Originally posted by Rockydonovang
@newguy, 99% sure stig is just trolling you.
BTW Guys, thanks for the input. As I said I'll be back in a week or so, so I cannot give it time for now.
In the meantime, I was thinking about language as a symbolic representation of what reality is and how it may affect our positions.
Examples of the issue:
1. I think this is not the solution.
2. I don't think this is the solution.
Obviously we in 1 aand 2 we use different grammatical structues to express what we think, but but at the same time the "end result", so to speak, remains the same. Language is just a symbolic way to express reality, not the reality that we express.
I also think we do use both models of 1 and 2 in our daily conduct on all levels without any backlash as to what is meant to be said.
I was also thinking (given that English is not my native language) that it might be the case of language differences. After giving it some thought I don't think it is, but I will ponder it more.
But, if it is the problem of the language barrier, then the question arises:
So the problem (of intelligibility of 1 and 2) exists only in English (and perhaps other languages) but not in Polish (and perhaps other languages)? hmm
Originally posted by Flyattractor
[b]Wouldn't that be closer to an Agnostic? [/B]
Atheism doesn't require a claim. It describes a lack of belief. Any individual atheist can of course say "there is no god", but saying "I don't know" is still perfectly atheist. You don't know, but lack belief in any god. Your belief gauge still reads 0.
This empty belief gauge is the default lack of any assumptions we're all born with. You don't assume anything about the natural world until given reason to. Atheism is essentially saying "I don't know what's out there, but you've offered no reason to assume something is out there, so I will continue to assume nothing until shown evidence of something."
If you went through life and never once considered the question of god, you'd still be an atheist. Only theism actually requires a statement of belief.
Originally posted by Stigma
Yeah, I think Fly is right, Surt. Given that you leave an open door for the possiblility of the metaphysical realm, somewhere down the road it implies the possibility of deity.