this post was submitted on
607 points (68% like it)
1,110 up votes 503 down votes

atheism

subscribe1,132,972 readers

1,118 users here now


Help Atheist Organizations!

The Secular Student Alliance, Camp Quest, and Foundation Beyond Belief were all nominated for the Chase Community Giving program, which awards grants based on the votes of the public. Everyone gets 2 votes on Facebook, plus an additional one if they share a CCG page. The links for them are:

SSA | CQ | FBB

Voting runs from September 6-19


Welcome to r/atheism, the web's largest atheist forum. All topics related to atheism, agnosticism and secular living are welcome here. Please read our FAQ.

New posts: New Rising
Self posts: New Relevant
Non-image posts: New Relevant

Recommended reading and viewing

Thank you notes


Related Subreddits <--the big list

GodlessWomen YoungAtheists AtheistParents
BlackAtheism AtheistGems DebateAnAtheist
skeptic agnostic freethought
antitheism humanism Hitchens
a6theism10 tfbd AdviceAtheists

Events
10/5-6 NAPCON2012 - Boston
08/11 Regional Conference - St. Paul MN
Giving
DWB/MSF fundraiser
Kiva lending team
FBB's Appeal to Freethinkers to Fight Cancer
Camp Quest
Ex* Groups
ex-Muslim ex-Catholic ex-Mormon
ex-JW ex-Jew ex-SistersinZion
ex-Bahai ex-Christian ex-Adventist
Assistance
Coming Out
Atheist Havens
Start an Atheist Club at Your School

Chat: #reddit-atheism on irc.freenode.net

Watch: #/r/atheism on reddit.tv

Read The FAQ


Submit Rage Comic

Submit Facebook Chat

Submit Meme

Submit Something Else

a community for

reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! learn more ›

all 130 comments

[–]NukeThePope 49 points50 points ago

Hey! There are people dieting out there! Have you no compassion?

[–]chasejr753 1 point2 points ago

Great name. That is all I have to say.

[–]NukeThePope 2 points3 points ago

Thank you! :)

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points ago

I wish so hard that a christian fundamentalist would come across this thread, and get it shared all over facebook to show that atheists really do eat babies...

[–]thatpeterguy 6 points7 points ago

Unnecessary comma is unnecessary.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Very true, however I can assure you this is far from my worst abuse of excessive commas. Follow some of my posts and you will find that I feel the need to put commas approximately every third word.

Fortunately for me, unless I am writing an English assignment, I don't bother, to, grammar check, what I, write. It makes my, life, so, much, easier.

[–]thatpeterguy 4 points5 points ago

Fortunately for me, unless I am writing an English assignment, I don't bother, to, grammar check, what I, write. It makes my, life, so, much, easier.

This particular sentence looks to be making it a bit harder.

[–]Sonorama21 1 point2 points ago

Yo Peter I didn't know you were on reddit bro. Did you ever beat SSB?

[–]TheLordOfTheFryer 1 point2 points ago

Pass the stake sauces please?

[–]waltmaniac 0 points1 point ago

I only eat babies for pretend.

[–]c0pypastry 15 points16 points ago

Stop posting food, you're making me hungry

[–]BleakGod 2 points3 points ago

all I see are cannibals

[–]SteampunkCylon 2 points3 points ago

If you look closely, you can see the smoke ring. I want mah bebeh back bebeh back bebeh back...

[–]brodyth 0 points1 point ago

Ribs! Chillis baby back ribs!

[–]OceanMachines 2 points3 points ago

i can, actually. babies are terrible things.

[–]Calsendon 0 points1 point ago

Taste good though.

[–]adriatrav 5 points6 points ago

this is why the world is where it is.. these damn atheists ruin everything. And they just sit there and laugh!!!

[–]Dat_Matt 1 point2 points ago

The babies aren't eating one another, they can't be atheists.

[–]straubairy 1 point2 points ago

Technically a baby isn't capable of rejecting religion anymore than they are capable of accepting and following it. I think they are "Nontheists"

[–]mickddp 1 point2 points ago

This is literally one of the dumbest fucking things I have ever seen in my life.

[–]Darkencypher 1 point2 points ago

Damn you! I was almost a week with out babies :( I just ate the neighbors child :(

[–]thatpeterguy -3 points-2 points ago

*without

*neighbor's

[–]Darkencypher 6 points7 points ago

Well...I was testing you.....good job...you passed...

