RootsBooster Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 An absence of belief suggests that it was there to begin with in which case a decision has been made to change a way of thinking. I'm looking outside my window right now and there is an absence of floating rocks in the sky. Does that mean there were some there to begin with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plekhanov Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I think what I said was that to be either a believer or non believer requires thought. Right so according to you I have to go actively round thinking about and rejecting amongst other gods: Resheph Anath Ashtoreth El Nergal Nebo Ninib Melek Ahijah Isis Ptah Anubis Baal Astarte Hadad Addu Shalem Dagon Sharrab Yau Amon-Re Osiris Sebek Molech Bilé Ler Arianrod Morrigu Govannon Gunfled Sokk-mimi Memetona Dagda Robigus Pluto Ops Meditrina Vesta Tilmun Ogyrvan Dea Dia Ceros Vaticanus Edulia Adeona Iuno Lucina Saturn Furrina Vediovis Consus Cronos Enki Engurra Belus Dimmer Mu-ul-lil Ubargisi Ubilulu Gasan lil U-dimmer-an-kia Enurestu U-sab-sib Kerridwen Pwyll Tammuz Venus Bau Mulu-hursang Anu Beltis Nusku U-Mersi Beltu Dumu-zi-abzu Kuski-banda Sin Abil Addu Apsu Dagan Elali Isum Mami Nin-man Zaraqu Suqamunu Zagaga Gwydion Manawyddan Nuada Argetlam Tagd Goibniu Odin Llaw Gyffes Lleu Ogma Mider Rigantona Marzin Mars Kaawanu Ni-zu Sahi Aa Allatu Jupiter Cunina Potina Statilinus Diana of Ephesus Nin-azu Lugal-Amarada Zer-panitu Merodach U-ki Dauke Gasan-abzu Elum U-Tin-dir-ki Marduk Nin-lil-la Nin Persephone Istar Lagas U-urugal Sirtumu Ea Nirig Nebo Samas Ma-banba-anna En-Mersi Amurru Assur Aku Qarradu Ura-gala Ueras In order to be an atheist? I can't simply simply not have any belief in all the gods I've only heard mentioned in Mencken's Memorial Service. Gods whose names I can't remember, never mind any specifics about the supposed nature of all those gods. What about ll the gods whose names and supposed qualities I have not only have never heard of but who are completely lost to history and as such nobody will ever be able to think about them ever again? How exactly does it "require thought" to have an absence of belief in all those lost gods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeMaquis Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 plekhanov My atheism stemmed from the fact that I realised that god (i.e. the one god in the Bible with the white beard who invented the 6 day week) couldn't possibly exist. At the time I hadn't heard of any other god (I was 10) and if I had I would have decided that as the Bible god couldn't possibly exist then neither could any other as all gods are figments of human imagination. You don't have to go down your list saying yay or nay to each to be an atheist. You just have to refuse to believe in the possible existence of any god. The possibility of a god is the issue, not the name, address and favourite football team. Anyone who believes in one or more god - and therefore the possibility as well as the existence thereof - will be a believer. Anyone who consciously believes in none will be an atheist. Anyone else who hasn't thought or decided about the issue will be agnostic, not interested, a baby, whatever. For me atheism is a set of beliefs, or at least one belief, and does not include a default to religious belief based on not even having considered the matter. But I believe that because of how I arrived at atheism. I made a decision. We may all get there differently but I just don't accept that anyone can be called an atheist when they haven't even thought about the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Jnr Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Right so according to you I have to go actively round thinking about and rejecting amongst other gods: Resheph Anath Ashtoreth El Nergal Nebo Ninib Melek Ahijah Isis Ptah Anubis Baal Astarte Hadad Addu Shalem Dagon Sharrab Yau Amon-Re Osiris Sebek Molech Bilé Ler Arianrod Morrigu Govannon Gunfled Sokk-mimi Memetona Dagda Robigus Pluto Ops Meditrina Vesta Tilmun Ogyrvan Dea Dia Ceros Vaticanus Edulia Adeona Iuno Lucina Saturn Furrina Vediovis Consus Cronos Enki Engurra Belus Dimmer Mu-ul-lil Ubargisi Ubilulu Gasan lil U-dimmer-an-kia Enurestu U-sab-sib Kerridwen Pwyll Tammuz Venus Bau Mulu-hursang Anu Beltis Nusku U-Mersi Beltu Dumu-zi-abzu Kuski-banda Sin Abil Addu Apsu Dagan Elali Isum Mami Nin-man Zaraqu Suqamunu Zagaga Gwydion Manawyddan Nuada Argetlam Tagd Goibniu Odin Llaw Gyffes Lleu Ogma Mider Rigantona Marzin Mars Kaawanu Ni-zu Sahi Aa Allatu Jupiter Cunina Potina Statilinus Diana of Ephesus Nin-azu Lugal-Amarada Zer-panitu Merodach U-ki Dauke Gasan-abzu Elum U-Tin-dir-ki Marduk Nin-lil-la Nin Persephone Istar Lagas U-urugal Sirtumu Ea Nirig Nebo Samas Ma-banba-anna En-Mersi Amurru Assur Aku Qarradu Ura-gala Ueras In order to be an atheist? I can't simply simply not have any belief in all the gods I've only heard mentioned in Mencken's Memorial Service. Gods whose names I can't remember, never mind any specifics about the supposed nature of all those gods. What about ll the gods whose names and supposed qualities I have not only