From: den Otter (otter@globalxs.nl)
Date: Mon Apr 27 1998 - 09:28:39 MDT
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> From: T0Morrow <T0Morrow@aol.com>
> "Atheos" refers the (non)existence of god--not about the prescence of a
> belief. And "atheists" are people who consider themselves "a theos." A baby
> thus does not qualify; rather, only one who consciously denies the existence
> of gods qualifies as an "atheist."
Yes, atheism is clearly a choice, and often the result of a long hard struggle
with oneself and one's surroundings. Calling babies 'atheists' would be insulting
a lot of great independent minds. Babies are a-ideological/philosophical, not
a-theists. When it comes too relegion it is often a lot harder to determine
whether this is a 'choice' or not. I'd say that in most cases religious belief
is nothing more than conformism out of fear and/or mental laziness. Religion
*is* for the weak (and those that wish to exploit them, of course).
> I'm not saying an atheist would convince me with this claim. All I'm saying
> is that I'd respect the atheists for sticking up for his/her (dis)beliefs.
Say it loud: atheist and proud! ;-)
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