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Discussion 2 to Meditation 796
Misleading Definitions

by: Todd Johnson

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Your definitions of atheism were misleading. Even clicking on the links shows it. Whoever did this, just seeing that part, wants to equate atheism = anti-theism.

  1. Meriam's is correct quote. Please note though, disbelief does not mean believing in the opposite or claiming it's in fact false.
  2. Oxford is quoted INCORRECTLY. Oxford: disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. You guys came up with your won substitute. Not good. :)
  3. Cambridge is correct quote, although I disagree with it as do virtually all others.

Google: disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

WIKI: Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.

FreeDictionary: One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.

The list goes on, which 2 of the 3 you quoted do NOT mean the belief that no god(s) exist.

Terms can have multiple definitions. True. One could make the argument that it's an accepted alternative definition that it means the belief that no god(s) exist, but that's stretching it a lot. That still wouldn't mean it means that and that alone.

Abacterial does not mean anti-bacterial. Abacterial means non-bacterial. No controversy there. If many people took abacterial to mean anti-bacterial, that still wouldn't CHANGE the definition. It would add onto it street-wise, and maybe -- MAYBE over time, to a few dictionaries, add it as an add-on definition. Improper, though.

Atheist=non-theist. A-theist. It's as simple as that. Just because you don't hold the belief that any god(s) exist, does not mean you do hold the belief that no god(s) exist.

I don't know if Johnny went to the store at 3AM last night. I am refusing to hold that belief. I mean, who the heck is Johnny? I am disbelieving it. I am refusing to believe it. But I am not saying Johnny did in fact not go, either.

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