Comments on: "True atheists" and redefining words http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:05:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: TXStorm http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-23938 TXStorm Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:02:05 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-23938 Except that there is a extreme difference of type between the purges of Stalin and the christian massacres and crusades. The former was committed in the name of power for the sake of power, having nothing whatsoever to do with atheism. The latter was done for religion in the name of religion, and is inseparable from the religion. The purges of Stalin have no more to do with atheism than does vegetarianism have to do with the attocities of Hitler. Except that there is a extreme difference of type between the purges of Stalin and the christian massacres and crusades. The former was committed in the name of power for the sake of power, having nothing whatsoever to do with atheism. The latter was done for religion in the name of religion, and is inseparable from the religion.

The purges of Stalin have no more to do with atheism than does vegetarianism have to do with the attocities of Hitler.

]]> By: Steve Hayes http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-23921 Steve Hayes Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:42:59 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-23921 Yes it is a problem. Atheist simply means "without god(s)". Some people say that atheism is a religion, and others respond "If atheism is a religion, then bald is a hair colour." It makes the point, sort of, because atheism doesn't mean being without religion, but without god(s). Many Buddhists are atheists, but Buddhism is generally reckoned as a religion. One could say that there are some atheists - militant atheists - who do treat atheism as a religion, but there are plenty of other atheists who don't. And I've heard the "true atheists" argument used just like the "true Christians" one. Some one points out things like the Inquisitions, and others say "OP but those weren't true Christians." But then people point to Stalin's purges, and you get defensive atheists who say, in effect that the Bolsheviks weren't "true atheists". I don't know who else they think they are kidding, but they are sure kidding themselves. Yes it is a problem. Atheist simply means “without god(s)”. Some people say that atheism is a religion, and others respond “If atheism is a religion, then bald is a hair colour.” It makes the point, sort of, because atheism doesn’t mean being without religion, but without god(s). Many Buddhists are atheists, but Buddhism is generally reckoned as a religion.

One could say that there are some atheists - militant atheists - who do treat atheism as a religion, but there are plenty of other atheists who don’t.

And I’ve heard the “true atheists” argument used just like the “true Christians” one. Some one points out things like the Inquisitions, and others say “OP but those weren’t true Christians.” But then people point to Stalin’s purges, and you get defensive atheists who say, in effect that the Bolsheviks weren’t “true atheists”. I don’t know who else they think they are kidding, but they are sure kidding themselves.

]]> By: Kren http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-22897 Kren Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:42:31 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-22897 I used to think like that myself. It's wierd looking back at it. I used to think like that myself.

It’s wierd looking back at it.

]]> By: Ross http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-22810 Ross Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:24:27 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-22810 To follow up on that, here is more of an example. "I don't believe in God" "God is the universe, in all it's infinity! How can you not believe in the universe?" "..." Or "Do you believe in God?" "Yes." "That's illogical" "No, I don't believe in a conventional God!" The word God, like it or not, right or wrong, has many attached implications. To use the word ignoring those is likely to cause confusion, so it annoys me. You can believe in the universe, in love, in humanity, in truth, or in anything else...just call it what it is, instead of applying the label of "God" to it. To follow up on that, here is more of an example.

“I don’t believe in God”
“God is the universe, in all it’s infinity! How can you not believe in the universe?”
“…”

Or
“Do you believe in God?”
“Yes.”
“That’s illogical”
“No, I don’t believe in a conventional God!”

The word God, like it or not, right or wrong, has many attached implications. To use the word ignoring those is likely to cause confusion, so it annoys me.

You can believe in the universe, in love, in humanity, in truth, or in anything else…just call it what it is, instead of applying the label of “God” to it.

]]> By: Ross http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-22809 Ross Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:20:39 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-22809 Oh, I realize that. But it is still the generally accepted definition. I mean, God is a word describing a logically impossible entity. Don't say "God it love/the universe/truth/anything else". It is just misleading. Oh, I realize that. But it is still the generally accepted definition. I mean, God is a word describing a logically impossible entity. Don’t say “God it love/the universe/truth/anything else”. It is just misleading.

]]> By: vjack http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-22807 vjack Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:06:07 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-22807 Ross, I think the problem with using "god" as an example is that almost nobody seems to agree on what "god" means and even whether the concept is logically coherent. The way many Christians seem to define "god" (at least the few points on which they can agree) leads to a logically incoherent concept. In other words, the entity they posit cannot exist because they often posit contradictory characteristics. Ross, I think the problem with using “god” as an example is that almost nobody seems to agree on what “god” means and even whether the concept is logically coherent. The way many Christians seem to define “god” (at least the few points on which they can agree) leads to a logically incoherent concept. In other words, the entity they posit cannot exist because they often posit contradictory characteristics.

]]> By: Ross http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/comment-page-1/#comment-22608 Ross Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:00:14 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/26/true-atheists-and-redefining-words/#comment-22608 I definitely agree with the bit on redefining words. I find people do it all the time with the word "God", saying it means some random thing or another. It is quite frustrating holding a conversation with someone who refuses to use words by anything near their accepted meaning. I definitely agree with the bit on redefining words. I find people do it all the time with the word “God”, saying it means some random thing or another. It is quite frustrating holding a conversation with someone who refuses to use words by anything near their accepted meaning.

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