Misrepresenting Atheism

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"Define Atheist" by
• http://www.youtube.com/PatricianAtheist

A look at how atheists and atheism are being misrepresented through intellectually dishonest and bias definitions of "atheist" and "atheism" courtesy of well-known and supposedly reputable dictionaries, i.e. Merriam-Webster, and educational websites, as well as religious groups and others.

Correct definition:
• Atheist (n.): one without a belief in, or one who lacks belief in, the existence of god or gods.

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[bleunt]

@IfUrGivingIn "atheism isn't scientific opinion."

Weeeeeell...

However, not even being aware of the concept of a God isn't a religious belief.

[IfUrGivingIn]

@bleunt "Just because science doesn't support religion, doesn't make the scientific opinion religion. Just like religion that doesn't support scientific opinion isn't science."

... atheism isn't scientific opinion. I didn't even bring science up, it's irrelevant to this discussion.

"And in this case, the lack of such religious beliefs."

"The lack of such religious beliefs" wasn't a defintion under the term "-ism."

[bleunt]

@bleunt Or the fact that a person might not even have heard of the concept of a God.

[bleunt]

@IfUrGivingIn And in this case, the lack of such religious beliefs. Which could very well be scientifically based. Just because science doesn't support religion, doesn't make the scientific opinion religion. Just like religion that doesn't support scientific opinion isn't science.

[IfUrGivingIn]

@bleunt Actually the quote from the Cambridge dictionary shows the suffix "-ism" to mean belief in the case of atheism.

-ism: "used to form nouns which describe social, political or religious beliefs, studies or ways of behaving"

Seeing as atheism isn't "studied" and not a "way of behaving," that only leaves "-ism" to mean "social, political or religious beliefs."

[bleunt]

@IfUrGivingIn Your quote fom the Cambridge dictionary proves my point.

[IfUrGivingIn]

@bleunt "And more. So anything with the suffix -ism doesn't need to be described as a belief, as I interpret it."

Word meanings aren't based on interpretation. Although "-ism" has various meanings, the "-ism" suffix in atheism carries the following defintion.

Cambridge dictionary:

-ism: "used to form nouns which describe social, political or religious beliefs, studies or ways of behaving"

[bleunt]

@IfUrGivingIn "godless belief = believe there are no gods." That's where we disagree. However, if -ism always means "belief", then I would say that's misrepresenting the concept as well. Though I'm not buying that it always does, since it comes from the greek suffix -ismos, which can also be described as an act, a state, characteristic or condiction. And more. So anything with the suffix -ism doesn't need to be described as a belief, as I interpret it.

[IfUrGivingIn]

@bleunt "Godless doesn't directly translate into a denial of god"

Godless belief directly translates to a denial of a god...

godless belief = believe there are no gods.