Reply #118: My point was that the term "athiest" like the term "christian" ... [View All]

[SidDithers]

has too broad a definition to use it as you were trying to do upthread. And isn't our entire discussion an effort to agree to the meaning of the words?

Just as there is variation in the beliefs of sectarian Christians so to there is variation in the belief of lack of belief of athiests.

A strong athiest may have an active belief that there is no deity, a weak athiest simply lives his or her life without belief. Just as I would never say that Christians, as a rule, hate homosexuals, it is perfectly valid to say that some Christians do.

And you would be exactly correct in saying that some atheists have an active belief that there is no deity. But you would also have to allow that some of us just don't see what all the fuss is about.

Sid

PS - :toast: back at you. Interesting discussion.

Edit: added the PS