[–]Bronco22 2 points3 points ago

For the folks who are still wondering: this is how it works, it's like a belief scale:

+2: Believes in existence of gods, knows it = Gnostic Theist

+1: Believes, doesn't know for sure = Agnostic Theist

0: Lacks belief both existence and inexistence = Agnostic

-1: Believes in inexistence, doesn't know for sure = Agnostic Atheist

-2: Believes in inexistence, knows it = Gnostic Atheist.

[–]Calsendon 1 point2 points ago

Believing in inexistence and disbelieving existence are two very different things.

[–]Bronco22 -1 points0 points ago

Right: in fact "disbelieving existence" is "0: lacks belief in both", and is in a distinct cathegory.

[–]Calsendon 0 points1 point ago

Lacking belief is the very definition of atheism. You're trying to paint a picture wherein atheism is a positive belief in the inexistence of dieties when it is in fact merely a lack of theism (hence the prefix "a-").

[–]Bronco22 0 points1 point ago

...And my picture works like a charm.

[–]Calsendon 0 points1 point ago

Read the latter part of my second sentence. Your definition is wrong.

[–]DoctorLost173 1 point2 points ago

They aren't atheists

[–]5k3k73k -1 points0 points ago

Do they believe in any gods? No. They are atheists. Not hard concept to grasp.

[–]DoctorLost173 0 points1 point ago

They grasp anything. They are babies!

[–]letsjustsee 0 points1 point ago

Do they believe in any gods? No. Do they disbelieve in any gods? No. They are agnostic. Not a hard concept to grasp.

ninja edit: Why am I arguing this shit, they're infants.

[–]drakeblood4 4 points5 points ago

You misspelled agnostics.

[–]pancakesForever 1 point2 points ago

Atheism and agnosticism aren't mutually exclusive. Atheism is just a lack of belief in theism.

[–]drakeblood4 -1 points0 points ago

Nope. Atheism is belief in a lack. Agnosticism, at least in the sense of agnosticism as a concept outside of agnostic atheism and agnostic theism, is a lack of belief. Anyone who says a baby is born anything other than agnostic is artificially inflating their belief systems statistics.

[–]pancakesForever 1 point2 points ago

Agnosticism and atheism aren't mutually exclusive. Gnosticism relates to whether you believe its possible to know about the existence of a God, theism relates to whether you believe in the existence of a God.

Atheism and agnosticism are both a lack of belief.

[–]drakeblood4 5 points6 points ago

What you're forgetting is that there are two definitions of agnosticism. The first, more common (at least around here) is the use of agnostic x, for either agnostic theist or agnostic atheist. This is referring to the sureness with which one believes what they do. The second is the use of the word agnostic in isolation. A 'pure' agnostic would be one who makes neither belief claim, either because they are incapable of choosing (as a baby is) or because they refuse to.

[–]letsjustsee 1 point2 points ago

Thank you. Last time I tried to argue this I was downvoted to oblivion.

[–]pancakesForever 0 points1 point ago

The definition of atheism seems like a bit of a grey area. Some people use it to mean 'belief in a lack of God' and some people use it to mean 'lack of belief in God'. In my experience, most people who call themselves atheists take it to mean 'lack of belief in God' and most people who don't call themselves atheists take it to mean 'belief in a lack of God'. If this is the case, then the atheists definition would better describe what ahteists are.

Like I say, this is just what I gather from my experience. Perhaps we need to do a poll to find out if this is the case, or perhaps one has already been done?

[–]drakeblood4 3 points4 points ago

I stand by agnosticism as the lack of belief. Atheism, whether it's gnostic or agnostic atheism, is the active belief in a god or gods nonexistence. The whole naming system is really obfuscatory, but that's honestly how it is. I really wish this place were more like /r/TrueAtheism, cause those guys generally have their facts down pat, but I understand being misinformed on this.

[–]pancakesForever 0 points1 point ago

I stand by agnosticism as the lack of belief. Atheism, whether it's gnostic or agnostic atheism, is the active belief in a god or gods nonexistence. The whole naming system is really obfuscatory, but that's honestly how it is.

