Teenage Atheist Union

[SafetyMoose]

Is the child born in a dark room without any contact, believing in a deity? No. Is there not believing in a deity? Yes.

Not believing in something would require you to consciously understand what it is your not believing in. The child can't be an atheist because it has not chosen to not believe in it. Lack of any belief what so ever does not automatically make it an atheist, at least under the accepted definition of an atheist.

[Gandalf]

Is the child born in a dark room without any contact, believing in a deity? No. Is there not believing in a deity? Yes. When you don't believe in a deity, you don't believe in a deity! It's not that you have to actively think about NOT believing in a deity.. Does the child say: God does not exist? No, the child says nothing, not even about a deity, which makes it NOT believe in a deity, which makes the child a f**king atheist!! 

You seem to ignore my point that this child would almost certain attribute questions to a supernatural being, and there for not be atheist.

[Dutchy]

You seem to ignore my point that this child would almost certain attribute questions to a supernatural being, and there for not be atheist.

I don't think the child has the ability to think so freely at all.. I'm talking about atheism as in anti-theism in the form of not believing in god. If you can't believe in god, it makes you a non believer. Everyone is atheist by default, unless learnt otherwise.

[SafetyMoose]

Everyone is atheist by default, unless learnt otherwise.

That is impossible to prove

[Dutchy]

That is impossible to prove

So a child is born believing in god?

[Pandalink]

Not believing in something would require you to consciously understand what it is your not believing in. The child can't be an atheist because it has not chosen to not believe in it. Lack of any belief what so ever does not automatically make it an atheist, at least under the accepted definition of an atheist.

No, your logic is incorrect.
"Lack of belief in god" and "belief that there is no god" are the same thing, in that they are both someone who does not believe in god.

[SafetyMoose]

So a child is born believing in god?

Did I say that?

[JDC]

Seems even the dictionaries have confused the definitions of Atheism and Antitheism.

Atheism, as can be derived from a and theos, translates to "lack of a deity" or "absence of a deity", and not the belief that there is no deity. You lack any belief in the deity's existence.

Antitheism, from the word "anti", is a belief that there is no deity. Technically speaking, it is a belief in a deity, except that the belief is that the deity does not exist. Your belief is one against the deity's existence.

I recognize that atheism has been used interchangeably with antitheism, but it's probably about time we got our wording right before deciding to spend a long discussion on tackling atheism.

[Alsatian]

Antitheism, from the word "anti", is a belief that there is no deity. Technically speaking, it is a belief in a deity, except that the belief is that the deity does not exist. Your belief is one against the deity's existence.

What? That doesn't make any sense.

Atheism is simply the absence of belief, where as antitheism can be seen more as active opposition towards theism - that it is harmful to both the individual and society.

[Leon.]

Lol, you guys are funny, arguing over the technical differences between antitheism and atheism which are essentially two of the same. You might as well be arguing over the difference between not being a male and being a female.

[TruthSvensson]

Richard Dawkins - "What if you're wrong?"

[JDC]

Atheism is simply the absence of belief, where as antitheism can be seen more as active opposition towards theism - that it is harmful to both the individual and society.

Antitheism does not necessarily have to be harmful for society, as it could also be a personal view that your belief is against a deity.

And you virtually repeated what I posted, so yeah. :cool:

[Oliver]

Just about everyone who thinks the Bible is pure and indisputable fact. :devroll:

So

some niche zealot groups?

Richard Dawkins - "What if you're wrong?"

While an interesting argument, he completely dodged the question and instead answered with the same one that was asked from him.
It's funny seeing an "intellectual" deflecting questions though, right?

[Gandalf]

I don't think the child has the ability to think so freely at all.. I'm talking about atheism as in anti-theism in the form of not believing in god. If you can't believe in god, it makes you a non believer. Everyone is atheist by default, unless learnt otherwise.

Belief in which god ? If the child explains things he does not understand by supernatural influences as cavemen did, he is believing in a god, and there for no atheist.
Atheism is not limited to the God of the Bible or Quoran, it includes any supernatural being with higher powers.
I made a clear point that almost every culture we know has had religion to explain the unknown, and there for it is very likely that religion develops in every human without having extended knowledge of science and society. On the contrary, atheism seems to be limited to those who are disappointed in their religion and those who are having an understanding of science.
So contrary to your point I would like to state that everyone has a religion, unless taught otherwise.

[Def Perry]

Ok, this is becoming stupid. In 50 years, 50% of da world will be atheistic. I seriously DO NOT support this.

In The Netherlands is 49% of the country already atheist so..