Difference between revisions of "Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism"
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[[File:Charles Bradlaugh.jpg|thumb|right|195px|[[Charles Bradlaugh]] ]] | [[File:Charles Bradlaugh.jpg|thumb|right|195px|[[Charles Bradlaugh]] ]] | ||
| − | [[Atheism]], as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> | + | [[Atheism]], as defined by the ''[[Stanford University|Stanford]] Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> |
| − | In | + | In the late 19th century and more broadly in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the [[definition of atheism]] also include a mere lack of belief in God or gods began.<ref>Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref> It is now common for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] and [[theism|theists]] to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref> |
| − | *[http:// | + | *[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”] |
| − | *[http://www. | + | *Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"]. Retrieved July 15, 2014. |
| − | *[http://www. | + | *[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism Oxford Dictionaries]. Oxford Dictionaries, due to their British influence (Atheism is more popular in Britain than in the United States and many other countries where English is spoken, see: [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheism statistics]]), now offers the definition of atheism to be "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." which is a departure from its historical meaning before a broader definition of atheism began to be more widely advocated in the latter portion of the 20th century (see: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref> |
| − | + | ||
| − | </ref> | + | |
[[Charles Bradlaugh]], in 1876, proposed that [[atheism]] does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he diluted the traditional [[definition of atheism]].<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> Since 1979, many atheists have followed Bradlaugh's thinking further and stated that atheism is merely a lack of belief in any god.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/bradlaugh.htm Positive Atheism's Big List of Charles Bradlaugh Quotations]</ref> The motive for such a shift in meaning appears to be to an attempt to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God to the [[theism]] side.<ref name="DivCon" /> | [[Charles Bradlaugh]], in 1876, proposed that [[atheism]] does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he diluted the traditional [[definition of atheism]].<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> Since 1979, many atheists have followed Bradlaugh's thinking further and stated that atheism is merely a lack of belief in any god.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/bradlaugh.htm Positive Atheism's Big List of Charles Bradlaugh Quotations]</ref> The motive for such a shift in meaning appears to be to an attempt to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God to the [[theism]] side.<ref name="DivCon" /> | ||
| − | In the article, ''Is Atheism Presumptuous''?, atheist | + | In the article, ''Is Atheism Presumptuous''?, atheist Jeffery Jay Lowder, a founder of Internet Infidels, states that "I agree (with [[Paul Copan|Copan]]) that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists."<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> |
In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> In addition, the atheist community [[Atheism and deception|has often used deception to promote their ideology]]. | In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> In addition, the atheist community [[Atheism and deception|has often used deception to promote their ideology]]. | ||
| − | Unlike [[Christianity]], which is supported by a large body of sound evidence (see: [[Christian apologetics]]), atheism has no proof and evidence supporting its ideology. | + | Unlike [[Christianity]], which is supported by a large body of sound evidence (see: [[Christian apologetics]]), atheism has no proof and evidence supporting its ideology. In addition, atheists/skeptics do have a tradition of making assumptions that later have proved errant.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html</ref> Also, prominent atheists, such as [[Charles Darwin]] (see: [http://www.conservapedia.com/Charles_Darwin#Religious_Views_of_Charles_Darwin religious views of Charles Darwin] ), have experienced doubts concerning the validity of atheism. |
This redefinition blurs the distinction between saying, "There is no God", and "I don't know whether God exists or not." It lets people say, "I don't believe in God," without clarifying whether they are denying God's existence (which is [[atheism]]) or are merely uncertain about it (which is [[agnosticism]]). | This redefinition blurs the distinction between saying, "There is no God", and "I don't know whether God exists or not." It lets people say, "I don't believe in God," without clarifying whether they are denying God's existence (which is [[atheism]]) or are merely uncertain about it (which is [[agnosticism]]). | ||
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*[[Atheist worldview]] | *[[Atheist worldview]] | ||
*[[Atheism and beliefs]] | *[[Atheism and beliefs]] | ||
| + | *[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] | ||
*[[Atheist factions]] | *[[Atheist factions]] | ||
