Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Definitions of Atheism, Agnosticism, and Theism

Dancr · 04-27-2005, 04:27 PM

A theist is someone who is convinced, for whatever reason, that there is or are or was or were one or more beings that operate outside natural law. Everybody else is not a theist. Two precisely equivalent terms for being "not a theist" are "non-theist" and "atheist". This includes all agnostics, as well as everybody else who does not fit the above definition of a theist.

If somebody "thinks" or "believes" there's a diety (or more than one), in the sense that they are not quite "sure", then they are a non-theist. If they vasilate between being sure that there is or are one or more gods, and not being sure, then they are a theist at the times of being convinced, and an atheist at all other times.

A person can be convinced by evidence. It doesn't have to be good evidence. It can be thoroughly flawed evidence. As long as they're convinced, they're a theist. They can also decide to remain convicted despite any and all evidence that might ever be presented contrary to their conviction. That's faith.

A person can claim to be what they are not. The most bible-toting, Jesus-quoting, never-miss-a-prayer-breakfast politician could be atheist. The televangalist who cries and says "I have sinned" could be atheist. A person can also SEEM to be what they are not. The most dedicated soup-kitchen volunteer could be atheist. The mom homeschooling for religious reasons could be atheist. The group "Atheists for Jesus" is another pretender bender.

We won't have a good count until people stop losing their jobs or being killed for leaving the "wrong" impression.

04-27-2005, 04:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dancr Upright	Who Counts? A theist is someone who is convinced, for whatever reason, that there is or are or was or were one or more beings that operate outside natural law. Everybody else is not a theist. Two precisely equivalent terms for being "not a theist" are "non-theist" and "atheist". This includes all agnostics, as well as everybody else who does not fit the above definition of a theist. If somebody "thinks" or "believes" there's a diety (or more than one), in the sense that they are not quite "sure", then they are a non-theist. If they vasilate between being sure that there is or are one or more gods, and not being sure, then they are a theist at the times of being convinced, and an atheist at all other times. A person can be convinced by evidence. It doesn't have to be good evidence. It can be thoroughly flawed evidence. As long as they're convinced, they're a theist. They can also decide to remain convicted despite any and all evidence that might ever be presented contrary to their conviction. That's faith. A person can claim to be what they are not. The most bible-toting, Jesus-quoting, never-miss-a-prayer-breakfast politician could be atheist. The televangalist who cries and says "I have sinned" could be atheist. A person can also SEEM to be what they are not. The most dedicated soup-kitchen volunteer could be atheist. The mom homeschooling for religious reasons could be atheist. The group "Atheists for Jesus" is another pretender bender. We won't have a good count until people stop losing their jobs or being killed for leaving the "wrong" impression.