Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
Originally posted by: GrGr
Our argument isn't so much about semantic definiton as it is about logic.
Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
that sounds like a good excuse to basically throw the dictionary out the window when it contradicts your argument.
Not at all. I have pointed out that you are only using the "faith" part in your argument that conviction equals faith. But my argument is that conviction also equals CERTAINTY. Now certainty and faith are not synonymous, they are
related but they are not the same thing.
Entry Word: conviction
Function: noun
Text: 1
Synonyms CERTAINTY, assurance, assuredness, certitude, confidence, sureness, surety
Contrasted Words dubiety, dubiosity, uncertainty; disbelief, incredulity, unbelief
2
Synonyms OPINION, belief, eye, feeling, mind, persuasion, sentiment, view
Related Word doctrine, dogma, tenet
Now your problem is that you insist only the second option of synonyms exist. I have pointed out in several ways that the first option is perfectly viable, and in this case regarding atheists, the correct one. Convinced atheists are convinced (certain), not convinced (faith). You are saying that convinced (certain) cannot exist without proof but everything is convinced (faith) which is a rather extreme point of view. In any case you seem quite convinced (certain) that your point of view is the only correct one.
Entry Word: certainty
Function: noun
Text: a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <answered with complete certainty>
Synonyms assurance, assuredness, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety
Related Word belief, credence, faith; absoluteness, definiteness, dogmatism, positiveness, positivism; firmness, staunchness, steadiness
Contrasted Words doubt, mistrust, skepticism, unsureness; fluctuation, irresolution, shifting, trimming, vacillation, wavering; obscurity, vagueness
Antonyms uncertainty
Originally posted by: GrGr
This discussion started when you said that atheism is a "matter of faith", and as such a religious viewpoint. In support of your view you made the claim that any conviction carries within it faith and belief. I have shown you that it is possible to have a conviction without "faith" and "belief" playing any significant part in that conviction. If you believe that atheism is a "matter of faith" then, with the same logic, you must believe that the fact that there is no invisible smurf god living in your head also is a "matter of faith" and a religious viewpoint. This position is absurd (inconsistent with reason, or logic or common sense) and the fact that it is so has nothing to do with the dictionary.
Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
ANYTHING that is beleived without proof is a matter of faith as per the definition of both words which i provided. your logic has been proven faulty from the beginning, this is not an empty claim, i demonstrated it by posting the definitions from the dictionary showing you to be incorrect by comparing them to your own words, yet you ignore the evidence and continue with the same argument merely rehashed a bit but with the same faulty logic at the core that is unrecoverable.
your claims that my argument is "absurd inconsistent with reason, or logic or common sense" are the claims made from impotence, because your whole argument is based only on your OPINION, while i provide reputable sources for my reasoning. i do not "believe" atheism is a matter of faith, i KNOW it for a demonstrative fact because the evidence shows it to be so. what is laughable to the point of pity is the fact that in the end when it comes right down to it all you can do with the evidence is simply make a pathetic excuse to ignore it by saying it somehow does not matter.
the idea of not using a dictionary to settle a dispute on the meaning of a word and it's usage is what is truly "absurd, inconsistent with reason, or logic or common sense". this type of thinking is produced by going off to school and getting endoctrinated rather than educated.
but you probobly will not change your mind, because you have a dogma that filters out whatever does not fit within it. in short, you are no different than a christian, muslim..etc...etc. you beleive what you beleive regardless of evidence as this argument has so aptly demonstrated.
OK conviction versus faith. Marriam-Webster dictionary, the same as you used.
Main Entry: con·vic·tion
Pronunciation: k&n-'vik-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 : the act or process of convicting of a crime especially in a court of law
2 a : the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth b : the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth
3 a : a strong persuasion or belief b : the state of being convinced
synonym see CERTAINTY, OPINION
So an atheist is CONVINCED b : the state fo being convinced, in other words CERTAIN, that there is no God. Why? Because during the entire existance of mankind nobody who has claimed to have percieved a god, or seen a god has ever had proof that that god exists. Be it Shiva, Allah, Jahve, Oden, Zeus, or one of the thousands of other deities mankind has invented over the millenia.
See two can play the dictionary game.
Main Entry: 1faith
Pronunciation: 'fAth
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural faiths /'fAths, sometimes 'fA[th]z/
Etymology: Middle English feith, from Old French feid, foi, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust -- more at BIDE
Date: 13th century
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
synonym see BELIEF
- in faith : without doubt or question : VERILY
Now you say that anything that isn't believed without proof is a matter of faith. Atheist do not believe without proof. They are certain there are no gods. The fact that nobody has ever had any proof whatsoever has convinced them (made them certain) that there is in fact no god or gods and that all gods and deities are inventions of the human mind. So in the end the question of proof/no-proof is moot. Since gods and deities are inventions of the human mind atheists can be certain that there are no gods. The only way you can convince an atheist that your god does exist is with proof. So the burden of proof is with you, who claim that there is a god, and not with the atheist, who is certain that there is/are no real god(s).
Originally posted by: GrGr
Lol, which God is it you are talking about? Where's the proof that is Allah exists? Where's the proof that Jahve exists? Where's the proof that Shiva or any of the other Hindu Gods exist? There is no proof whatsoever that these gods (or the little blue smurf god) exists and there never have been any proof. Why is your Christian lack of proof more convincing than the lack of proof provided by the Muslims for example? That has nothing to do with WANT.
Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
i believe in God because i have perceived Him, you disbelieve because you have not. in either case our perception may be faulty. you cannot say there has never been any proof because you honestly do not know, that is mere opinion on your part.
where is your proof there is no God? why is your atheistic lack of proof more convincing than others? you have the same questions to answer everyone else does.
Are you sure you are not delirious, should we worry? My perception may be faulty, but it is not I who makes the claim that there is a god. Some people percieve flying pink elefants too. Now it is possible that my perception is faulty, and that there really are flying pink elefants, but I for one am quite certain (convinced) that that is not the case and that in fact there are no flying pink elephants. (Do you percieve flying pink elephants too?). I do not have any proof that there aren't any flying pink elephants (do you?) but I can assure you that it is not a "matter of faith" with me that I am convinced (certain) that there are no flying pink elephants.
You say that you "percieve" God. But the burden of proof is on you to show evidence that your perception is not an invention of your mind. Now you do not need to prove your perception, because it is your subjective truth, unless you want an atheist to believe it. If you want an atheist to believe it then you need to show evidence. If you fail to do so, which is more than likely, then the atheist is equally entitled to his truth, based on objective analysis. Since this case (your perception of god), like a billion (or more) similar cases, lack any tangible evidence, then your "perception" is, hypothetically, created by your mind to fill a psychological need. Now your conviction is a matter of faith.
The atheist's conviction is not a "matter of faith" but a certain conclusion based on empirical evidence - no tangible proof in any case ever. Now please excuse the atheist for not holding his breath that the billion and first case will come up with proof.
Personally I am not really interested in the fact that you believe in God. That is your choice and fine with me. Now I do not have proof that your god does not exist, nor that any other god does not exist, nor that there are no flying pink elephants. My argument would be, how can you prove that something that never existed exits? It's like trying to prove that there is a blue smurf god. In the end it would be a matter of relevance versus irrelevance. In the end maybe the relevant question would not be which god (out of all gods, if any) actually exists but why do mankind feel the need to invent deities (want, need, wishful thinking)?
Just a look at the history of mankind and all the deities and religions humanity has created should be a good enough pointer to most people to draw their own conclusions. Now why is your personal religion so much more convincing than say, Islam, which has in fact attracted more followers than Christianity?