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Author Topic:   An Atheist By Any Other Name . . .
Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


(2)
Message 5 of 209 (657516)
03-29-2012 9:17 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Taq
03-28-2012 12:46 PM


...is still an Atheist
I think Atheist works just fine.
From the other thread, this was one of the reasons for switching to "Heathen":
quote:
we should look to other groups who have reclaimed mocking nicknames, such as gays, Methodists and Quakers
...which doesn't really jive with the other reason which was "because the term 'Atheist' comes with negative connotations."
So, they want to change the name because it comes with some negatives to another name which used to come with some negatives so that they can "reclaim" a word and turn a negative into a positive?
Sounds like they have all they require to do that exact same thing with the original "Atheist" term.
To me, the whole thing just sounds like that guy at work that makes stuff up so that it looks like he's busy and important.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Taq, posted 03-28-2012 12:46 PM Taq has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 8 by Heathen, posted 03-29-2012 9:50 AM Stile has seen this message but not replied
 Message 14 by New Cat's Eye, posted 03-29-2012 10:54 AM Stile has replied

  
Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


(1)
Message 16 of 209 (657559)
03-29-2012 11:11 AM
Reply to: Message 14 by New Cat's Eye
03-29-2012 10:54 AM


Re: ...is still an Atheist
Catholic Scientist writes:
I find the agnostic atheists to be a much better group of people. I think the other groups of atheists are gonna smear your reputation a bit, so it might be a good idea to find another word. Be it via reclaim or whatever.
I actually agree with the sentiment (and the sentiment of Heathen's original idea).
I just don't see it working in any practical sense.
Yes, you're right. The term Atheist can mean many different things and many people take it to mean many different things.
Do you actually think that changing the term to "Heathen" or anything else will prevent this? Even "the perfect term" if you could think of it?
Whatever the term comes to be, there will always be those to take it to this extreme or that and shove themselves under the umbrella. That's just a part of human nature, some folk like to be "gotcha" assholes, they're not going to stop their "gotcha" moments just because a new word is being circulated.
I don't think it's the word "Atheist" that's so broad it can be taken advantage of. I think it's the whole idea. The pupose of the term (whatever it is) is to separate two camps. One that is god-believing, and the other that is not. That's a broad group on both sides. My take is that regardless of whatever term is used, there's going to be a lot of wiggle room for "gotcha's" and lots of other nonsense. Then, because it doesn't really matter, might as well just stick with what's there already instead of jumping through some (eventually useless) hoops.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by New Cat's Eye, posted 03-29-2012 10:54 AM New Cat's Eye has replied

Replies to this message:
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