Atheism and Agnosticism the Problem in Definitions and Redefining Efforts

I discuss the definitions of both Atheism and Agnosticism and explain an effort of altering the definitions by many atheists to make atheism look more like agnosticism. I explain why definitions are important and how altering the definition causes confusion and impedes discussion.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Atheism
• Agnosticism
• Definition
• Christianity
• Debate
• discussion

[ParrhesiaJoe]

"denies or disbelieves" is in the definition. One is affirmative (denies), but "disbelieve" is not an affirmative statement.

[Hunterkirk]

@ParrhesiaJoe I disagree as even in the "disbelieve" case you are still making a statement of what you believe the condition of reality is. "don't know" indicates that you have no such condition in play.

[Mee551able]

Did cavemen think there was a god?

[Hunterkirk]

@Mee551able Why is it Atheists can not stick to the subject being discussed? To repeat we are discussing definitions and not if God does or does not exist. Please stay on topic.

[ParrhesiaJoe]

@Hunterkirk To deny is different than to disbelieve. You were giving an English lesson, about affirmative statements. To deny is affirmative. To disbelieve is not affirmative.

You can look up deny and disbelieve if you wish to carry the English lesson further :)

Google: Disbelief - 2.Lack of faith in something

One word can have two meanings. They are both different than agnostic, but they are different.

[jamey55lee]

Atheism refers to a lack of belief in God or gods and therefore belongs within the realm of belief. Agnosticism refers to a lack of a claim to know something and therefore belongs within the realm of knowledge. I can claim to believe or disbelieve something without claiming to know one way or another, therefore I am not making a positive statement. You could say that you believe in God without claiming to have certain knowledge and no one should expect you to provide proof.

[ParrhesiaJoe]

If you are an Atheist that is NOT open to the possiblity of a God, it is the same as a Theist that is NOT open to the idea of naturalism.

Atheism and Theism are statements of faith.

Whether you are open minded is another story =P.

So you have open and closed minded theists and atheists, but you also have closed and open minded Agnostics.

Some Agnostics say it is IMPOSSIBLE to reach a point of faith on these matters.

Some say, I don't know if God exists... but I'm searching.