Is this an Accurate and Easily understood definition of Atheism?

[Tcg]

.
I recently heard this definition of atheism:

"Atheism is the condition of not believing that a God or deity exists."

I think it is clearer than the one I usually espouse which is that atheism is the lack of belief in god/gods. The only issue I have with is its singular nature. Perhaps, Atheism is the condition of not believing that any gods or deities exist, would be better.

Is this a good definition?


Tcg

[TRANSPONDER]

[Replying to Kylie in post #393]

We are by now familiar with what you think; what can you post to put anything behind these opinions, other than your opinions?

[Tcg]

Much of it is. I've been to New Belgium Brewing in Ft. Collins, CO and they make some fabulous beers. Yuengling out of Pottsville, PA claims to be America's Oldest Brewery and makes a great Lager. That beer with the big horses, not so much.

Tcg

I haven't heard the term 'big horses' before, I guess that means higher alcohol %.......

A 'beer-enthusiast' mate tells that true beer was all about the small beer that was brewed for day-by-day thirst quenching and much safer than any water, part of the way of life of everyday folks. But most of the bottled beers here have Alc contents of 4-7% and if I should drink a whole 'heavy beer' bottle now I would end up signing to the wife (the neighbours, the dachshunds, the ducks) and get slapped, sent to bed.

I don't know, I bet the ducks would enjoy it.

Not sure if you've seen the ads that feature the Clydesdales that Budweiser keeps as mascots of a sort. They're beautiful horses. I'm not a fan of their beer.


Tcg

[Inquirer]

[Replying to Tcg in post #402]

Oh, I thought you'd stopped participating. So since you're still here, any progress on these questions?

Atheism could mean either of two things yet you seem reticent to state which of these you mean:

1. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the lack of belief that gods don't exist.
2. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the presence of belief that gods don't exist.

As defined by you ("Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods") an atheist must be either 1. or 2. which are you?

Could it be I've hit a nerve here? it appears that no atheist so far wants to answer this question?

[TRANSPONDER]

An atheist - ghetto - locality is usually fun, but noisy at night. Education is generally good, but the Sunday church - attendance is usually rubbish.

I've just got in to trouble for laughing loudly at 0610hrs in the morning, my Wifey's day off!
Your fault, I think!

Feel free. Like Adam, I was created to take the blame.

[TRANSPONDER]

[Replying to Tcg in post #402]

Oh, I thought you'd stopped participating. So since you're still here, any progress on these questions?

Atheism could mean either of two things yet you seem reticent to state which of these you mean:

1. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the lack of belief that gods don't exist.
2. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the presence of belief that gods don't exist.

As defined by you ("Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods") an atheist must be either 1. or 2. which are you?

Could it be I've hit a nerve here? it appears that no atheist so far wants to answer this question?

We already did this in #388
"If you start with the definition of atheism as a lack of god belief then you can fit all manner of sub definitions into it, like an atheist is an individual who lacks a god -belief. I don't even mind the possibility that 'lack' implies missing out. I lack piles, a toothache and an ingrowing toenail, but I'm not missing it. It also strikes me that your examples might include an atheistic view but would not in themselves be examples of atheism (let alone a definition) per se. For example, communism is known to have a preference for atheism in questions of religion, but it is an example of political doctrine, rather than an example of atheism."

2: The inability to clearly define the position of Atheism is due to the inability to be able to clearly define "GOD" and "Belief".

When atheism is defined as lack of belief, it is not a position.

1t is a position. It is a position of non belief in respect of any god -claim.

[William]

[Replying to Tcg in post #402]

Oh, I thought you'd stopped participating. So since you're still here, any progress on these questions?

Atheism could mean either of two things yet you seem reticent to state which of these you mean:

1. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the lack of belief that gods don't exist.
2. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the presence of belief that gods don't exist.

As defined by you ("Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods") an atheist must be either 1. or 2. which are you?

Could it be I've hit a nerve here? it appears that no atheist so far wants to answer this question?

It appears to be because none can agree altogether.

From what I can gather so far, the "lack of belief" can be associated with having no knowledge of Theism/Theistic narratives and thus;



This appears to be main trunk, whilst the variants root off into directive specifics, and some of those sub-branches want Atheism to be "named" [defined] and aligned with their particular positions on the matter of "GOD".

