Atheism is not a defining term; it represents the negation of a thing, not a thing in itself. It is a definition based upon doubt, and as such is inherently negative.
Imagine if you had to define yourself as an aunicornist, or an aflying-spaghetti-monsterist.
Don't define yourself by what you don't believe in, but by what you see and experience.
Atheism is a term better left unused, except in strict circumstances.
Religion - Politics - History - Rant
About Me
- Reese Zollinger
- Currently in Tremonton, UT.
3 comments:
Nicely said Reese, so how would you define yourself?
I'm just gonna crawl out from under my rock here for a minute because I can't resist voicing my opinion to the contrary here. I think that atheists need to declare themselves to be so, because of the pure importance of visibility. Those with dire ideas planted in their minds about homosexuality are starting to see that gay people are really just people,thanks to greater and greater visibility in mainstream media,on the web, and on the streets. So, too, I believe it to be important for atheists to stand up and attempt to lead others away from the strangely invisible deceit and manipulation that is inherent in religion, to ponder the logic of religious ideas for themselves, rather than just unthinkingly believing the superstitious myths their elders have told them since time began. I also think if more atheists would stand up and be seen, we might start to address the rampant discrimination that goes on in the workplace and elsewhere against those of us who DARE to say that we don't believe in THAT particular god either!
Sarah,
I love you. Thanks for a cogent refutation to my supposed simplistic thesis.
@ Mark: I still define myself as an Atheist because that is a term that carries weight - but I think we nonbelievers need to think toward our future and disregard the term "atheism" because it defines us in opposition to a fiction. I'm with Sam Harris, and if you have some time I'd recommend Letter to a Christian Nation.
@ both: Thanks for the comments.
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