From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Sat Jan 22 2000 - 17:05:33 MST
From: Max More <max@maxmore.com>
>If you are a nontheist, that means you lack theistic belief. An atheist is
>someone who lacks theistic belief. ("a-" means without.) So, I would say
>you *are* an atheist.
This comprises a fine distinction, but I think the nuance of "atheist" carries
with it the connotation of a belief that no god exists, whereas "nontheist"
connotes a disbelief in theism. The difference? Atheist still connotes a belief
system -- the belief that god does not exist, and nontheist connotes an absence
of any kind of belief in regard to theology.
>I would rather focus on
>my positive views than on what I do not believe.
Just as it improves you health to have no diseases, it can improve your positive
views to have no beliefs.
--J. R.
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