Then we'll have to agree to disagree. Your experience of what people mean by the word is different from my experience of what people mean by the word. I think it is clear that the OP was referring to atheism as a lack of belief.

[–]letsjustsee 0 points1 point ago

People around these parts allow a fuzzy definition of atheism so they can continue to employ 'babies are born atheists' as useful rhetoric and claim Carl Sagan and Albert Einstein as their own.

[–]drakeblood4 0 points1 point ago

They widen the definition of atheism and narrow the one of agnosticism in order to artificially align those who actively want to be nonparticipants with themselves, at least in their minds. The fact is agnosticism is a lot more mainstream, but /r/atheists define agnosticism as atheism to justify a complex of being the silent, resentful majority.

[–]theclinger -1 points0 points ago

The same pedants that would prevent the use of atheism in this case would also apply to agnosticism. It is true that some definitions of atheism suggest an actual belief in god(s) not existing for the label. The one that I've seen most people use only applies to not having a belief in a god or gods.

In fact, it's not even clear that the use of the label for agnosticism would work here, as it is a view that either we don't currently know, or can't know the truth value of a claim (by context I'm assuming you mean agnosticism applied specifically theological belief).

Just as a baby cannot hold the position that a god positively doesn't exist, they also can't hold the position that it is unknowable whether god exists.

[–]drakeblood4 0 points1 point ago

But a baby, being incapable of any belief, inherently can't know the truth value of a claim and doesn't currently know. Both of your measures for measuring the agnosticism of a person are met in a newborn baby.

[–]theclinger -1 points0 points ago

But a baby, being incapable of any belief, inherently can't know the truth value of a claim

That isn't what I meant. (Or said.)

It's not that the person themselves actually cannot know something, but that someone holds the philosophical position that it is impossible to have knowledge of the truth value of a particular claim.

This is in reference to your pedantic correction of atheism to agnosticism in a situation where it wasn't relevant.

[–]drakeblood4 -1 points0 points ago

It's not pedantic. Atheism and agnosticism as beliefs are completely different things. Even agnostic atheism is the rejection of religious belief, and saying that babies are atheists is saying that they not only have the capacity to make any religious claim, but also that they consistently choose atheism. Either that, or it's implying that active nonbelief is such an obvious choice that any human being in a state of nature will naturally reject theism. That seems like a pretty pretentious claim, especially considering that human beings from almost every culture have made their own theistic, or at least superstitious, beliefs. Regardless, agnosticism is the actual state of lack of belief, so it's actually important that /r/atheism quits swarming the place with these "BABIES ARE ALL ATHEISTS SO THERE!" posts. They're misinformative and self righteous backpatting that feeds the circlejerk that's infamous on here.

[–]theclinger -1 points0 points ago

And what does that have to do with agnosticism at all?

[–]drakeblood4 0 points1 point ago

BECAUSE CALLING IT ATHEISM IS WRONG!!

I had a long reply, but fuck it. You're either trolling or not worth my time.

[–]theclinger -1 points0 points ago

Ah yes, the inherent circlejerk in /r/atheism that you needed to point out. And you did this how exactly?
Trying to use the word Agnostic is equally as pretentious, and equally as wrong.

And. What. Does. That. Have. To. Do. With. Agnosticism. At. All.

You're wrong and a troll.

Yeah, sure buddy.

Edit: I missed the line where you said that "agnosticism is the actual state of lack of belief." I have never seen the word defined this way. Ever. Anywhere. I just checked Webster's and Oxford to be sure.

[–]drakeblood4 0 points1 point ago

Did you wiki it?

Agnosticism can be defined in various ways, and is sometimes used to indicate doubt or a skeptical approach to questions. In some senses, agnosticism is a stance about the difference between belief and knowledge, rather than about any specific claim or belief. In the popular sense, an agnostic is someone who neither believes nor disbelieves in the existence of a deity or deities, whereas a theist and an atheist believe and disbelieve, respectively.

Direct quote from wikipedia.

What I'm saying with the bit you quoted as "You're wrong and a troll." is that you're entrenched enough in your opinion that this has gone from a discussion to an argument, and I don't care to argue with you.

[–]theclinger -1 points0 points ago

Yes, I get that this is one accepted definition of agnosticism, which people do use, and you have chosen to use here. Yes, this is the definition which you are holding to be true. It's even compatible with the sense that I usually use it in (kind of) and would work perfectly fine as a modifier for the babies pictured in the image.

