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Define “Atheist”

The Atheist said:
Only the religious these days demand that atheism is a belief in there being no god/s.
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As is demonstrated by the theist’s post below. Unfortunately however there are also some "philosophy afflicted" atheists as well. Some just have a problem understanding and accepting that defining “atheist” by type isn’t defining “atheism”.
The Big Dog said:
there are few beliefs so fervently held as some modern atheist's belief that the definition of atheist must not include even a hint that atheists believe there is no God
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Who can spot the conflation?
 
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The Atheist said:
Incorrect.

While I accept that some dictionaries may state that, it is wrong. Etymologically and historically, atheism means a lack of belief.
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Your own avatar belies this sentiment. It not only implies that there are no gods but that one can come to this conclusion through rational thought alone.
 
psionl0 said:
Your own avatar belies this sentiment. It not only implies that there are no gods but that one can come to this conclusion through rational thought alone.
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Complete waste of time, but . . .

Not sure if there’s gods or not = A type of atheist.
Believes there’s no gods = A type of atheist.
Knows there’s no gods = A type of atheist.
Lack of belief in gods = Atheism (applies to all atheists regardless of their type).
 
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The Big Dog said:
there are few beliefs so fervently held as some modern atheist's belief that the definition of atheist must not include even a hint that atheists believe there is no God
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Only some then. So not a widely held belief. I can agree with that.

Not sure what makes a " modern" atheist. I am an atheist. I believe there are no gods. I know there are no gods. I have a lack of belief in any gods. Gods do not exist. I have no problem believing something based on compelling evidence. I think most atheists feel the same. Playing at competing definitions changes nothing.
 
ynot said:
Complete waste of time, but . . .

Not sure if there’s gods or not = A type of atheist agnostic.
Believes there’s no gods = A type of atheist.
Knows there’s no gods = A type of atheist.
Lack of belief Disbelief in gods = Atheism (applies to all atheists regardless of their type).
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Fixed according to my pet dictionary.

There are always degrees of belief. Some atheists are willing to change their belief in the face of overwhelming evidence and some are not.

"Agnostic" sounds kind of wishy-washy so in this forum, it has been re-defined to be exclusively about the belief in the provability of the existence of a god. This means that only the term "atheist" remains to describe the point half-way in between belief and disbelief.
 
The Big Dog said:
there are few beliefs so fervently held as some modern atheist's belief that the definition of atheist must not include even a hint that atheists believe there is no God
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Who is the "some modern atheist" you're talking about?
 
psionl0 said:
Fixed according to my pet dictionary.

There are always degrees of belief. Some atheists are willing to change their belief in the face of overwhelming evidence and some are not.

"Agnostic" sounds kind of wishy-washy so in this forum, it has been re-defined to be exclusively about the belief in the provability of the existence of a god. This means that only the term "atheist" remains to describe the point half-way in between belief and disbelief.
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If you and others wish to accept a generic definition of atheism that doesn’t cover all types of atheist (disbelief in gods), rather than one that does (lack of belief in gods), then that’s your illogical choice.

What do you call a person that hasn’t decided to be a theist for any number of reasons other than disbelief, or is simply indifferent to or ignorant of theism?

My "degree of belief" in theism and all other paranormal beliefs is 0, and always has been.

Provide an example of your merely claimed "overwhelming evidence".
 
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psionl0 said:
That means that your degree of disbelief is 100%.

"Lack of belief" would imply a lack of opinion and you have an opinion in spades.
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Assuming, as would seem reasonable given your statements, that you are a theist, how would you describe your level of belief in Zeus? Do you lack belief, or do you actively disbelieve in him? How about Krishna? Viracocha? Amaterasu Omikami? What about other gods you've not even heard of yet?
 
zooterkin said:
Assuming, as would seem reasonable given your statements, that you are a theist . . .
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That's a bit like saying that only somebody who was heavily invested in bitcoin would point out the lunacy that is supposed to pass as "critical thinking" (against bitcoin) in the bitcoin thread.

zooterkin said:
how would you describe your level of belief in Zeus? Do you lack belief, or do you actively disbelieve in him? How about Krishna? Viracocha? Amaterasu Omikami? What about other gods you've not even heard of yet?
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I believe that the gods listed and not listed by you don't exist. (Prove me wrong!)
 
psionl0 said:
That's a bit like saying that only somebody who was heavily invested in bitcoin would point out the lunacy that is supposed to pass as "critical thinking" (against bitcoin) in the bitcoin thread.
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Not sure I see the connection, but I guess you're entitled to your point of view, for whatever reason.
I believe that the gods listed and not listed by you don't exist. (Prove me wrong!)
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How do you manage to have an opinion on something you haven't even heard of?
 
zooterkin said:
Not sure I see the connection, but I guess you're entitled to your point of view, for whatever reason.
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I don't know the name of the fallacy but feigning ignorance ("I don't understand you therefore you must be talking nonsense") is definitely a fallacy.
 
psionl0 said:
That means that your degree of disbelief is 100%.
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No, my degree of non-belief (aka - lack of belief) is 100%. There's nothing for me to disbelieve.

Care to answer this? . . .
ynot said:
What do you call a person that hasn’t decided to be a theist for any number of reasons other than disbelief, or is simply indifferent to or ignorant of theism?
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psionl0 said:
You deleted the part of my post that dealt with this question.
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I guess you mean this . . .
psionl0 said:
"Agnostic" sounds kind of wishy-washy so in this forum, it has been re-defined to be exclusively about the belief in the provability of the existence of a god. This means that only the term "atheist" remains to describe the point half-way in between belief and disbelief.
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If so then can I conclude that you call anyone/everyone that hasn’t decided to become a theist (isn’t a theist) an “atheist”?
 
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psionl0 said:
Was that in the post you were responding to?
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Well I don’t see how this . .
psionl0 said:
"Lack of belief" would imply a lack of opinion and you have an opinion in spades.
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in any way “dealt with”, or in any way answered this . . .
ynot said:
What do you call a person that hasn’t decided to be a theist for any number of reasons other than disbelief, or is simply indifferent to or ignorant of theism?
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If you believe it does please explain how.
 
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