Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Muhammad on August 13, 2012 at 9:16am

There is a difference between لحد (lahada) and ألحد (alhada). The first means going astray as you have stated. The second, which is used to describe the act of atheism, means to refuse, debate, or doubt the existence of God (see Lisanul-Arab, lahada). It's true that even alhada comes from lahada which indeed means going astray, but words accumulate meanings, and I think it's perfectly OK to use the word ملحد to describe the atheistic attitude towards religion and topics like God and the afterlife. 

In fact I do believe that all words describing atheism (including the English word), will always bear a dependence on religious ideas, as long as religion is the "norm". Once enough people become atheists/agnostics, words like atheist and agnostic will probably die out (for example, we no longer refer to ourselves by the name of the "tribe" we come from, because we no longer associate any real value to belonging to one certain tribe or the other; we now mainly care about the values that the individual believes in, regardless of geographical origin).

Having said that, I'm more than open for new terms; any suggestions?

Permalink Reply by writtenmania on August 13, 2012 at 10:32am

لا ديني هو الوصف الدقيق أعتقد لانه ترجمه حرفيه لكلمه اثيزم اللاتينيه و لكن ليس بالضروره يعنى رفض فكره آله و لكن مفهوم لان من يرفض اديان مع الايمان بوجود خالق هو ربوي او دايزت- اذا ضمنيا اللا ديني يرفض فكرة الخالق

بالنسبه لالحاد فهي من منظور اسلامي حيث أصل الكلمه العربي تعني تحدي و رفض نبوة محمد بعد الدخول اسلام او ولاده عليه و ليس بالضروره رفض فكرة خالق بل رفض فكرة الدين المنتمي اليه و تطورها لتشمل مسيحيو او يهود العرب و لذلك من وجهة نظري لا تتناسب لوصفنا و لاديني هي الصحيحه

شخصيا لا تشكل لي مشكله لان مذهبي السياسي كأناركي شيوعي يصف الكثير من معتقداتي دون التركيز أو اعطاء أهميه للدين بالأخص الذي هو في النهايه أمر شخصي جدا

لاستفزاز أصدقاء من المؤمنين خاصه أثناء الجدال أقول لهم لكم دينكم و مالياش دين

Permalink Reply by Manson Bizarre on August 13, 2012 at 10:53am

that's why some atheists call themselves humanists and I'm ok with that in the Arabic version "ensany"

Permalink Reply by Hope on August 13, 2012 at 6:24pm

Well, sense that (el7ad) means (going astray), then I prefer to call myself a (non-theistغير مؤمن) or (skepticشكوكي ) 

As what Voltaire said:~ "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd"

As long as I'm doubtful or a skeptic, I can call myself a freethinker..

Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on August 14, 2012 at 12:04am

Most of us on this site are refugees from the Judeo-Christian religion, but there are doubtless - and you are living proof - refugees from other religions as well, and let me say that all are welcome here.

Those of us who are former Christians, or those who have never ascribed to a religion, probably don't know a great deal about Islam, and I'm sure that many of us would like to. You have stated above, "you might find this not interesting if u don't speak Arabic," but that isn't true. You have been kind enough to translate most of what you said in your opening remarks into English, and I personally found it very interesting.

I realize it could be a real pain in the butt to translate everything, but there are many of us who don't speak or read Arabic, who would likely be interested, if you would.

The more that Westerners know and understand of Islam, the better the understanding between our cultures.

Permalink Reply by Marvel on August 20, 2012 at 1:41pm

thanx for your Reply ... i really appreciate it :)

Permalink Reply by Mohamed Zaki on August 25, 2012 at 5:25pm

As an atheist friend put it once.. "When there are 80% of the world population believing in some sort of deity its important to make the message clear that there are others who do not"

But i personally prefer as Manson said.. go with Humanist