How can atheism be a lack of belief in God when atheists say or write that they believe God doesn't exist?
50 comments
i·ro·ny1 [ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-]
1.
"I don't believe God exists."
The speaker is indicating that he or she lacks belief in God. If the speaker similarly lacked belief in all gods, he/she would be an atheist.
"I believe God doesn't exist."
The speaker is indicating that in his or her opinion God is non-existent, i.e. not real, imaginary. Implicit in this - assuming rationality on the part of the speaker - is that he or she therefore lacks belief in God. If the speaker similarly lacked belief or disbelieved in all gods, he/she would be an atheist.
"Lack" means "none".
Which is why when we read Bible verses about death and destruction and think "what a horrible dick" they read the same verses and say " Such a loving merciful just God we have"
That's what fosters the type of logic that Rooker now demonstrates.
Hmm... Irony meter didn't even register there.
I know, you were trying to claim that we atheists always assert that there is absolutely no god, when we really just don't believe in your or anyone else's god. I wish Christians would learn the difference.
An atheist wouldn't waste time believing in something they think is non-existent. So, in a sense, from a religious POV, atheism is a lack of a belief in a God.
We have a late entry for the Fundy Word Redefinition Project:
Irony, (N) Tautology or logical consequence.
So by saying that I don't believe Zeus exists, I'm actually proving Zeus exists?
Who was the asshole that thought up this argument?
@ Swede
Oh, my goodness gracious good golly gosh Mister Swede, who is this "we" you are speaking of?
it's actually very weird wordplay.
if you say you don't believe in god, you're good to go.
but saying you believe there is no god, this would be a tiny little bit of faith. since you can't disprove him, this statement would be based on a very small argumentum ad ignorandum (all hail the fallacy files!).
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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