*[[Weak atheism]] | *[[Weak atheism]] | ||
*[[Strong atheism]] | *[[Strong atheism]] | ||
| + | *[[Atheism and irrationality]] | ||
*[[Essay: The question atheists fear|The question atheists fear]] | *[[Essay: The question atheists fear|The question atheists fear]] | ||
*[[Global atheism|Decline of global atheism]] | *[[Global atheism|Decline of global atheism]] | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]] | *[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]] | ||
*[[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for Christianity]] | *[[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for Christianity]] | ||
| + | *[[Essay: True atheists and the danger of relying in self-identification|True atheists and the danger of relying in self-identification]] - humor | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
*[http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html Why the Burden of Proof is on the Atheist] by Professor Ralph McInerny | *[http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html Why the Burden of Proof is on the Atheist] by Professor Ralph McInerny | ||
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| − | |||
General articles on atheism and agnosticism: | General articles on atheism and agnosticism: | ||
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== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
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| + | [[Category:Deceit]] | ||
Revision as of 14:32, January 26, 2016
Atheism, as defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and other philosophy reference works, is the denial of the existence of God.[1][2][3]
In the late 19th century and more broadly in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the definition of atheism also include a mere lack of belief in God or gods began.[4] It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.[5]
Charles Bradlaugh, in 1876, proposed that atheism does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he diluted the traditional definition of atheism.[1][2][6] Since 1979, many atheists have followed Bradlaugh's thinking further and stated that atheism is merely a lack of belief in any god.[7][8] The motive for such a shift in meaning appears to be to an attempt to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God to the theism side.[7]
In the article, Is Atheism Presumptuous?, atheist Jeffery Jay Lowder, a founder of Internet Infidels, states that "I agree (with Copan) that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists."[7] In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.[7] The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.[1][2][9] In addition, the atheist community has often used deception to promote their ideology.
Unlike Christianity, which is supported by a large body of sound evidence (see: Christian apologetics), atheism has no proof and evidence supporting its ideology. In addition, atheists/skeptics do have a tradition of making assumptions that later have proved errant.[10] Also, prominent atheists, such as Charles Darwin (see: religious views of Charles Darwin ), have experienced doubts concerning the validity of atheism.
This redefinition blurs the distinction between saying, "There is no God", and "I don't know whether God exists or not." It lets people say, "I don't believe in God," without clarifying whether they are denying God's existence (which is atheism) or are merely uncertain about it (which is agnosticism).
See also
- Atheist worldview
- Atheism and beliefs
- Atheists doubting the validity of atheism
- Atheist factions
- Weak atheism
- Strong atheism
- Atheism and irrationality
- The question atheists fear
- Decline of global atheism
- Atheism and cowardice
- Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
- Evidence for Christianity
- True atheists and the danger of relying in self-identification - humor
External links
- Why the Burden of Proof is on the Atheist by Professor Ralph McInerny
General articles on atheism and agnosticism:
- Atheism by Creation Ministries International
- Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions by Creation Ministries International
- Atheism by Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
- Atheism, Agnosticism, and Skepticism Synopsis of Understanding Secular Religions by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Is Atheism More Rational by Creation Ministries International
- ↑ http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm
- ↑ Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology".
- ↑
- The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”
- Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford Dictionaries, due to their British influence (Atheism is more popular in Britain than in the United States and many other countries where English is spoken, see: Atheist population and Secular Europe and Atheism statistics), now offers the definition of atheism to be "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." which is a departure from its historical meaning before a broader definition of atheism began to be more widely advocated in the latter portion of the 20th century (see: "Atheism - etymology")
- ↑ http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm
- ↑ Positive Atheism's Big List of Charles Bradlaugh Quotations
- ↑ http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm
- ↑ http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html
