tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034537378568183297.post1988677139133061672..comments2023-07-28T05:15:06.711-04:00Comments on Balance and Paradox: There Are No AtheistsArnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06233810363450375283noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034537378568183297.post-87990459625567592532008-05-08T17:11:00.000-04:002008-05-08T17:11:00.000-04:00Hi Robert -Thanks for your comments. I'm always a...Hi Robert -<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comments. I'm always a bit surprised when someone I don't know comments on my blog.<BR/><BR/>My definition of atheism comes from the word's Greek roots. a + theos = not God. My English dictionary defines atheism as "disbelief in the existence of deity" and "the doctrine that there is no deity." Disbelief, coupled with a doctrine that something doesn't exist, fits my description of being defined by what is being opposed. The definition/description you prefer seems to me to fit better with agnosticism, "unknown and probably unknowable."<BR/><BR/>I had not heard of Daylight Atheism before. Thanks for pointing it out . . . I just added it to my list of Bloglines subscriptions.<BR/><BR/>On the logic question, I don't have a single, clear-cut example to point out right now. My comment was more an aggregation/summary, rather than a response to one particular piece of writing. But you can get a feel for what I mean if you read my exchange that was on EvolutionBlog... referenced in my blog entry from May 7 of last year: http://balanceandparadox.blogspot.com/2007/05/can-you-have-intelligent-philosophical.html<BR/><BR/>Regarding the Hopko quote: I think we all have things about which we believe/feel, "I cannot have a happy or fulfilled life without this thing." The identity of the "thing" could be just about anything. Maybe it's acceptance by others, a beautiful wife, a certain amount of money in savings, a particular job or promotion, ...you name it. (I'm not talking about obvious, true needs such as food, air, and water, without which we cannot live.) Hopko would argue that these "things" are "idols," because they become the focus of our thoughts and aspirations and we surrender to them our ability to be happy or fulfilled. Because we have given them this power, they become (for us) gods, or idols.<BR/><BR/>We are all worshippers of something.<BR/><BR/>I hope I explained that reasonably clearly. It's hard to do the thought justice in a blog comment.Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233810363450375283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034537378568183297.post-87744636924759594042008-05-08T14:33:00.000-04:002008-05-08T14:33:00.000-04:00Hi Arnold, a couple points in response to your blo...Hi Arnold, a couple points in response to your blog:<BR/><BR/>"Atheism, by its very name, is defined by what it opposes."<BR/><BR/>Well, not really. Atheism doesn't "oppose" anything. It's just a type of belief. A life and philosophy are cohered from a variety of other beliefs.<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry you haven't found an atheist blog which doesn't always engage in mockery. Have you visited the <A HREF="http:www.daylightatheism.org/" REL="nofollow">Daylight Atheism</A> blog? I think it's one of the more thoughtful ones.<BR/><BR/>"Many atheist writers like to point out what they see as inconsistencies and illogic in the Christian worldview, but their own logic begs pity more often than awe."<BR/><BR/>Could you provide examples?<BR/><BR/>"Atheists claim that God doesn't exist."<BR/><BR/>Some do. Most just claim to lack a belief in god(s). There is a difference.<BR/><BR/>With respect to Hopko, what "god" does he think atheists actually worship?Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979134095124767324noreply@blogger.com