Atheism is a belief system?

[Irreligious]

divine zombie wrote

It's because of this 'debate' that I don't call myself an atheist.

I will reconsider the matter when a word exists for people who have sussed out that santa, nessie, fairies, unicorns etc don't exist.

I concur with your frustration, but there are no major movements promoting adherence to a belief in Santa, the Lochness Monster, fairies, unicorns or squizzlebogetts and, hence, no need to define one's opposition to these erstwhile belief systems.

That said, you are, of course, free to define yourself however you please, but it won't stop others from appending to you a label of their own chosing.

[ILOVEJESUS]

divine zombie wrote

It's because of this 'debate' that I don't call myself an atheist.

I will reconsider the matter when a word exists for people who have sussed out that santa, nessie, fairies, unicorns etc don't exist.

Crack sniffer?

[divine zombie]

Kinich Ahau wrote

Skeptics?

Sorry, I didn't express myself clearly.

I mean words specifically about non belief in, for example, Nessie. A word for not believing in that non existent thing (?).

Not a general word for taking things with a pinch of salt.

[Professor Chaos]

divine zombie wrote

Sorry, I didn't express myself clearly.

I mean words specifically about non belief in, for example, Nessie. A word for not believing in that non existent thing (?).

Not a general word for taking things with a pinch of salt.

What is the specific word for belief in Nessie?

[divine zombie]

Teuchter.

[Professor Chaos]

Why would you expect a word that describes the absence of something specific (or rejection of something specific) to not reference that specific thing?

[divine zombie]

Professor Chaos wrote

Why would you expect a word that describes the absence of something specific (or rejection of something specific) to not reference that specific thing?

Given that I made no reference to holding any such expectation, I am a bit puzzled as to why you might expect me to answer this.

If it is of interest to you, feel free to share your answer with us.

[divine zombie]

Irreligious wrote

That said, you are, of course, free to define yourself however you please, but it won't stop others from appending to you a label of their own chosing.

Yes I know that.

I am a football fan from Glasgow, I have had quite a number of *cough* labels applied to me in my time.

'Atheist' would definately be at the less offensive end of the scale.

[Professor Chaos]

Fine, if I made an incorrect inference of some sort, please correct me by elaborating on your position regarding your disdain for the word "atheist."

[divine zombie]

See earlier posts, sorry if my point of view doesn't meet your exacting standards, but there it is.

[Professor Chaos]

Oh, I couldn't care less what you choose or don't choose to call yourself, I'm just asking because I'm trying to understand something that doesn't make any sense.

[Irreligious]

divine zombie wrote

Yes I know that.

I am a football fan from Glasgow, I have had quite a number of *cough* labels applied to me in my time.

'Atheist' would definately be at the less offensive end of the scale.

Your offense or lack of one at having the label atheist appended to you has nothing whatsoever to do with the point I was making.

My point is that in the context of a society in which most people would claim to be theists, there exists a label for people who don't subscribe to any theistic beliefs, and they're called atheists. You are, of course, free to disdain that state of affairs, but you don't really have any control over it.

[dogpet]

divine zombie wrote

Teuchter.

[Irreligious]

I had to look it up.

For chrissake, can't you guys across the pond learn to speak English already?*

*I kid, because I love.

[dogpet]

divine zombie wrote

I am a football fan from Glasgow, I have had quite a number of *cough* labels applied to me in my time.

'Atheist' would definately be at the less offensive end of the scale.

Which?