Comments on: Dave’s opinion on the a-word http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word A Blog of Atheist Thought Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:23:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: lsmithlas http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67679 lsmithlas Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67679 Hmm, I've always said I was an agnostic, because I don't think we can disprove God and I tend to follow a bit of Tillich thoughts. What he calls God I call nature. So maybe I have to think this through some more. <br /> <br /> I feel very strongly that we must fight bigotry and I wonder if I've been being weak about this because I found the words Agnostic and Humanist so comfortable. <br /> <br /> That is of course what is so great about conferences and blogs, is the chance to have your ideas challenged and the chance to think more about how you approach the world. <br /> <br /> Thanks for all your work here<br /> Hmm, I’ve always said I was an agnostic, because I don’t think we can disprove God and I tend to follow a bit of Tillich thoughts. What he calls God I call nature. So maybe I have to think this through some more.

I feel very strongly that we must fight bigotry and I wonder if I’ve been being weak about this because I found the words Agnostic and Humanist so comfortable.

That is of course what is so great about conferences and blogs, is the chance to have your ideas challenged and the chance to think more about how you approach the world.

Thanks for all your work here

]]> By: 3E8 http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67680 3E8 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67680 Perhaps "Non-Theist" sounds too agnostic and non-comittal. I really am an atheist in the sense that I know there is no sky god or magic just as much as I know that 1 + 1 = 2. If my senses betray me at this level, then boy what a topsy turvy world we live in! An agnostic (aka 'Non-Mathematist') would leave the door open for 1 + 1 to equal 3, but to me that's a lot of my life bandwidth spent on being wishy washy on what is otherwise pretty solid stuff. Perhaps “Non-Theist” sounds too agnostic and non-comittal. I really am an atheist in the sense that I know there is no sky god or magic just as much as I know that 1 + 1 = 2. If my senses betray me at this level, then boy what a topsy turvy world we live in! An agnostic (aka ‘Non-Mathematist’) would leave the door open for 1 + 1 to equal 3, but to me that’s a lot of my life bandwidth spent on being wishy washy on what is otherwise pretty solid stuff.

]]> By: UnGodly http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67681 UnGodly Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67681 Dave<br /> <br /> I agree with you completely. And I see direct parallels with the experience of gay people.<br /> <br /> In both cases we are talking about hated minorities, and in both cases the hatred is justified by ancient fairy tales with no basis whatsoever in fact.<br /> <br /> Keep up the good work, we are winning you know. Dave

I agree with you completely. And I see direct parallels with the experience of gay people.

In both cases we are talking about hated minorities, and in both cases the hatred is justified by ancient fairy tales with no basis whatsoever in fact.

Keep up the good work, we are winning you know.

]]> By: mushinronjya http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67684 mushinronjya Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67684 I'm tired of people thinking that atheism is a claim that there is no god; that somehow we are asserting it doesn't exist. That is not true. Although we may, it's not entailed within atheism's meaning.<br /> <br /> If you are without belief in a god, you're an atheist. You could still be an agnostic, but you must still be either theist or atheist. <br /> <br /> People need to wake up and stop being ignorant on this. I’m tired of people thinking that atheism is a claim that there is no god; that somehow we are asserting it doesn’t exist. That is not true. Although we may, it’s not entailed within atheism’s meaning.

If you are without belief in a god, you’re an atheist. You could still be an agnostic, but you must still be either theist or atheist.

People need to wake up and stop being ignorant on this.

]]> By: FairyDogMother http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67687 FairyDogMother Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67687 hooray Dave! I agree with you. When it comes up (and it does sometimes), I make no bones about being an atheist. If someone doesn't like that or me because of that, they are welcome to remove themselves from my vicinity.<br /> (the bright label, to me, is repulsive) hooray Dave! I agree with you. When it comes up (and it does sometimes), I make no bones about being an atheist. If someone doesn’t like that or me because of that, they are welcome to remove themselves from my vicinity.
(the bright label, to me, is repulsive)

]]> By: phreedm http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67689 phreedm Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67689 <blockquote>Every once in a while I have to piss a lot of people off. In my opinion, if you don't piss off a lot of people every once in a while, well, you're not voicing your opinion.</blockquote><br /> <br /> <blockquote>You are what you are -- if someone has a problem with that, well, it's THEIR problem. What would the country be like if we all just spoke our minds?</blockquote><br /> <br /> So Dave...why are you trying to silence those who's opinions are different from your own...?<br /> <br /> By your own statement, when they piss you off and stand up for who they are, and you complain about them..it's really your problem...not theirs... <br /> <br /> <br />

Every once in a while I have to piss a lot of people off. In my opinion, if you don’t piss off a lot of people every once in a while, well, you’re not voicing your opinion.

You are what you are — if someone has a problem with that, well, it’s THEIR problem. What would the country be like if we all just spoke our minds?

So Dave…why are you trying to silence those who’s opinions are different from your own…?

By your own statement, when they piss you off and stand up for who they are, and you complain about them..it’s really your problem…not theirs…

]]> By: 666 http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67691 666 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67691 How is voicing your opinion equated with silencing someone else's?<br /> <br /> Pretzel logic. How is voicing your opinion equated with silencing someone else’s?

Pretzel logic.

]]> By: dhappleby http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67694 dhappleby Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67694 I also agree with Dave on this. I've been "out" as an atheist for less than a year, and I find that every time I say, "I'm an atheist" it makes me feel personally strong and it helps fight prejudice. <br /> <br /> Someone who knows (and presumably doesn't dislike) me, and who has a negative impression of atheists, is faced with an internal contradiction when I declare plainly, "I'm an atheist." An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in god(s) - end of story. Declare it if it's true, and let other people associate that lack of belief with the person they already know you are. <br /> <br /> Dina I also agree with Dave on this. I’ve been “out” as an atheist for less than a year, and I find that every time I say, “I’m an atheist” it makes me feel personally strong and it helps fight prejudice.

Someone who knows (and presumably doesn’t dislike) me, and who has a negative impression of atheists, is faced with an internal contradiction when I declare plainly, “I’m an atheist.” An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in god(s) – end of story. Declare it if it’s true, and let other people associate that lack of belief with the person they already know you are.

Dina

]]> By: civilgrrl http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67695 civilgrrl Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67695 You are dead on. I can't tell you how many people I've met who are shocked, SHOCKED to actually meet an atheist, let alone an atheist they actually like.<br /> <br /> I understand where Harris is misguided, though. IMHO, he's trying to re-brand atheism into something more palatable. Sorry. No matter what we do, we will not be accepted by all people. Why re-brand ourselves in order to sway people who will never accept us. We need to make the word atheist something people on the fence more comfortable to use. That happens when more people are out. You are dead on. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who are shocked, SHOCKED to actually meet an atheist, let alone an atheist they actually like.

I understand where Harris is misguided, though. IMHO, he’s trying to re-brand atheism into something more palatable. Sorry. No matter what we do, we will not be accepted by all people. Why re-brand ourselves in order to sway people who will never accept us. We need to make the word atheist something people on the fence more comfortable to use. That happens when more people are out.

]]> By: scjessey http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/05/dave_s_opinion_on_the_a_word/comment-page-1#comment-67697 scjessey Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-67697 <blockquote>My opinion is that if you DON'T use the word Atheist, you're hurting the movement.</blockquote><br /> <br /> Why does everything always have to be so binary? Let people define themselves however they like, or you are no better than the intolerant bigots you despise.

My opinion is that if you DON’T use the word Atheist, you’re hurting the movement.

Why does everything always have to be so binary? Let people define themselves however they like, or you are no better than the intolerant bigots you despise.

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