God is merely a refinement of the original thought-construct and is non-essential to a Theism or belief system that is constructed upon a notion of the immaterial. — Marcus de Brun
I have used this statement in another thread as a reply to a theist on the subject of morality. However I think it is deserving of some analysis. So lets begin as such:
Q: What is a theism?
A: A personal theology.
Q: What is theology?
A:The study of the nature of God and religious belief. (google-dictionary)
Q What is religion or religious belief?
A: A pursuit or interest followed with great devotion. (google dictionary)
Q: Do atheists have beliefs about the self and the universe which they follow with great devotion?
A: Yes all atheists must have such beliefs and follow those beliefs with great devotion.
Q: Do Atheists have religious beliefs?
A: Yes if they are to continue to live, they must have beliefs, and those beliefs must be followed 'with great and particular devotion'.
Q What becomes of an atheist who does not follow the beliefs essential to his/her/it's continued existence?
A: The atheist becomes a dead atheist!
Ergo: The only real Atheist is a DEAD atheist.
M — Marcus de Brun
Anyway, it's not so much of an analysis as an attempt at word play taking advantage of the inherent vagueness of dictionary definitions. We could probably prove God is a Panda using similar methods. — Baden
What kind of an odd-ball statement is that. — Marcus de Brun
Why the semantics? — Marcus de Brun
Q: Do atheists have beliefs about the self and the universe which they follow with great devotion? — Marcus de Brun
Do atheists have beliefs about the self and the universe which they follow with great devotion?
A: Yes all atheists must have such beliefs and follow those beliefs with great devotion. — Marcus de Brun
The same for hunger and eating, there is a primordial and instinctual basis for these practices and their associated beliefs, a primordial basis that is related back to human instinct. — Marcus de Brun
Again, your error is in assuming this instinct is necessarily expressed as theism. It can be expressed in many different forms. — praxis
The same for hunger and eating, there is a primordial and instinctual basis for these practices and their associated beliefs, a primordial basis that is related back to human instinct. — Marcus de Brun
You have literally formed your whole premise off of the fact that there are no true atheists, as every atheist has a belief, which by definition, makes them a theist. This is too broadened of a definition of the word theist. — SicklerTroy
Again, your error is in assuming this instinct is necessarily expressed as theism. It can be expressed in many different forms.
— praxis
Again you are applying a rather shallow and 'criticism-hunting' approach to what I write. I dont mind the criticism if it is a reflection of what I am attempting to say. — Marcus de Brun
Theism, ... is constructed upon a thought construct a basis that is common to all men — Marcus de Brun
The theistic logic, the belief system that all humans have — Marcus de Brun
the underlying universal theism — Marcus de Brun
the true theistic basis of human existence — Marcus de Brun
What we are attempting to determine is not the 'belief' (these are both pedestrian and ephemeral) but rather the nature of the predicate, behind the two; as "it" is likely to be the same in both cases.
We must then ask; how and why has the same predicate produced or described two opposing subjects?
This is the point at which (I believe) the puppeteers leave the stage, and 'Philosophy' 'breaks a leg'.
M — Marcus de Brun
I remain surprised at the reluctance to consider the cause — Marcus de Brun
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