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It's the "A" not the "ism"

madnessinmysoul

New Member
Before I begin, I'd like to say this is my very first thread on here, so...here goes.

Atheism. People seem to forget what it means. It isn't "Athe-ism" it's "A-theism". It is a term that is used only in reference to the theistic position that a deity of some sort exists. Atheism itself is not an -ism as there really isn't anything to it except the skeptical rejection of the existence of any deity.

So theists out there, remember that. Atheists out there, remember to bring this up when people mistake atheism for just another -ism.
 

lunakilo

Well-Known Member
Before I begin, I'd like to say this is my very first thread on here, so...here goes.
Welcome to the forum then :)

Atheism. People seem to forget what it means. It isn't "Athe-ism" it's "A-theism". It is a term that is used only in reference to the theistic position that a deity of some sort exists. Atheism itself is not an -ism as there really isn't anything to it except the skeptical rejection of the existence of any deity.

So theists out there, remember that. Atheists out there, remember to bring this up when people mistake atheism for just another -ism.
Was there a question in there that I missed?
 

lunakilo

Well-Known Member
Suffix: -ism: "class-names or descriptive terms for doctrines or principles in general"
Prefix: a-: "Forming words denoting absence or lack"

Atheism: "a loan from Ancient Greek &#7940;&#952;&#949;&#959;&#962; (átheos, “godless”) < from &#7936;- (a-, “without”) + &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (theos, “deity, god”)."
Theism: "originally from Ancient Greek &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (Theós, “god”)"

'átheos' + 'ism' = the principle of godlessness
'a' + ('Theós' + 'ism') = the lack of the principle of god

Is there a difference between 'the principle of godlessness' and 'the lack of the principle of god' ?
 

rojse

RF Addict
Suffix: -ism: "class-names or descriptive terms for doctrines or principles in general"
Prefix: a-: "Forming words denoting absence or lack"

Atheism: "a loan from Ancient Greek &#7940;&#952;&#949;&#959;&#962; (átheos, “godless”) < from &#7936;- (a-, “without”) + &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (theos, “deity, god”)."
Theism: "originally from Ancient Greek &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (Theós, “god”)"

'átheos' + 'ism' = the principle of godlessness
'a' + ('Theós' + 'ism') = the lack of the principle of god

Is there a difference between 'the principle of godlessness' and 'the lack of the principle of god' ?

It's really hard to see the point of continuing the thread after this excellent post.
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
Suffix: -ism: "class-names or descriptive terms for doctrines or principles in general"
Prefix: a-: "Forming words denoting absence or lack"

Atheism: "a loan from Ancient Greek &#7940;&#952;&#949;&#959;&#962; (átheos, “godless”) < from &#7936;- (a-, “without”) + &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (theos, “deity, god”)."
Theism: "originally from Ancient Greek &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (Theós, “god”)"

'átheos' + 'ism' = the principle of godlessness
'a' + ('Theós' + 'ism') = the lack of the principle of god

Is there a difference between 'the principle of godlessness' and 'the lack of the principle of god' ?


Nicely done!
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
Suffix: -ism: "class-names or descriptive terms for doctrines or principles in general"
Prefix: a-: "Forming words denoting absence or lack"

Atheism: "a loan from Ancient Greek &#7940;&#952;&#949;&#959;&#962; (átheos, “godless”) < from &#7936;- (a-, “without”) + &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (theos, “deity, god”)."
Theism: "originally from Ancient Greek &#952;&#949;&#972;&#962; (Theós, “god”)"

'átheos' + 'ism' = the principle of godlessness
'a' + ('Theós' + 'ism') = the lack of the principle of god

Is there a difference between 'the principle of godlessness' and 'the lack of the principle of god' ?
Indeed: most atheists participate in the former, the principle of godlessness, to behave as if a "god" did not exist.

The latter is simply ignorance of a "principle of god."
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
How do you figure 'ignorance of'?
I take knowledge to be the "lack" implied in "lack of a principle." How else would people lack a "principle"?
(Taking "principle" in the sense of doctrine, as specified in the definition.)
 

lunakilo

Well-Known Member
I take knowledge to be the "lack" implied in "lack of a principle." How else would people lack a "principle"?
(Taking "principle" in the sense of doctrine, as specified in the definition.)
principle: " A basic truth, law, or assumption"

So you could say 'The lack of the assumption of God'
That is not necessarily 'ignorance of the assumption of God'

But ok, it could be also be 'lack of the basic truth of God' in which case ignorancewould make sense.
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
A "doctrine" is, in an oversimplified sense, a set of things taught/learnt. Per religious doctrine, if you have those things taught, hopefully taught well, and if you learn them, hopefully learned well, there's no excuse for claiming a "lack of prinicple of god." On the other hand, rejecting the teachings and engaging the world as if the teachings are false is entirely feasible. Atheism, in my opinion, is not a case of people "lacking" for anything, it's a reasoned, responsible response to teachings.
 
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Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
principle: " A basic truth, law, or assumption"

So you could say 'The lack of the assumption of God'
That is not necessarily 'ignorance of the assumption of God'

But ok, it could be also be 'lack of the basic truth of God' in which case ignorancewould make sense.
Well, even the "assumption" is reserved for those who have some understanding of god, which requires teaching and learning. You can't assume something that is, to you, nothing.
 

madnessinmysoul

New Member
Um...the word principle is an odd thing to toss in there. I don't know why you tossed it in with an otherwise incredibly accurate and well cited post.

Atheism is not a system nor is it an independent assertion, it is not a classical '-ism'. Atheism is a null position, a position that is held until a positive claim is made.

Atheism is the mere rejection of claims of deities based on the lack of evidence or, in particular cases, the positive evidence against the existence of deities.

I still don't understand where you're dragging a 'principle' from. Neither atheism nor theism is a principle, it's a position. Theism is the -ism position, atheism is the rejection of that -ism either due to lack of proof or positive proof against that assertion.
 

madnessinmysoul

New Member
Indeed: most atheists participate in the former, the principle of godlessness, to behave as if a "god" did not exist.

Just like we behave as if unicorns don't exist. We have yet to be confused of the existence of deities, so why must we behave as if one exists?

In fact, I'd posit that, aside from the ritual practices, atheists and theists behave in more or less the same way. A Christian and an atheist, on average, will behave the exact same on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. It's not a holy day, so both will simply do their best to live their lives. Now, one might be a horrible person and the other might be incredibly nice, but that has nothing to do with whether or not they practice a particular religion.
 
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