That's where the confusion is begotten and on top of that, some atheists are complaining it is theists who muddy the waters by doing things like pretending not to understand and making things more difficult than they need to be - a clear case of projection, if ever there was.

[As always, this is my opinion on the evidence so far presented.]

My own understanding of Atheism is that it is "The Unconscious lack of belief in Gods" and things spiral out from that core position.

The conscious lack of belief in Gods derives from reaction to theistic narratives and becomes the driving force of opposition as it moves away from the core-meaning - becoming what I refer to collectively as "The Atheisms".

[TRANSPONDER]

[Replying to Tcg in post #402]

Oh, I thought you'd stopped participating. So since you're still here, any progress on these questions?

Atheism could mean either of two things yet you seem reticent to state which of these you mean:

1. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the lack of belief that gods don't exist.
2. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the presence of belief that gods don't exist.

As defined by you ("Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods") an atheist must be either 1. or 2. which are you?

Could it be I've hit a nerve here? it appears that no atheist so far wants to answer this question?

It appears to be because none can agree altogether.

From what I can gather so far, the "lack of belief" can be associated with having no knowledge of Theism/Theistic narratives and thus;



This appears to be main trunk, whilst the variants root off into directive specifics, and some of those sub-branches want Atheism to be "named" [defined] and aligned with their particular positions on the matter of "GOD".

That's where the confusion is begotten and on top of that, some atheists are complaining it is theists who muddy the waters by doing things like pretending not to understand and making things more difficult than they need to be - a clear case of projection, if ever there was.

[As always, this is my opinion on the evidence so far presented.]

My own understanding of Atheism is that it is "The Unconscious lack of belief in Gods" and things spiral out from that core position.

The conscious lack of belief in Gods derives from reaction to theistic narratives and becomes the driving force of opposition as it moves away from the core-meaning - becoming what I refer to collectively as "The Atheisms".

Nope. You are the one doing the projection. As are they. Atheists (thinking atheists, since some don't think about their non -belief in any god - claim...which, when you think about it scuppers your assertion above), given the definitively common position of 'non -belief' in response to the god -claim, may do or think a number of things in their lives,as related to that non -belief or not (1). But that is not in itself some sub -set of atheism, though it could be sub -sets of atheists and is certainly not confusion. That is, as I said, projection of confusion on your part onto atheism, as a belief -position, which is simple, and rational.

(1) e.g non -belief in a religious god tends to result in a notable drift towards a liberal mindset or worldview, though this is far from being universal.

[oldbadger]

Much of it is. I've been to New Belgium Brewing in Ft. Collins, CO and they make some fabulous beers. Yuengling out of Pottsville, PA claims to be America's Oldest Brewery and makes a great Lager. That beer with the big horses, not so much.

Tcg

I haven't heard the term 'big horses' before, I guess that means higher alcohol %.......

A 'beer-enthusiast' mate tells that true beer was all about the small beer that was brewed for day-by-day thirst quenching and much safer than any water, part of the way of life of everyday folks. But most of the bottled beers here have Alc contents of 4-7% and if I should drink a whole 'heavy beer' bottle now I would end up signing to the wife (the neighbours, the dachshunds, the ducks) and get slapped, sent to bed.

I don't know, I bet the ducks would enjoy it.

Not sure if you've seen the ads that feature the Clydesdales that Budweiser keeps as mascots of a sort. They're beautiful horses. I'm not a fan of their beer.

Tcg

Ah.... Drey horses, big heavy horses that pulled the delivery coaches. Watneys Beers had a beautiful team and coach which trotted around parts of London, maybe 40 years ago.... maybe they still do?

My wife and self have always enjoyed bottled or barrel Guiness, but in recent years my menopausal wife cannot drink alcohol without suffering hot flushes etc but Guiness now offer alcohol free guinness and I could not tell the difference between sips from either hers or mine, so I don't mind if she just buys alc-free Guinness now, and the district is free from my serenades.

[Tcg]

Much of it is. I've been to New Belgium Brewing in Ft. Collins, CO and they make some fabulous beers. Yuengling out of Pottsville, PA claims to be America's Oldest Brewery and makes a great Lager. That beer with the big horses, not so much.

Tcg

I haven't heard the term 'big horses' before, I guess that means higher alcohol %.......

