what kind of God?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I have never encountered this perspective before.

"This perspective" as in the idea that the word "atheist" is only about belief in gods?

Seems to me they need to categorize the subjective experience of consciousness (for example) as either an illusion or an emergent property (whatever that is) or some such.

Who is "they?"

Atheists (and theists) also have to make choices about what to have for breakfast, but these decisions don't have a bearing on whether they're atheists.

 

[tayla]

"This perspective" as in the idea that the word "atheist" is only about belief in gods?

Yes. I've always lumped the idea about materialism along with the category of atheist because that what atheists seem to do, because (since there is no God) all that exists is the universe. In other words, atheism = materialistic science via the scientific method.

 

[tayla]

Who is "they?"

The Ph.D. scientists who claim to be atheists.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yes. I've always lumped the idea about materialism along with the category of atheist because that what atheists seem to do, because (since there is no God) all that exists is the universe. In other words, atheism = materialistic science via the scientific method.

It's probably a mistake to automatically lump them together. As I said, not all atheists are materialists. Also, not all atheists are skeptics or care about the scientific method.

All "atheist" means is that the person has no beliefs in gods. Why they don't believe and what else they do believe are separate matters.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The Ph.D. scientists who claim to be atheists.

Why would "Ph.D scientists who claim to be atheists" "need to categorize the subjective experience of consciousness (for example) as either an illusion or an emergent property (whatever that is) or some such?"

I'm really not seeing what consciousness has to do with the discussion of gods... other than it seems to be the particular thing you've latched onto for some sort of "God of the Gaps" argument.