have never heard of but who are completely lost to history and as such nobody will ever be able to think about them ever again? How exactly does it "require thought" to have an absence of belief in all those lost gods? Bit of an extreme way to make a point don't you think and no. It's my translation of being an atheist, it's not what I expect anyone else to believe or follow. You all can do what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Jnr Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I'm looking outside my window right now and there is an absence of floating rocks in the sky. Does that mean there were some there to begin with? Tommy was absent from school today. He was there yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Jnr Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 plekhanov My atheism stemmed from the fact that I realised that god (i.e. the one god in the Bible with the white beard who invented the 6 day week) couldn't possibly exist. At the time I hadn't heard of any other god (I was 10) and if I had I would have decided that as the Bible god couldn't possibly exist then neither could any other as all gods are figments of human imagination. You don't have to go down your list saying yay or nay to each to be an atheist. You just have to refuse to believe in the possible existence of any god. The possibility of a god is the issue, not the name, address and favourite football team. Anyone who believes in one or more god - and therefore the possibility as well as the existence thereof - will be a believer. Anyone who consciously believes in none will be an atheist. Anyone else who hasn't thought or decided about the issue will be agnostic, not interested, a baby, whatever. For me atheism is a set of beliefs, or at least one belief, and does not include a default to religious belief based on not even having considered the matter. But I believe that because of how I arrived at atheism. I made a decision. We may all get there differently but I just don't accept that anyone can be called an atheist when they haven't even thought about the issue. I've tried that tack, apparently it's wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootsBooster Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 plekhanov My atheism stemmed from the fact that I realised that god (i.e. the one god in the Bible with the white beard who invented the 6 day week) couldn't possibly exist. At the time I hadn't heard of any other god (I was 10) and if I had I would have decided that as the Bible god couldn't possibly exist then neither could any other as all gods are figments of human imagination. You don't have to go down your list saying yay or nay to each to be an atheist. You just have to refuse to believe in the possible existence of any god. The possibility of a god is the issue, not the name, address and favourite football team. That makes you not only an atheist but also an antitheist. Anyone who believes in one or more god - and therefore the possibility as well as the existence thereof - will be a believer. Anyone who consciously believes in none will be an atheist. Anyone else who hasn't thought or decided about the issue will be agnostic, not interested, a baby, whatever. Where do you get this information/idea from? Agnostic doesn't mean you haven't thought about the issue!! If anything, agnostic is the one whic requires thought, rather than atheistic. For me atheism is a set of beliefs, or at least one belief, and does not include a default to religious belief based on not even having considered the matter. But I believe that because of how I arrived at atheism. I made a decision. We may all get there differently but I just don't accept that anyone can be called an atheist when they haven't even thought about the issue. Ah, so when you say "for me atheism is....." you mean that you've decided this? It's not something you've learned from a source? Also it looks like you're starting to change your tune, at the start of the thread you were convinced that atheism has a whole set of beliefs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootsBooster Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 I've tried that tack, apparently it's wrong. From the start of the thread, the description he has given about himself indicates that he is an atheist and an antitheist. He only claims to be an atheist though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Jnr Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 If you are undecided, then you don't hold the belief that a god exists. This would mean you are without belief: an atheist. Err! no that isn't what agnostic is at all, it's more a case of 'unknowing.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Jnr Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 From the start of the thread, the description he has given about himself indicates that he is an atheist and an antitheist. He only claims to be an atheist though. From what i read it may be that he is unaware that they are not the same or that he can be both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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