You originally posted that the term 'agnostic' for this image should have been used, instead of the term 'atheist', as the former would refer more acurratelly to the image posted. This is under the premise that the term atheist refers to an active state of disbelief in the proposition posed by theists. I assume this means (please correct me if I'm wrong) that in this case the term atheism is referring to an active disbelief in god, maybe phrased differently as a belief that god does not exist (a belief in a lack.)

Also going by Wikipedia

Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.[1] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.[2][3] Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist.

(ala, lack of belief vs belief of lack)
It can refer to both. This ambiguity in definition is also present in agnosticism.

Agnosticism is the view that the truth values of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—are unknown or unknowable.[1][2] Agnosticism can be defined in various ways, and is sometimes used to indicate doubt or a skeptical approach to questions. In some senses, agnosticism is a stance about the difference between belief and knowledge, rather than about any specific claim or belief. In the popular sense, an agnostic is someone who neither believes nor disbelieves in the existence of a deity or deities, whereas a theist and an atheist believe and disbelieve, respectively. In the strict sense, however, agnosticism is the view that human reason is incapable of providing sufficient rational grounds to justify the belief that deities either do or do not exist. Within agnosticism there are agnostic atheists (who do not believe any deity exists, but do not deny it as a possibility) and agnostic theists (who believe a deity exists but do not claim it as personal knowledge).

(I'm only using Wikipedia because you suggested it. Feel free to suggest a different reference if you so feel inclined.)

In this case for agnosticism, it can refer to merely not having knowledge of a subject, that humans currently don't have the knowledge of a subject, that humans can't have knowledge of a subject etc. Also included in possible definitions of not having a position of belief with respect to gods. (Minor side point, "disbelief in gods" as phrased in this article, is not always the same as believing that there are not gods, which is where I could have gotten confused, as it seemed that you were trying to contrast the agnostic viewpoint against this phrase.)

Agnosticism can refer to disbelief in gods. In fact, depending on the context, it often does. My gripe is that you would insist for atheism a definition that would not fit this particular circumstance (belief in a lack) when many people here use a valid definition themselves that would fit this circumstance (the absence of belief that any deities exist) while implying that agnosticism would fit this circumstance, when I could easily choose a definition of agnosticism that wouldn't (actual held position that we currently do not have knowledge of a subject, or more narrowly that we cannot have this knowledge.)

[–]whereistheproof 2 points3 points ago

Babies are not atheists. they are agnostic. The only true agnostics, actually.

[–]SpiritHeretic -1 points0 points ago

Pretty sure they're atheists. If not, what deity do they believe in? o.O

[–]whereistheproof 0 points1 point ago

They are agnostic, as they have no information about the concept of a higher power, thus they cannot believe or disbelieve in it until they know what it even is.

The moment they grasp the concept of a higher power, though, they are either atheists or theists.

[–]SpiritHeretic 0 points1 point ago

They are agnostic, as they have no information about the concept of a higher power, thus they cannot believe or disbelieve in it until they know what it even is.

That's precisely why they're atheists. Atheist is just someone who doesn't believe in some god, and babies definitely do not.

[–]whereistheproof 4 points5 points ago

Atheist is just someone who doesn't believe in some god

No it isnt, their is no "believing" involved with being an atheist. It is all about disbelieving. A subtle, but important, distinction.

To disbelieve in something, you have to know that that something could possibly exist in the first place.

If you have never heard of god before, you are not an atheist or a theist, you are an agnostic.

[–]SpiritHeretic 0 points1 point ago

No it isnt, their is no "believing" involved with being an atheist. It is all about disbelieving.

Disbelieving is a term that only exists because believing was a norm during a certain sphere of time, so absence of belief was perceived rejection of belief, and this was typically applied to adults. In reality, absence of belief (disbelief) is just that, and is normal for the non-muddled, and that is atheism.

http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/faq#Whatisatheism

[–]whereistheproof 5 points6 points ago

I am not arguing the terms, but the consepts, if that makes any sense.

Disbelief is more then the absence of belief.

Disbelief is when you state something to be false. And by belief I mean when you state something to be true.

Disbeilive is on the negative spectram, belife is on the positive. 0 is agnosticism.

