What terms would you like clarified in relation to Religious and Athestistic/Agn

1. 79

   jlparkposted 9 years ago

   What terms would you like clarified in relation to Religious and Athestistic/Agnostic coversations?
   
   I've noticed that a lot of people don't understand many of the terms used within religious/athetistic/agnostic debate, and am currently in the process of writing a hub on the same thing...but I'd like to know what you'd like clarified? I've got a few definitions etc sorted, but what I think needs clarifying you may think of others!

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2. 60

   Link10103posted 9 years ago

   Atheist, since its clear more people than there should be on here don't seem to know what the word means, or understand that the definition has evolved.
   
   Agnostic atheist, gnostic atheist, agnostic theist, and gnostic theist would probably be good to put as well.
   
   Wrote my own hub about some terms, explained them and how they relate to me, and it still didnt seem to actually get through to someone who read it. Hopefully, you will have better luck with that...

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I've got Atheism, Agnosticism, Angostic Atheist, and Agnostic Theist at the moment, so I'll go find the rest! I'm coming from a "this is the dictonary/wikipedia def." rather than how they relate to me position, so hopefully it help. Please correct me

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      cjhunsingerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      jlpark
      You might put Deism, monotheism, polytheism, ancestor worship and spiritualism on that list.

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3. 86

   Billie Kelpinposted 9 years ago

   I like to give myself the term of an Apathetic because nothing else seems to fit me.  It's not a real term, but to me it means that I really don't care to give one bit of thought to something as deep, vast, amazing as the universe and pretend that I or anyone else knows what it's all about. 
   
   My feeling is that humankind is not at the stage of development as yet to understand the meaning of this puzzle that, with the given information and our limited mental capacity, makes absolutely no sense - at least to me . It is a puzzle, nonetheless for which I'm grateful for being a part of. I find it arrogant to assume we know.  I can't understand a quark or a quasar or even how my cell phone actually picks up signals.  I feel the mandate is for humankind to "keep on keeping on" until we're at a place to solve the mystery. As we continue to improve in the area of understanding the brain and actually how to preserve consciousness like that old Star Trek episode where's Spock's mind is in that big round globe while his body is no longer function, we will HAVE to redefine our beliefs.
   I do like the term secular humanist. That term might need clarification.  I feel I'm definitely that and that is the closest to my viewpoints.
   In relation to terms that need clarification, I didn't know what a pantheist is until someone called me that. I had once been interested in the teachings of Alan Watts and read only one sentence in "The Book", but that sentence caused me to wonder.  As I remember Watts was talking about it all being God - the planets, the stars, ourselves -  all a manifestation.  I'm not sure of that meaning, so it might be an interesting one.
   
   The important part to emphasize, I think, is that most "non-believers", "non-religious" people have come to their beliefs from a life-time  of searching - that they have been devout and many deeply religious at one point in their lives.  They didn't "lose" their faith.  They've evolved their belief system based on information that rings true to them.  They don't need saving. What non-believers most need is a place where they can express their views openly and without judgment as do people of every persuasion. We're all travelers, stumbling around.  We need to hold each other's hands and just keep on keeping on.

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      Billie Kelpinposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well, this is always nice!  Thanks JLPark.  I'll be looking forward to that hub!

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your answer Billie. The hub is up and running, as a work in progress as I'll happily add to it as necessary.

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4. 84

   M. T. Dremerposted 9 years ago

   I also have to second 'atheist' as a highly misunderstood term. The first misconception is that atheism is an equivalent of religion, but it's not. Atheism is an equivalent of theism in the sense that it is a single belief. A religious equivalent would be Christianity vs Buddhism. The second misconception is that atheism is the same as anti-theism. Meaning that everyone who is an atheist is against theists and wants the belief in god to be abolished. Which isn't true either. Most atheists have no problem with thoughtful theists.
   
   Another term I would like clarified is 'morality'. There is a misconception that it is somehow tied to religion and the two cannot be separated. But, if that were true, only one religion could be moral and no atheists could be moral. But people prove that wrong every day.

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      cjhunsingerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      MT--Excellent

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