William wrote: ↑Fri Nov 26, 2021 11:20 am
That is messy rationalization. It
does not matter what particular gods theists accept or reject as existing. As long as they accept the existence that even one god exists, they are theists, not atheists.
Take it up with 2ndpillar2, he was the one who presented the claim that an atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings.
They are so quiet as to give the impression they don't actually exist. But even if they do actually exist, they are probably busy not caring about such things either way, because such things are not important to them, like they are important to atheists who are actively non-theist/anti-theist.
Consider the vast number of atheists in East Asia or secular Europe who just go about their life without caring about such things. They absolutely do exist. Their lack of care does not stop them from be any less atheistic than active anti-theists debating here.
Does being a non-theist or anti-theist atheist make non-theism or anti theism a part of atheism?
Non-theism sounds like just another term for atheism, what's the difference? The lack of care, let the ones I mentioned just above?
What exactly is anti-theism? Being antagonistic towards theism? I would call myself that, but that still doesn't mean I affirm the non-existence of god(s).
If that is the case then why call oneself an atheist and add confusion to the mix if [in reality] one is a non-theist or an anti-theist?
Those are somewhat uncommon terms, surely that's adding more confusion than the simple theist/atheist dichotomy.
Unless one is unsure. One is unsure if gods are unknowable. One is unsure if gods are knowable.
Then they are not even sure if they are agnostic. They shouldn't be labelled agnostic.
Being unsure sounds like a neutral position rather than a position whereby positive claim can be expressed from.
That much I can agree with.
Do you know any folk calling themselves atheists or theists who say the are not sure whether gods exist or not?
Yeah, I do. Let me say it: I am not sure whether gods exist or not.
Because they are different positions. One is neutral and the others are positive/negative.
Why this and not "one is neutral, one is positive, and one is not positive (encompass both neutral and negative)?
You are both neutral and positive?
You are both 'not sure' and 'sure'?
I am both neutral and not positive. I am not sure of some things - whether gods exist; I am sure on other things - theistic arguments are faulty.