In this sense, Atheism is the claim that gods are false and Theism is the claim that gods are true.

Thus, babies, having no concept of god, are neither atheists or theists, because they cannot say if god is true or false, because they have not yet conseptualized the consept of god.

[–]letsjustsee 0 points1 point ago

Infants are incapable of believing or disbelieving anything. They don't believe in a helio-centric universe either. I don't see your point.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again 0 points1 point ago

That's silly. They also lack the belief that god doesn't exist.

And according to you, my toenail, dead people, santa claus, jesus christ, flying spaghetti monster, etc are atheists. When your "lack of belief" leads to the absurd, it should made you consider your position. But just like christians, I doubt you will.

[–]SpiritHeretic 1 point2 points ago

They also lack the belief that god doesn't exist.

That seems kinda redundant.

And according to you, my toenail, dead people, santa claus, jesus christ, flying spaghetti monster, etc are atheists.

I'm not sure how these are applicable, but I'd add that most animals are probably atheists.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again 1 point2 points ago

That seems kinda redundant.

It isn't.

I'm not sure how these are applicable

Does santa claus lack the belief that god exists? Yes. Does flying spaghetti monster lack the belief that god exists? Yes.

but I'd add that most animals are probably atheists.

Probably? Wouldn't all animals ( non-human ) be atheists? Not only that, all dead people are atheists also. A hamburger is atheist as well. Anything that lacks belief in god is atheist. Right?

[–]SpiritHeretic 0 points1 point ago

Wouldn't all animals ( non-human ) be atheists?

I thought only things that had a concept of god could be atheists by your definition.

Anything that lacks belief in god is atheist. Right?

Anything for which that is applicable. I think you're arguing applicability at this point. And attaching beliefs to inanimate objects is a bit too far. Atheism vs agnosticism isn't equivalent to saying I have a vegetarian coffee cup.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again 2 points3 points ago

I thought only things that had a concept of god could be atheists by your definition.

I agree with that but that's not what r/atheism believes. None of the babies in OP's pic has a concept of god. Yet r/atheism claims babies are atheist. r/atheism claims that we are born atheist.

Anything for which that is applicable.

Lack of belief is applicable to those which lacks belief.

And attaching beliefs to inanimate objects is a bit too far.

But that's the r/atheist's argument. Atheism is not belief but a LACK of belief. I am not taking anything too far. I am using r/atheism's definition of atheism. It's not my fault that the definition leads to absurdity.

[–]Chris_Bryant 1 point2 points ago

Look, I don't mind that they exist, I simply don't want to hear them throughout a transcontinental flight.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Dude, inflight meal.

[–]spaceman43 1 point2 points ago

So it may depend on your personal definition, but I have always thought the whole "babies are atheists" idea is fucking dumb. When I think of atheism, I think of the belief that no god exists. Just because a baby lacks an opinion on the matter doesn't mean they are atheists. That's like calling rocks atheists, because they have no beliefs at all.

[–]Redected 0 points1 point ago

Actually agnostics... They won't become atheists until they see what religion has done for us lately.

[–]Buscat 4 points5 points ago

mmm.. I'd say atheist. I don't think babies have an idea of god in their mind. To be agnostic, I think you'd need to have the idea of god and reject that such a thing can be known.

[–]letsjustsee 0 points1 point ago

No, that's a-theist you're describing there. Atheists reject theism. A-gnostic refers to a lack of knowledge.

This is pretty silly. Why are we labelling babies?

[–]Buscat 1 point2 points ago*

I didn't say reject theism, I said reject that humans can know one way or the other.

edit: the point I was trying to make was that agnosticism/gnosticism is a question of knowability, whereas theism/atheism is a question of gods. Babies, I imagine, have no concept of god, therefore atheism would be more accurate than agnostic.

[–]letsjustsee 1 point2 points ago

I get ya. It just seems silly to apply a term that indicates a reasoned, thought out position to an infant who is incapable of thinking critically. Agnostic or atheist. Or theist.

Unless we are talking about the barest, most minimal definition of atheism, that would apply to an animal or, say, a rock. In that case I agree with you.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

You are not atheist when you're born, you are agnostic....

[–]ElectricG 1 point2 points ago

No. They'd need to have considered the concept of God.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

fair enough. Then what would they be?

