Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Doctor on July 28, 2011 at 12:03pm

I really hate social distinctions as they just tend to divide. To me atheism shouldn't even be an (ism) I just lack the beleife in the super natural plain and simple.

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Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on July 28, 2011 at 9:11pm

On occasion, I have said : Of course I believe in Zeus - with a smile.

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Permalink Reply by James on July 28, 2011 at 9:35pm

Skeptic, free thinker, naturalist and rationalist are all good, but when posed with the theological question I always call myself an Atheist (although Agnostic Atheist would be more accurate). This is because a good many people seem to have little understanding of what the terms mean. Yet if I say Atheist, most know that means I don't believe in a god, and if I say Scientific Atheist it adds another layer of understanding to the conversation.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on July 28, 2011 at 10:44pm

Usually I don't call myself anything. Online I am an atheist because online actions mean nothing. You are only words, so I use the words that convey the idea I want conveyed. Atheist here and on religious sites, metalhead when I talk music, bicycler when I discuss biking...you get the point.

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Permalink Reply by Darrell Mont on July 29, 2011 at 11:46am

Good point

 

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Permalink Reply by Eric Youngstrom on July 28, 2011 at 11:31pm

Hard-line Atheist. That is what I classify myself as.

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Permalink Reply by matt.clerke on July 29, 2011 at 12:54am

Atheist is only one of the things I am. On this website I define myself as Atheist because the website is designed specifically as a place where atheists can meet other atheists(and theists).

I am also an evolutionist, big bang theory-ist, gravity-believer, Australian, engineer, cola-fan, computer nerd, etc, etc, etc. You really don't need to stick with just one label.

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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Boy on July 29, 2011 at 2:55am

I call myself an atheist - and if pressed, an agnostic atheist (because we can't prove the negative).  But it is all pretty negative sounding.

 

And then I do like Richard Dawkins amusing line: radical atheist, so people don't confuse me with an agnostic. 

 

I also like Christopher Hitchen's (I think it was him?) on this: I look forward to the day when we don't have to define ourselves in terms of the things we don't believe in.

Well - absolutely.

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Permalink Reply by Sharyn Lesher on July 29, 2011 at 1:13pm

Sam Harris also makes a good point about not needing to label ourselves according to what we don't believe in, but being a non-believer the world will always need to label us as something.

In my own head i think of myself as a Rationalist or Secular Humanist, but for practical purposes we all can congregate under the banner of "Atheist" for reasons of consolidation. Because, we do need to come together as much as possible if the worlds imaginary friends are ever to be put aside.

(although i'm not holding my breath on that one)

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on July 29, 2011 at 9:52am

Awesome. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Doubting Thomas on July 29, 2011 at 12:29pm

If pressed I will say Secular Humanist, almost entirely as outlined by the Council for Secular Humanism. But I add a healthy sense of humor as an important value.

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Permalink Reply by cookiesdaddy on July 29, 2011 at 4:36pm

Ian - that's me.

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