect? From that one? Unlikely. 2ndAmForComputers Jul 2012 #49

You don't get to tell me what an atheist is. Iggo Jul 2012 #26

And you can't tell me what an Agnostic is.... RegieRocker Jul 2012 #27

I ain't. Iggo Jul 2012 #30

But I can state that we are not the same. RegieRocker Jul 2012 #32

Never said we were.. Iggo Jul 2012 #34

My apologies to you RegieRocker Jul 2012 #35

Accepted! Iggo Jul 2012 #37

yes you can... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2012 #71

If you don't eat meat skepticscott Jul 2012 #28

Not at all. It's all black and white for you. RegieRocker Jul 2012 #29

I don't know any atheists who say that OriginalGeek Jul 2012 #33

Which words? skepticscott Jul 2012 #36

The only transparent lie was from Dawkins RegieRocker Jul 2012 #38

Well, you're free to make things up skepticscott Jul 2012 #47

The only transparent lie was from Dawkins AlbertCat Jul 2012 #51

No atheists I know of say that a god or gods frogmarch Jul 2012 #39

Why don't you go and play somewhere else? mr blur Jul 2012 #40

Exactly! rexcat Jul 2012 #42

I would like to add one more point... rexcat Jul 2012 #43

Maybe DU needs frogmarch Jul 2012 #44

Hi Regie and welcome! EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #45

I am not sure RegieRocker Jul 2012 #53

If you're not sure, then you lack an active belief in a god or gods EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #54

Being an atheist who's accused of being part of "just another religion" is offensive because valerief Jul 2012 #56

To not believe RegieRocker Jul 2012 #57

Well it sounds like you've got your mind made up regarding atheists EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #58

Still unable to understand RegieRocker Jul 2012 #59

This IS an agnostic safe haven EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #60

You're not sorry be real. RegieRocker Jul 2012 #61

Nope, not really EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #62

Sorry, at least half of what's in this post skepticscott Jul 2012 #63

I especially love this gem: trotsky Jul 2012 #81

Why not allow anyone open to the idea there is no God? Kennah Jul 2012 #52

Don't worry...I'm gone RegieRocker Jul 2012 #64

You're God? And you're leaving us? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Kennah Jul 2012 #65

Agnosticism is the honest position. mmonk Jul 2012 #67

Sorry, but that's not skepticscott Jul 2012 #68

Both the religious and new atheists claim certainty. mmonk Jul 2012 #76

Where you make a mistake is assuming that atheists profess certainty EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #77

I was speaking of the "new atheists" as opposed to atheists in general. mmonk Jul 2012 #88

What does the phrase "new atheists" even mean? EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #92

Not quite. Specific persons that have set out on a quest to challenge. mmonk Jul 2012 #96

Nothing in the physical world skepticscott Jul 2012 #78

First, let me wade through the insults and try to exp[lain what I'm saying. mmonk Jul 2012 #89

No, that wasn't what you were saying skepticscott Jul 2012 #93

If someone writes a book called "The God Delusion", mmonk Jul 2012 #97

In other words skepticscott Jul 2012 #104

If you quit trying to define what I'm saying mmonk Jul 2012 #108

My post was not directly related to the piece cited in the op mmonk Jul 2012 #99

Please explain the difference between "believe" and "know" dmallind Jul 2012 #85

Believe applies to both, knowing applies to neither in an honest sense. mmonk Jul 2012 #90

They also then are not answering the same question, no? dmallind Jul 2012 #94

I agree agnosticism is not a middle ground. mmonk Jul 2012 #100

And now, we can address the initial question, in a better manner than the OP. dmallind Jul 2012 #101

Tripe. ElboRuum Jul 2012 #72

Excellent post! EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2012 #73

Been lurking for some time. ElboRuum Jul 2012 #74

2 points of contention. mmonk Jul 2012 #91

No no no. It seemed you had it right for a while dmallind Jul 2012 #95

I'll accept your definition mmonk Jul 2012 #98

Absence of evidence is evidence of absence. ElboRuum Jul 2012 #102

And I posit that before we knew of subatomic particles mmonk Jul 2012 #105

Actually, you are in full agreement. ElboRuum Jul 2012 #106

Excellent post. mmonk Jul 2012 #107

Proof to negate exists in the lack of proof to assert. ElboRuum Jul 2012 #103

Yep. redqueen Jul 2012 #109

Scienists know why the universe came into being Taverner Jul 2012 #75

"Why is there something rather than nothing?" "Just wait. There won't be for long." valerief Jul 2012 #79

That's an awesome clip! deucemagnet Jul 2012 #80

I dunno... BrendaBrick Jul 2012 #82

I had to come back to this, because damn... redqueen Jul 2012 #111

+1 truebrit71 Aug 2012 #112

By the seed of magical thinking that is planted in most of our heads as children... redqueen Aug 2012 #113

"turning science into a new religion"... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2012 #114