[–]letsjustsee 1 point2 points ago

Maybe we can stop labeling infants with our invented definitions? This comes up all the time around here. Dear r/atheism: stop going out of your way to claim famous people and babies as your own! It's rather petty.

But I agree that infants are better described as agnostic than atheist, at least in the commonly used senses of the words.

[–]ElectricG 0 points1 point ago

Atheists. They don't know what God is, so they cannot believe in it.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

But neither can they believe that he doesn't exit, right?

[–]ElectricG 3 points4 points ago

That's not what atheism is. You don't need to believe he doesn't exist to not believe in him.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

I'm not 100% sure I understand, but I'll accept your definition for now. Good day :D

[–]ElectricG 1 point2 points ago

Understandable. Atheism and agnosticism have too many definitions. It gets murky and confusing.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

Thank you for being so understanding and reasonable.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again 1 point2 points ago

You are right that the babies are agnostic. r/atheism claims that babies are atheists because they "LACK belief that god exists". But that intellectually dishonest and absurd. It is a semantic trick.

Sure if you define atheist as "lack of belief that god exists", then a frog, a rock, a tree, santa claus, pretty much everything is atheist. It leads to absurdity.

[–]DemonicFlames 0 points1 point ago

When I first clicked on this, I was prepared to downvote because it seemed like an athiest-bashing post to an athiest subreddit.

[–]rubypele 0 points1 point ago

I glanced at the thumbnail while scrolling and thought it was bacon.

[–]Strkszone 0 points1 point ago

Oh be right back my babies are burning! Oh, you atheists! I was talking about my BABY-BACK RIBS! Sheesh... mmm...

[–]ElBenito 0 points1 point ago

R/foodporn

[–]Nerdtendo 0 points1 point ago

And here come all the "No True Scotsman" fallacies.

[–]rollingalong 0 points1 point ago

When I used this argument the other day, the fundie I was arguing with claimed that all children are born with an innate sense of God. I was absolutely dumbfounded.

[–]ccrazool 0 points1 point ago

Beautiful, unindoctrinated minds!

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

[–]squigs 0 points1 point ago

And this is one of the reasons I dislike the "lack of belief" definition. If you call yourself an atheist, I at least expect you to have the capacity to form an opinion.

It follows that if you don't like atheists then you must also hate your car. It's a stupid argument.

When Christians accuse atheists of being evil, they mean those who believe that there is no god. Not those that merely lack belief, and certainly not those who have not had the opportunity to form an opinion.

Most atheists believe there's no god. Stop misrepresenting the argument. You're meant to be better than that.

[–]SpiritHeretic 0 points1 point ago

When Christians accuse atheists of being evil, they mean those who believe that there is no god. Not those that merely lack belief, and certainly not those who have not had the opportunity to form an opinion.

I've definitely encountered many Christians who specifically indicate that all those who lack belief for any reason are negative in the view of their God. http://bible.cc/hebrews/11-6.htm

Including some views that distant tribes and infants go to Hell. It's definitely a strong view that everyone is rotten and only faith makes them acceptable. Why you're rotten is another question, but everyone is evil.

[–]Nerdtendo -1 points0 points ago

Most atheists believe there's no god

And all atheists lack a belief in god.

[–]squigs 0 points1 point ago

Yes. I know.

So what's your point? Do you disagree with my assertion of what Christians mean when they refer to atheists?

[–]Nerdtendo 0 points1 point ago

Depends on the Christian you ask.

[–]Darkfire346 0 points1 point ago

@the baby at the far right: Ewok face Prepare your anus.

[–]tahackzors 0 points1 point ago

[–]kingssman -1 points0 points ago

hmm. not much changed from young atheist to adult atheist.

[–]bstrader -1 points0 points ago

But on a serious note, let your child choose for him/herself what religion he wants, whether it's atheism or anything else. This "demotivational" is not accurate.. it's actually disturbing. The atheist who made it doesn't realizing he is suggesting the indoctrination of these children into being atheists... ah whatever. Nobody gives a damn about context anymore, and indoctrination is fine as long as it is indoctrination into YOUR religion. gg. Have fun downvoting this.

[–]SpiritHeretic 2 points3 points ago

The atheist who made it doesn't realizing he is suggesting the indoctrination of these children into being atheists... ah whatever.

