So, if Atheism is a belief, then every non belief is also a belief? Which would mean not believing in something is impossible?

Surely you can say you don't believe in something without having to say I believe that I don't believe in something.

[QUOTE="kipohippo021"] I just feel that labeling babies and animals as atheist, is a little bit like tagging. Babies cannot even begin to understand god, even if you were to try to explain it to them, they wouldnt understand. Claiming they are atheists is like marking territiory. If something cannot conceptualize a vison of god, then they cannot conceptualize there being no god either. They are truly neutral. Taking a stance on beliving there is a deity or not is a descision. A baby cannot even choose what clothes they want to wear and you mark them as atheist. If you cant choose your own religious standings, you cant really be atheist, but i guess this still all depends on what the definition of atheism is. Since we dont have a set definition by tc, we will be going in circles as we know what babies and animals belive in, but we are just arguing on what atheism is. And that is truly a stupid thing to argue about. Danm_999

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

Well, then if scientific terminology can be artificial then why can't philosophical terminology be artificial? Science doesn't have a monopoly on rigour. I see the word 'theory' as entirely analogous to the word 'atheism' in this sense - both have a precisely-defined technical meaning and a less well-defined layman's meaning. Also, working out the definition of atheism by atheists what they believe is a self-defeating concept since to know whom to ask, one needs to know what constitutes atheism.ihateaynrand

In stead, he is proposing it as THE definition that has a correspondence to reality - in this case "reality" would be the tangible object of reference which is atheists.

That would be like someone trying to impose the scientific meaning of the word "theory" for all uses - either casually or when discussing science and then try to go on like this:

"-My theory dear Angela is that last night you slept with John"

"-Well thats just a theory"

"-Not by the scientific definition!"

Is the above rational?

You're resorting to semantics. Whether we define the term "atheist" one way or another, my argument would be the same. I'd merely be using another term. Whether I use the term "atheist" or not, the fact remains that babies are without belief in god. Hence, my argument stands. Now, stop resorting to semantics. It changes absolutely nothing.

No, atheism is not believing in God or supernatural beings. It's irrelevant whether you come to that lack of belief through rejection of established beliefs, ignorance, isolation or amnesia. If you have no belief in God/supernatural beings, you're atheist. Now, if you want to invent your own definition and run with that, it's fine. It's just that we won't have a lot of common ground to run with.Danm_999

Something the TC didnt do, if I am not mistaken.

[QUOTE="kipohippo021"] atheist is not beliving in god, you dont belive that there is a higher being. But not knowing that there might or not might be a higher being, its neutral. If you want to call it atheist, you can. But my defenition of atheist is- knowing that there could be a higher entity but beliving that there isnt. So in this sense, i say that animals and babies are not atheist, and i dont really care to discuss the defenition of atheism. Danm_999

[QUOTE="LegatoSkyheart"]

[QUOTE="nhh18"]It isn't at all like legos. You could play the 1000s of levels users made. IT is like saying on facebook. Why should I go on to look at pictures of myself.

uh...

Play, Share, and Create right?

Can't we get "Blue Prints" of other People's Creations built from Legos? Like an 8-bit Mushroom, 8-bit Mario, 8-bit Link, The Death Star, Halo 3's Warthog, etc?

[QUOTE="Baranga"]

It's a bit like playing with LEGO innit?

Why do I have to build an awesome robot instead of just buying it grrrr

[QUOTE="kipohippo021"]Atheism is not the default state. Beliving in god or not beliving is a side. There is no default unless you are un aware that others belive in a god, you have to not know the concept of a deity to have a true default opinion in this in this. Thats what babies are, not atheist.Danm_999

I read them all.....seems rude to ignore them.LJS9502_basic