Atheism

Although the traditional definition for “atheism” remains standard, there is growing dispute over the how “atheism” should be defined. The conflict between the traditional definition and the contemporary definition has lead to war 500 years in the future as depicted in South Park #10.13.

Atheism is traditionally a position regarding the existence of God holding that God does not exist. The contemporary definition of atheism introduces atheism as any form of absence of belief in God.

Traditional definition

According to the "traditional definition", atheism is the position that God does not exist.

When questioning the existence of God, there are two positions. Either “God exists” or “God does not exist”. While theism is the position that God does exist, atheism is the position that God does not exist. The prefix “a” in atheism implies “without God”. This implies the position of “without God”. The suffix “ism” in the case of atheism is meant to imply an active position on the question of God’s existence. (The suffix, “ism”, represents a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice [1]). Atheism is a disbelief in God. A disbelief in God is equal to a belief that God does not exist.

CRITICISM

• An atheist may say “I don’t believe in God.” The atheist’s intention may be to express his position that God does not exist, but his phrase can be misleading. The statement, “I don’t believe in God”, does not necessarily imply a position that God definitely does not exist. The traditional definition does not make room for those that do not believe that God exists while not necessarily believing that God does not exist either.

• Some argue that a disbelief in God is not the equal to the belief that God does not exist, but a lack of belief in God.

• The contemporary definition for atheism does not consider that the prefix “a” in “atheism” is meant to imply “without God”. They consider it to be meant to imply “without belief in God”.

Contemporary Definition

According to the contemporary definition, atheism is an absence of belief that God exists.

It is often misunderstood that a person that does not believe in God also believes God does not exist. This is incorrect because an absence of belief in something does not necessarily imply a belief that something does not exist. Atheism is the lack of belief in God, but not necessarily the belief that God definitely does not exist. The prefix “a” in “atheism” is meant to imply “without belief in God”. Anybody that lacks the belief that God definitely exists falls under Atheism. Although those who have never been exposed to God lack the belief that God definitely exists, some contemporaries do not think that they should be considered to fall under atheism.

“Regarding people who have never been exposed to the concept of 'god': Whether they are 'atheists' or not is a matter of debate.” [2]

The suffix, "ism", in “atheism”, is mostly a traditional convention to simply apply a generalized description upon what atheism is. It tends to create a misconception that atheism adheres to any sort of belief system. Although the typical use of "ism " as a suffix commonly implies a belief, atheism is an absence of belief doesn't adhere to any doctrine.

Strong atheism is the position that God does not exist. This includes the belief that God has never existed or will never exist.

Weak atheism is any lack of belief in the existence of God that does not actively claim that god definitely does not exist.

CRITICISM

• The traditional definition considers the use of the suffix, “ism”, to be inappropriate to describe any absence of belief, position, or practice. Those that lack the belief that God definitely exists as well as lack the belief that God definitely does not exist do not abide by any belief, position, or practice. It is therefore inappropriate to allow them to fall under atheism.

• The traditional definition considers it inappropriate to consider people who have never heard of God to fall under an “ism”. Some who abide by the contemporary definition agree.

• Those that abide by the traditional definition often consider the contemporary definition a dilemma because it allows for many other beliefs to be grouped in under atheism causing confusion. For example, agnostics are traditionally not atheists, while the contemporary definition considers them atheists. (The contemporary definition considers agnosticism to fall under atheism because they lack the belief that God definitely exists.) It also opens up a dilemma in which all people are atheists because they lack the belief in some supernatural being in one form or another. Every person lacks the belief in any supernatural being they have never heard of. Thereby, making all people atheists.

Trivia

• The contemporary definition of atheism is one of the many internet memes that has gained popularity in internet culture.
• Atheists killed Jesus out of jealousy. "Why can't I be the Son of God!"
• Atheists are going to hell.
• Atheists make life of Christians hell on earth.

References

1. Traditional Definition: Evil Bible
2. Contemporary Definition: Infidels
3. Atheism: [3]
4. Atheism: [4]