A 'beer-enthusiast' mate tells that true beer was all about the small beer that was brewed for day-by-day thirst quenching and much safer than any water, part of the way of life of everyday folks. But most of the bottled beers here have Alc contents of 4-7% and if I should drink a whole 'heavy beer' bottle now I would end up signing to the wife (the neighbours, the dachshunds, the ducks) and get slapped, sent to bed.

I don't know, I bet the ducks would enjoy it.

Not sure if you've seen the ads that feature the Clydesdales that Budweiser keeps as mascots of a sort. They're beautiful horses. I'm not a fan of their beer.

Tcg

Ah.... Drey horses, big heavy horses that pulled the delivery coaches. Watneys Beers had a beautiful team and coach which trotted around parts of London, maybe 40 years ago.... maybe they still do?

My wife and self have always enjoyed bottled or barrel Guiness, but in recent years my menopausal wife cannot drink alcohol without suffering hot flushes etc but Guiness now offer alcohol free guinness and I could not tell the difference between sips from either hers or mine, so I don't mind if she just buys alc-free Guinness now, and the district is free from my serenades.

I assume you're talking about Genesis Stout, if so, I must admit it is my favorite beer. If someone asked, if you could only drink one beer for the rest of your life what would it be, without hesitation I'd answer - Guiness Stout.

I'm glad you found an option that works for both of you. From what I understand, even the "non-alcoholic" beers have a bit of alcohol, but if that weren't true, if they had zero% alcohol, we'd have a good illustration of the question at hand. See that beer over there, it has alcohol. See that beer oldbadger's holding, it has none. Or like when I used to order Philly steak sandwiches from Gino's you're asked Wit or Witout. Answer wit and you get cheese on it. Witout and you get none.

Ask someone if they believe in gods and if they answer Wit, they are a theist. Any other answer or even no answer and they are an atheist. "No cheese for you."


Tcg

[Inquirer]

Much of it is. I've been to New Belgium Brewing in Ft. Collins, CO and they make some fabulous beers. Yuengling out of Pottsville, PA claims to be America's Oldest Brewery and makes a great Lager. That beer with the big horses, not so much.

Tcg

I haven't heard the term 'big horses' before, I guess that means higher alcohol %.......

A 'beer-enthusiast' mate tells that true beer was all about the small beer that was brewed for day-by-day thirst quenching and much safer than any water, part of the way of life of everyday folks. But most of the bottled beers here have Alc contents of 4-7% and if I should drink a whole 'heavy beer' bottle now I would end up signing to the wife (the neighbours, the dachshunds, the ducks) and get slapped, sent to bed.

I don't know, I bet the ducks would enjoy it.

Not sure if you've seen the ads that feature the Clydesdales that Budweiser keeps as mascots of a sort. They're beautiful horses. I'm not a fan of their beer.

Tcg

Ah.... Drey horses, big heavy horses that pulled the delivery coaches. Watneys Beers had a beautiful team and coach which trotted around parts of London, maybe 40 years ago.... maybe they still do?

My wife and self have always enjoyed bottled or barrel Guiness, but in recent years my menopausal wife cannot drink alcohol without suffering hot flushes etc but Guiness now offer alcohol free guinness and I could not tell the difference between sips from either hers or mine, so I don't mind if she just buys alc-free Guinness now, and the district is free from my serenades.

I assume you're talking about Genesis Stout, if so, I must admit it is my favorite beer. If someone asked, if you could only drink one beer for the rest of your life what would it be, without hesitation I'd answer - Guiness Stout.

I'm glad you found an option that works for both of you. From what I understand, even the "non-alcoholic" beers have a bit of alcohol, but if that weren't true, if they had zero% alcohol, we'd have a good illustration of the question at hand. See that beer over there, it has alcohol. See that beer oldbadger's holding, it has none. Or like when I used to order Philly steak sandwiches from Gino's you're asked Wit or Witout. Answer wit and you get cheese on it. Witout and you get none.

Ask someone if they believe in gods and if they answer Wit, they are a theist. Any other answer or even no answer and they are an atheist. "No cheese for you."


Tcg

Oh, I thought you'd stopped participating. So since you're still here, any progress on these questions?

Atheism could mean either of two things yet you seem reticent to state which of these you mean:

1. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the lack of belief that gods don't exist.
2. Atheism is the lack of belief that gods exist and the presence of belief that gods don't exist.

As defined by you ("Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods") an atheist must be either 1. or 2. which are you?

Could it be I've hit a nerve here? it appears that no atheist so far wants to answer this question?