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Define an atheist ?
- Thread starter chinu
- Start date
chinu
chinu
You mean an athiest means the one who see only energy and indifference around him/her ?
freethinker44
Well-Known Member
Atheist = non-theist.
waitasec
Veteran Member
You mean an athiest means the one who see only energy and indifference around him/her ?
this atheist.
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
Would that not mean deists, and pantheists are atheists?
Some people don't consider panentheists to be theists, either.
Would you consider any, or all, of these to be atheists?
In my view deists and panentheists are not atheists because they still belief in a divine being or creator.
An atheist would also not believe that a spiritual realm exist at all.
freethinker44
Well-Known Member
Theism is the belief in one or more gods. If anyone believes in one or more gods, they are a theist. I believe deists and pantheists believe in god in some form, so they would be theists. There isn't really a gray area, contrary to what a lot of agnostics say. You either believe in god or you don't.
Infinitum
Possessed Bookworm
The first word that comes to my mind is sceptic. However, what's the need to separate atheism from god? It means lack of belief in deities after all.Define an atheist ? Without using these words: god, creator, or any word which indicates god.
Is it possible ?
Or an atheist means the one who doesn't believe in creation which we can see all around us ?
Rationalist. Materialist. Non-believer. Freethinker. Irreligious. Most of them have slightly different meanings than plain atheism.
freethinker44
Well-Known Member
Most atheists don't believe in a spiritual realm but being spiritual doesn't necessitate belief in god. You can even be a creationist and still be atheist. As long as you don't believe that creator is a god.
chinu
chinu
Define it without using these words.
chinu
chinu
Don't they believe in their babies, until DNA test ?
chinu
chinu
Yes!
it cannot be mentioned, You are right.
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
But the term theism usually implies a personal god or gods, often god or gods who intervene in the world. Deism does not, and so on.
Unless theism just means "belief in a divinity", in which case I would agree with you -- but I've met people who consider themselves non-theists, but believe in a form of Divinity, but not a personal one who intervenes in the world.
Not always. I've met some atheists who follow things that I find to have no evidence. Reiki, feng shui, magic, and so on. One can still be an atheist and believe in such things.
freethinker44
Well-Known Member
Define it without using these words.
No, that is actually the exact minimum amount of words possible to define atheism. This question is an obvious troll but atheism isn't a claim. It is a reaction to a claim.
freethinker44
Well-Known Member
The only thing theism implies is the belief in one or more gods. Everyone likes to feel special so no one wants to accept a generic label but let's not argue over semantics.
HerDotness
Lady Babbleon
I've met some atheists who follow things that I find to have no evidence. Reiki, feng shui, magic, and so on. One can still be an atheist and believe in such things.
You've cybermet one right here.
I had a Reiki treatment once that astoundingly wiped out intense intestinal pain from flu, unfortunately for only about 30 minutes. But then, I didn't expect a miracle since the person who gave me the treatment said she was only 1st degree and wouldn't claim it would work or if it did for long. And it turned out to be the worst intestinal flu I've had in my life. I woke myself up screaming from the pain in the night and scared the you-know out of my two cats.
Magick? Sure, as a means of self-awareness and other sorts of psychological fun. But that's about it.