CS writes:
But I do believe in god, I just don't care to share the particulars of those beliefs with you.
In terms of common usage and clarity - The things you have insisted upon with regards to defining the term "atheist" - This is a an incredibly weak and hypocritical position.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
What does my critique of the usages of the term "atheist" have at all to do with sharing the particulars of my beliefs in god?
We haven't been talking about the god that I believe in. We've been talking about the usage and definition of the term "atheist".
You're really grasping at straws to make me look like I've done something wrong here and you're being a real prick about it.
It amounts to saying that you define yourself as a "theist" because you believe in something that you personally define as a "god". And that everyone else should just accept those definitions.
Where have I said anything remotely close to that?
And why are you making up bullshit about me? I'm just about ready to blacklist your ass. You'll notice when I go from replying to acknowledging.
CS writes:
I've be approaching this topic on the concept of god in general, not on my own specific beliefs about god.
Then tell us about this "god in general".
What properties does it possess?
What qualities does it have such that it qualifies as a "god"?
What does one have to believe in to qualify as a "theist"?
For considering what is a god in general, I don't really know the answers to those questions.
And how would anyone know, anyways?
Or are you just talking about how the word should be defined? Aren't you on the internet? Look that shit up:
quote:
In monotheism and henotheism, God is conceived as the Supreme Being and principal object of faith.[1] The concept of God as described by theologians commonly includes the attributes of omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence. In theism, God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, while in deism, God is the creator, but not the sustainer, of the universe. Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one God or in the oneness of God. In pantheism, God is the universe itself. In atheism, God is purported not to exist, while God is deemed unknown or unknowable within the context of agnosticism. God has also been conceived as being incorporeal (immaterial), a personal being, the source of all moral obligation, and the "greatest conceivable existent".[1] Many notable medieval philosophers and modern philosophers have developed arguments for and against the existence of God.[2]
Geez.
If you the object of your belief does not meet those criteria on what basis are you are "theist"?
The object of my belief has properties in common with what the term "god" is used to describe.
That's the word that people use to describe the thing that I'm talking about.
You wanted common usage and clarity to be the overriding factors in defining the term "atheist".
As I explained, I think that my usage works better. It describes all the different positions better, and it doesn't leave out a group of people like the alternative did.
All I am doing is requiring the same of the term "theist".
Not in the slightest. How is what you are doing anything like what I have done in this thread?
Apparently you don't like that approach....
What I don't like is you lying about me. Stop it.
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