Title: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: Nazzer on February 06, 2009, 07:22:52 PM
Post by: Nazzer on February 06, 2009, 07:22:52 PM
I've been pondering the oft-misused term "atheist" for a long time, and have now decided that what we need is a term that means, at it's root, "One who denies the existence of god", as opposed to "atheist" which only means "one who does not affirm god's existence".
So, I went to a Latin translator and got the Latin word for deny, denego. So, I now think that a useful term for one who leans more towards the non existence of god would be "Dentheist", pronounced "Dihn theeihst"
So, I went to a Latin translator and got the Latin word for deny, denego. So, I now think that a useful term for one who leans more towards the non existence of god would be "Dentheist", pronounced "Dihn theeihst"
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: curiosityandthecat on February 06, 2009, 07:32:04 PM
Post by: curiosityandthecat on February 06, 2009, 07:32:04 PM
Quote from: "Nazzer"I've been pondering the oft-misused term "atheist" for a long time, and have now decided that what we need is a term that means, at it's root, "One who denies the existence of god", as opposed to "atheist" which only means "one who does not affirm god's existence".
So, I went to a Latin translator and got the Latin word for deny, denego. So, I now think that a useful term for one who leans more towards the non existence of god would be "Dentheist", pronounced "Dihn theeihst"
Speaking from a linguistic and PR perspective, not the best choice. The "de-" sound at the beginning is negative. Combine that with the first syllable "dihn" which, as a word, means "A loud noise; particularly a continued confused or resonant sound, which stuns or distresses the ear."
Keep trying, though.
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: Nazzer on February 06, 2009, 07:42:39 PM
Post by: Nazzer on February 06, 2009, 07:42:39 PM
I'm not looking for a word that sounds pleasing, I'm looking for one that is accurate.
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: VanReal on February 07, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
Post by: VanReal on February 07, 2009, 03:52:29 PM
Quote from: "Nazzer"I've been pondering the oft-misused term "atheist" for a long time, and have now decided that what we need is a term that means, at it's root, "One who denies the existence of god", as opposed to "atheist" which only means "one who does not affirm god's existence".
I guess I find a little difficulty with the word "deny" as I don't deny God because deny is to "refuse to accept" as true or to withhold something. I deny my son his freedom when he is being punished yet that freedom exisits. I deny that I performed an action when I did not. I don't deny God because I don't feel the need to withhold my belief I quite frankly just do not even consider the existence. I guess I feel deny is an action and I don't feel my non-belief is an active thing it's more of an inaction like not affirming.
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: gwyn428 on February 08, 2009, 02:24:42 AM
Post by: gwyn428 on February 08, 2009, 02:24:42 AM
Quote from: "Nazzer"I've been pondering the oft-misused term "atheist" for a long time, and have now decided that what we need is a term that means, at it's root, "One who denies the existence of god", as opposed to "atheist" which only means "one who does not affirm god's existence".
Please, speak for yourself Nazzer. We, collectively, never said that we need a better label. Maybe you and a few others are in need of a better label.
What's so wrong with Atheist anyway? Having dozens of labels is useless. We already have Atheist, Agnostic, Nontheist, Apatheist, and a few others. A person who does not affirm a god's existence is pretty much one who denies the existence of a god. No?
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: Nazzer on February 08, 2009, 01:25:30 PM
Post by: Nazzer on February 08, 2009, 01:25:30 PM
Quote from: "gwyn428"Perhaps I should elaborate. One who simply lacks a belief, as we all know, doesn't need to prove anything because they aren't holding a belief themself, it is the person claiming that there is a god that needs to explain.Quote from: "Nazzer"I've been pondering the oft-misused term "atheist" for a long time, and have now decided that what we need is a term that means, at it's root, "One who denies the existence of god", as opposed to "atheist" which only means "one who does not affirm god's existence".
Please, speak for yourself Nazzer. We, collectively, never said that we need a better label. Maybe you and a few others are in need of a better label.
What's so wrong with Atheist anyway? Having dozens of labels is useless. We already have Atheist, Agnostic, Nontheist, Apatheist, and a few others. A person who does not affirm a god's existence is pretty much one who denies the existence of a god. No?
My main purpose here is to simply have people aknowledge that atheism doesn't imply that one believes in god's nonexistance, and instead just doesn't believe in his existance.
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: gwyn428 on February 08, 2009, 07:33:30 PM
Post by: gwyn428 on February 08, 2009, 07:33:30 PM
Quote from: "Nazzer"My main purpose here is to simply have people aknowledge that atheism doesn't imply that one believes in god's nonexistance, and instead just doesn't believe in his existance.
That's exactly what Atheism is...
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: Kyuuketsuki on February 09, 2009, 05:45:48 PM
Post by: Kyuuketsuki on February 09, 2009, 05:45:48 PM
Quote from: "Nazzer"I'm not looking for a word that sounds pleasing, I'm looking for one that is accurate.
It's called a believer LOL.
Kyu
Title: Re: Separation of Terms for lack of belief and denial
Post by: AlP on February 09, 2009, 06:02:19 PM
Post by: AlP on February 09, 2009, 06:02:19 PM
I think we have a widely accepted phrase for someone who explicitly affirms the non-existence of deities: "strong atheist". If you don't explicitly affirm the non-existence of deities, for example if you don't think about it, and you want to distinguish yourself from those that do explicitly affirm it, you can use "weak atheist". I personally don't like the implications of "weak" though. It isn't a weak stance.
That's only one categorization, there are others like "positive atheist" versus "negative atheist".
Everyone is free to invent new words and phrases to describe things. Sometimes they stick. Good luck with yours!
That's only one categorization, there are others like "positive atheist" versus "negative atheist".
Everyone is free to invent new words and phrases to describe things. Sometimes they stick. Good luck with yours!