Theism has been defined as:
Atheism then would be the absence or lack of this belief which theists possess.
Does theism require one to lack acceptance of this easily understood reality?
Tcg
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Atheism then would be the absence or lack of this belief which theists possess.
Yes, that is the reality I am referring to.
Then I would say "No." A belief in a god does not require one to reject the fact that atheism exists.
Aside from being about opposites (god exist/god doesn't exist) I don't see theism or atheism requiring anything of each other.
In practice the "a" prefix seems to mean "anti", which is why it is not surprising, if some think atheist means antitheist. Interestingly, my old encyclopedia says it means person who is against God, denies that God exists. But, i think this is not really important question. It does not really matter what person calls himself, more meaningful is the debate about matters, not mates.
If you check out the following (Meaning of prefix a- by etymonline) you will find no mention of 'anti'.1213 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 4:24 pm In practice the "a" prefix seems to mean "anti", which is why it is not surprising, if some think atheist means antitheist. Interestingly, my old encyclopedia says it means person who is against God, denies that God exists. But, i think this is not really important question. It does not really matter what person calls himself, more meaningful is the debate about matters, not mates.
I suspect 1213 may be thinking of the third definition there: "not, without," which, as the examples show, is undoubtably the origin of the prefix 'a-' in atheist. "Not" in this case being a negation, so not far off from "anti."brunumb wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:40 pmIf you check out the following (Meaning of prefix a- by etymonline) you will find no mention of 'anti'.1213 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 4:24 pm In practice the "a" prefix seems to mean "anti", which is why it is not surprising, if some think atheist means antitheist. Interestingly, my old encyclopedia says it means person who is against God, denies that God exists. But, i think this is not really important question. It does not really matter what person calls himself, more meaningful is the debate about matters, not mates.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/a-
Then theists could indeed accept that atheism is the lack of belief in god/gods? If that is the case, then theism doesn't require one to lack acceptance of this easily understood reality?nobspeople wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:37 amAside from being about opposites (god exist/god doesn't exist) I don't see theism or atheism requiring anything of each other.
I agree and yet for some it seems to be a major issue. Some even refer to Romans 1 and suggest that it affirms that atheists don't exist. Of course, here I for one am so obviously we've found yet another fallacy with the Bible. I suspect I'm not the only atheist either.