[Lesson 5] The religious state

words mean things^TM


Religion and State are both subjective, but are also well-understood. I don't think this is the place to argue either, but their separation has values seen by many.

Arisaig wrote: However this is an incorrect consensus. Atheism requires no belief in science in order to full its tenet.

However, it does require the belief that there is no god. As Kasumi supplied the definition below:

Kasumi wrote: atheist: a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.

No, you are still mis-characterizing the definition and you even provide the definition in your answer that disputes your claim. :laugh: It is not a belief there is no god. It is simply a skeptical position or opinion regarding the claim that one does exist.

A lack of belief is not the same as a belief in its opposite!! Do you really not see the difference?

I believe a god exists
I dont accept the claim that a god exists
No gods exist.

Can you see the difference? The first is a positive claim that a god exists. The second, is a rejection of that claim but it is also not the third option, which is a negative claim that god exists. The middle claim is a neutral claim that does not take either side. By definition is is simply the default position to not accept a claim until proven to be true.

So, not accepting claims of the existence of a god, but also not claiming that god does not exist - how is that different from agnosticism?

JinhamKlyean wrote: So, not accepting claims of the existence of a god, but also not claiming that god does not exist - how is that different from agnosticism?

Agnosticism actually claims that the knowledge of the existence of god either way can never be known. Atheism does not claim this. Atheists believe evidence could be provided, just that so far that has never been the case.