Religion

LongtimeAZDem

(4,515 posts)

7. It simply means "without belief in a deity or deities"; it doesn't imply the reasoning behind it.

Reply to Pope George Ringo II (Original post)

Wed Nov 28, 2018, 09:34 PM

Nov 2018

You can be an atheist for irrational reasons, such as anguish over the loss of a loved one. My guess is that such a position is probably temporary, but I could be wrong.

But that means that you cannot imply rationality only from a professed lack of belief.

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When you get right down to it, "Atheist" is a stupid word. [View all] Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 OP

Calling theists irrational? guillaumeb Nov 2018 #1

Why don't you just go ahead and alert. bitterross Nov 2018 #8

There are several safe haven groups on DU for religious people. Mariana Nov 2018 #38

You are making the case for calling us snowflakes. bitterross Nov 2018 #39

Realiy? Who is "us"? Mariana Nov 2018 #40

I willl not alert. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #64

Belief in the metaphysical requires the suspension of reason Major Nikon Nov 2018 #14

Go ahead and make the case that believing in something Eko Nov 2018 #19

You're wasting your time. TomSlick Nov 2018 #28

People have to go look in this group to find Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #41

Not really. TomSlick Nov 2018 #65

No, Guy, it is not. It is not a group attack. MineralMan Nov 2018 #43

You yourself have said many times that your beliefs are exempted from rational analysis... trotsky Nov 2018 #62

How about people who don't believe in True Dough Nov 2018 #2

The Rutles? Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #3

If All I Need is Cash... True Dough Nov 2018 #5

Also: Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #21

Fits your username rather nicely, doesn't it? True Dough Nov 2018 #22

I think "skeptic" works. marylandblue Nov 2018 #4

Possibly. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #6

It simply means "without belief in a deity or deities"; it doesn't imply the reasoning behind it. LongtimeAZDem Nov 2018 #7

Why should deities be different than, say, Piltdown Man, though? Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #9

Because religious belief is an issue of greater import in a society where the predominant religious LongtimeAZDem Nov 2018 #10

Teenagers are even more likely to get kicked out of the house for using drugs. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #11

yes we do... edhopper Nov 2018 #15

Like "rational" and "sceptic," that also has multiple uses. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #17

That made me laugh Bradshaw3 Nov 2018 #33

We have several: Sober, clean, abstinent or drug-free marylandblue Nov 2018 #26

Again, too many definitions on those words to be analogous. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #29

Straight... tonedevil Nov 2018 #61

Already addressed. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #63

Also, to put the sheer triviality of the definition in context Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #23

That's still not irrationality Major Nikon Nov 2018 #16

Or zipplewrath Nov 2018 #12

And what do we call people from that era who didn't believe in Funkraum, God of Radio? Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #13

Well, it's sorta the point zipplewrath Nov 2018 #25

You're still not really making a point, though. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #27

I prefer apatheist Major Nikon Nov 2018 #18

It definitely is how privilege works. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #20

It is a great discussion topic... Ferrets are Cool Nov 2018 #24

Great topic - thank you for posting! Pendrench Nov 2018 #30

nothing wrong with the word AlexSFCA Nov 2018 #31

But what's the word for people who don't believe in Superman? Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #32

because religion is likely older than science AlexSFCA Nov 2018 #34

It's not about age. We don't have a word for people who don't believe in faeries. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #35

it functions well because everyone instantly knows what it means AlexSFCA Nov 2018 #36

There's at least one poster here who spectacularly fails to grasp what it means. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #37

Also, look at post #25 and tell me people know what it means. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #42

I think "agnostic" refers to people, thucythucy Nov 2018 #56

I think there has to be a distinction made thucythucy Nov 2018 #57

The distinction between "religion" and "faith" and "belief" Mariana Nov 2018 #59

Actually, I think atheist is a very good word. MineralMan Nov 2018 #44

It's still very much an outlier. Nothing else gets this treatment besides sky wizards. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #45

I like the word. MineralMan Nov 2018 #46

I won't argue with somebody's right to define themselves as they see fit. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #47

Atheists are not responsible for irrational reactions to that word. MineralMan Nov 2018 #48

The definition confusing the religious is one angle Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #49

The word for disbelief in the Philosopher's Stone is MineralMan Nov 2018 #50

I had actually been thinking of the Philosopher's Stone as a transmuter Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #51

Ah, OK. MineralMan Nov 2018 #52

Careful. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #53

And here's another: Disbelief in Leprechauns is MineralMan Nov 2018 #54

Name one of those examples you gave... quickesst Nov 2018 #55

You kinda missed to the point there. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2018 #58

Sorry, but I think you're wrong... quickesst Nov 2018 #66

My daughter is a true atheist violetpastille Nov 2018 #60

That's the sort of thing which gives me hope for the future. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #69

Whether someone is interested in discussing the subject Mariana Nov 2018 #70

Not so stupid if one can look at the word "atheist" with a slight spelling and syllabic cornball 24 Nov 2018 #67

Their invisible friends really don't rate it. Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #68