Jeremiahcp
Well-Known Jerk
Are babies atheist? What do you think? Yes? No? Please explain.
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Are babies atheist?
- Thread starter Jeremiahcp
- Start date
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Well, they are not theists.
Skwim
Veteran Member
Curious George
Veteran Member
Lol, i suppose we were due for one of these...Nope. Not if we are using the most logical definition of atheist.
If however you want to use a definition of atheism such that athiesm is not a theist. Then yes, because clearly babies are not theists, unless there is innate knowledge and theism is part of that. But, that is tangential...
Nah. They believe in one and only one goddess.. Mommy!
Jeremiahcp
Well-Known Jerk
Jeremiahcp
Well-Known Jerk
So you also believe that animals are atheist as well?
Depends on your definitions. Technically implicit atheist covers babies but a lot of people prefer non-theist, of which atheist is a part of but not interchangeable.
Getting your diaper changed: Now that's what I call rational proof of a higher power intent on salvation!
Sha'irullah
رسول الآلهة
Of course not you goofball, they are born Presbyterian.
Augustus
…
A Brit commie adopting the vernacular of the reactionary capitalist American dogs?? Whatever is the world coming to?
When Uncle Karl lived in London and popped into Waitrose for a box of Pampers he'd have called them nappies.
I've spent too long on RF surrounded by American Imperialists. you are all in danger of civilising me.
Using a correct definition of atheism, i.e. without belief in theism, I would say absolutely not, a child's mind is a blank slate, nada, niente...... Some religions say this is not true, that newborns may have the sins of the father, or forefathers, but if gods and goddesses are all imaginary from the git-go, I can't see how a child would 'inherit' the sins of the father, that doesn't seem possible. Men create gods....... gods don't create men.
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Yes. You can divide the population of the earth into two groups: those who are theists and those who are not. We call them theists and atheists. The prefix a- literally means "not".
YmirGF
Bodhisattva in Recovery
Given that my earliest memory is from 8 - 10 weeks old, I can tell you there are no thoughts attached to the memory as intellectual processes had not begun to form. The net result is that though babies do not believe in or appreciate any god concept neither do they adhere to an atheistic stance. Such labels can only be applied once formal thought has begun.
The Holy Bottom Burp
Active Member
Hmm, can't remember believing in god as a baby, so I'll have to go with atheist; I think I was more concerned with din dins and toys!
I would say there is no such thing as a Muslim child, a Hindu child, a Christian child etc., just theistic parents making the unilateral decision for them and dressing them that way. Let them grow up and decide for themselves theists, it is nothing more than indoctrination. Indoctrination shouldn't be necessary if your beliefs are so plausible and logical right? Stop it!
I would say there is no such thing as a Muslim child, a Hindu child, a Christian child etc., just theistic parents making the unilateral decision for them and dressing them that way. Let them grow up and decide for themselves theists, it is nothing more than indoctrination. Indoctrination shouldn't be necessary if your beliefs are so plausible and logical right? Stop it!
"without belief in theism"? Atheists aren't without the belief there is such a thing as theism. Atheists are without belief in the existence of gods.
Well, then he's without belief in gods isn't he?
YmirGF
Bodhisattva in Recovery
Where the rubber hits the road is that babies don't have any idea what god is, let alone believe in said being or disbelieve in said being. Quite literally, they cannot even relate to the idea... that's why they coo and scream... as they cannot otherwise articulate ...
Right. Which is why they are neither theists nor strong atheists.
All babies are born Discordian which they remain until their parents force them to believe something else.