I recently read an article and had a debate with an atheist. Both covered the same subject, the definition of atheism and agnosticism. Now atheists blame the confusion on theists while theists blame atheists for changing the definition. Personally I blame both.
Atheism-
The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.
Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness.
- R. Hall.
Agnotic-
n.1.One who professes ignorance, or denies that we have any knowledge, save of phenomena; one who supports agnosticism, neither affirming nor denying the existence of a personal Deity, a future life, etc.
Christian.
One who believes, or professes or is assumed to believe, in Jesus Christ, and the truth as taught by Him; especially, one whose inward and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- Acts xi. 26.
So basically this is how confusion sets in. 1st some may just be ignorant of the definitions of atheism, agnostic, and christian. 2nd atheists are also ignorant of definitions of christianity. They prefer more general ones because it allows them to declare that Hitler is christian. If we use the same reasoning than I'm technically an atheist because all I have to do is
Say "I'm an atheist" and say a few atheist things. 3rd this is probably my favorite way that confusion is set in.
Guy- what do you believe man
Atheist- I'm an atheist
Guy- so you don't believe there are any gods or a god
Atheist- No it means I don't believe in the existance of "a" god or gods. There very well could be a god or gods.
Guy-....why didn't you just say so.
So here's the people say I'm an atheist when describing there world view. The confusion sets in because the atheist claims atheism is his world view. Since atheism is the lack of a belief and guy didn't tell the atheist his beliefs Guy assumes(rightfully so) that the atheist believes there are no gods at all. (Strong atheism) Weak atheism is the disbelief in a particular god. So the atheist should probably state that he is a weak or a strong atheist. Or he/she should state "I'm an atheist towards christianity, buddhism, etc"
Atheism-
The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.
Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness.
- R. Hall.
Agnotic-
n.1.One who professes ignorance, or denies that we have any knowledge, save of phenomena; one who supports agnosticism, neither affirming nor denying the existence of a personal Deity, a future life, etc.
Christian.
One who believes, or professes or is assumed to believe, in Jesus Christ, and the truth as taught by Him; especially, one whose inward and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- Acts xi. 26.
So basically this is how confusion sets in. 1st some may just be ignorant of the definitions of atheism, agnostic, and christian. 2nd atheists are also ignorant of definitions of christianity. They prefer more general ones because it allows them to declare that Hitler is christian. If we use the same reasoning than I'm technically an atheist because all I have to do is
Say "I'm an atheist" and say a few atheist things. 3rd this is probably my favorite way that confusion is set in.
Guy- what do you believe man
Atheist- I'm an atheist
Guy- so you don't believe there are any gods or a god
Atheist- No it means I don't believe in the existance of "a" god or gods. There very well could be a god or gods.
Guy-....why didn't you just say so.
So here's the people say I'm an atheist when describing there world view. The confusion sets in because the atheist claims atheism is his world view. Since atheism is the lack of a belief and guy didn't tell the atheist his beliefs Guy assumes(rightfully so) that the atheist believes there are no gods at all. (Strong atheism) Weak atheism is the disbelief in a particular god. So the atheist should probably state that he is a weak or a strong atheist. Or he/she should state "I'm an atheist towards christianity, buddhism, etc"