Actually, I think he's simply implying kids are atheists by default.

[–]CaNANDian -2 points-1 points ago

atheism is NOT a religion

[–]bstrader -1 points0 points ago

It is.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again -1 points0 points ago

Those babies are not atheists. They are agnostic. Mao, Stalin, kim jong il were atheists though.

And if babies are atheists because they "lack belief", then so is santa claus, jesus christ, my toenail, door knob, a rock, etc. Way to have an absurd logical footing...

[–]Nerdtendo 2 points3 points ago

A baby doesn't think that it's impossible to know whether a god exists or not. They are not agnostic.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again -2 points-1 points ago

A baby doesn't think that it's impossible to know whether a god exists or not. They are not agnostic.

We have a WINNER. A baby isn't atheist, theist or agnostic.

[–]Nerdtendo 0 points1 point ago

Whether a baby is an atheist or not is arguable. Ultimately, it's not really relevant. I think it's silly to get into a debate over.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again -2 points-1 points ago

I think it's silly to get into a debate over.

What is silly is that r/atheism is filled with morons who claim that babies are atheist. It is not silly to point out the absurdity.

For example, it is silly for a christian to claim jesus walked with dinosaurs. It is not silly to point out the absurdity.

[–]Nerdtendo 2 points3 points ago

It's just a literal interpretation of the understood definition here. But hey, let's start a riot over it. It's obviously an extremely important thing to nitpick over.

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again -2 points-1 points ago

It's just a literal interpretation of the understood definition here.

No it is not. If OP is correct that babies are atheist, then EVERY definition of atheism is absurd. r/atheism slams religion for their logical absurdities but accept their own absurdity.

It's obviously an extremely important thing to nitpick over.

It is because it make r/atheism a joke.

[–]Nerdtendo 2 points3 points ago

You're actually catching on. The definition of atheism is absurd in a way. An atheist is defined by the absence of something. Many examples have been used in r/atheism to try and stress that point.

Because of a general expectation that someone would believe in a god, though, it's a valuable term to describe the people who do not.

As an example... I have a six year old son who has no idea what a god is. Since he's in public school, I'm sure it will come along eventually... but at the moment, the simplest single word to explain his lack of a theological position would be "atheist".

[–]d12nt_ban_me_again -2 points-1 points ago

The definition of atheism is absurd in a way.

The "lack of belief" definition is absurd because that's the intent. When you try to use semantics to avoid reason, that's what you end up with - absurdity. The historical meaning of atheism ( "one who believes god does not exist" ) is not absurd. The only problem is that it puts atheism on the same logical footing as theism and hence r/atheists can't feel "superior" to theists.

Many examples have been used in r/atheism to try and stress that point.

You're welcome.

the simplest single word to explain his lack of a theological position would be "atheist"

But the "lack of belief" is an ABSURDITY. Might as well say he is a theist since he lacks the belief god does not exist. "Lack of belief" is semantic bullshit concocted by intellectual morons. On theism/atheism, your son has no opinion on the matter.

[–]Nerdtendo 2 points3 points ago

Then you disagree with the majority of individuals who identify themselves as atheist. If that's the case, I'm curious why you bother posting in this section.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points ago

What does any of this have to do with dinner?

[–]waltmaniac -1 points0 points ago

I hate that this is still receiving upvotes. Stop labeling teh babiezz!

[–]tcb98 -1 points0 points ago

Dude, you don't know what this photo does to me. My stomach has it's own mind.

[–]thatpeterguy 0 points1 point ago

Your stomach has it is own mind?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Yes, it holds long conversations with his bowels. This is more commonly known as talking through your ass.

[–]aazav -1 points0 points ago

Atheists. You use the word, "they", only when referring to a plural.

How do you not know this?

[–]Nerdtendo 0 points1 point ago

In your case, the word becomes a noun. In the OP's, the word is used as an adjective. Atheist can be used as a noun or an adjective.

[–]ilona12 -1 points0 points ago

Fuck, I just got hungry.

[–]Chewy79 -1 points0 points ago

buffet?

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]thatpeterguy -2 points-1 points ago

*cannibals

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]thatpeterguy 2 points3 points ago

Sometimes I go on a spelling error spree and correct everyone. Nobody likes it, but it's one of those pet peeves of mine.

too lazy to edit

I can empathize.