Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on January 14, 2012 at 4:27am

Let's do it, Alice.

My pocket dictionary defines a heathen as "a person who does not believe in an established religion". Omitting the nuances of a large dictionary, it says pagan, infidel, idolater, unbeliever, atheist and heretic are synonyms.

When I want to annoy a 'witnessing' xian, I say I'm a pagan.

If ten people here were to rank these words on a Dislike-Like scale, how many lists will we have?

Permalink Reply by Dr. Terence Meaden on January 14, 2012 at 5:10am

For a start I think that all Western dictionaries were written by Christian believers. This has unfairly distorted the definitions of some words that are important to us.

We certainly need to introduce truly unbiased definitions. This could lead to a useful mini dictionary of a few hundred words.

Permalink Reply by Greg LeGore on January 14, 2012 at 8:31am

No, because they are in reference to the definitions of religious people who use them to harm others.  Better to stick with atheist or non-theist or, if we want something more positive, evidence-ologist (I'm kidding, sort of) because we require that big claims such as those made within religions require big evidence.

Permalink Reply by Alice on January 14, 2012 at 5:51pm

 have referred to myself in the past as a Heathen - when talking to Christian friends - in the context - 'I don't know how you put up with your heathen friends!' or 'no, us heathens don't go to church'.  I have a black sense of humour - and it always draws a laugh.

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on January 14, 2012 at 7:44pm

Alice, when I'm talking with xians who know I've kicked religion, I too sometimes refer to myself as a heathen. I like the sound of "infidel".

And by the way, I can see "Us heathens...." getting chuckles when "We heathens...." won't.

Permalink Reply by Greg LeGore on January 14, 2012 at 8:31am

Madhukar, nicely stated.  Thanks for clarifying.

Permalink Reply by oracle on December 31, 2011 at 11:03pm

i don't view other atheists as being inherently intellectually superior to others in our society. Remember Atheists are just people without a belief in a deity or deities. You don't need to a superior intellect to determine God doesn't exist just a lack of evidence. You could describe yourself as a freethinker to convey the point that you think rationally when pondering or arguing a point among other things.

Permalink Reply by Alice on January 1, 2012 at 2:59am

oracle - I'm new to the terms freethinker, rationalist, skeptic etc....  I should read up on them and see if I fit one of those categories.

I agree with you - we are victims of causality - we were born atheist or theist and it didn't have much to do with intelligence and much more to do with circumstance.  I've only taken this path on here due to my dad sharing his science based understanding of the world - otherwise all other influences in my life are super-natural in nature.

Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on January 12, 2012 at 9:14am

I'm new to the terms freethinker, rationalist, skeptic etc....  I should read up on them and see if I fit one of those categories.

 

Alice, are you trying to be modest?

Permalink Reply by Alice on January 12, 2012 at 6:26pm

Madhukar - LOL - I'm what you might call a natural learner - I haven't done a lot of academic reading on these matters.

I did read a great book on the history of philosophy called Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie's_World

I've also read a few books of science:

The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris and The Greatest show on Earth by Dawkins - I have other books, but haven't got through them all yet - mostly just read the first few pages or chapters.  I've also read lots of posts here, and been involved in the Naturalism group in discussions for about 5 years - as well as in the last 8 months I've had access to You Tubes of lectures by Krauss, Dawkins, Harris, Dennett and Hitchens - all of which I found very interesting, inspiring, informative and I do feel passionately about such things.  I have to thank my Dad also, as he explained to me about the big bang and evolution when I was around 9 years old, after reading some of Dawkins and Hawking's books himself.

Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on January 12, 2012 at 9:11am

oracle

My experience is that it is very difficult to become an atheist. It needs moral strength and better intellectual qualities to arrive at atheism. Without adequate and without adequate thinking abilities, atheism is not possible.

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on December 31, 2011 at 6:31am

Alice, some months ago I started visiting atheist sites and making a Favorites list. With so many sites to visit, I did not visit the Brights. I asked myself, "Are they snobs?" I felt no need to find out.

Upon reading your post above, I visited their site. In their requirements I saw a strictness I once used, before I grew the self-confidence I now have. The Brights' strictness might have a protective purpose.

I don't know what you commented to the Brights and so don't know if their responses served to protect them. I've been politically active for many years and often hear hurried responses from hurried people.

As to "rational", the word has at least two uses: according to logic, and goal-directed. The first use is common in mathematics and science; the second use is common in economics.

I read far more non-fiction than fiction. I expect non-fiction authors to have used their reason; I expect fiction authors to have used their imagination.

I think creationists are protecting their beliefs, which is a quite rational goal.

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