We 'theological noncognitists' are neither theists, atheists nor agnostics. We claim that atheists mistake the meaningLESS row of three alphabet letters "God" for a meaningFUL word for a nonexistent thing. We can only believe that if "God" with a capital "G" had any meaning, we would be able to imagine what it means to some theists, just as we can imagine what "unicorn" and "mermaid" mean because they are meaningFUL words for nonexistent things. But unlike those two meaningful words for nonexistent things, we can't imagine anything for "God" to mean! We TN's also do not say "No gods exist" (with a small "g"), as atheists say. Surprised? Yes, but we TN's don't worship any gods (small "g")! Explanation: It is believed that early man's first god (small "g") was the sun. Now, we do label Zeus and Thor as "nonexistent gods", even though we do not worship them. Somebody worshiped them, so we label them "gods". Therefore if early man worshiped the sun, even though we do not worship the sun, we must label the sun as "an existent god" in order to be consistent with our labeling of Zeus and Thor as "nonexistent gods". Thus we cannot say "No gods exist" as atheists claim, for the sun may be a god (if early man worshiped it) and the sun exists. What do TN's say about theists? Theists don't worship a god, but only erroneously think they do. What do TN's say about agnostics? Agnostics erroneously think 'God' refers to something that may exist and may not exist, but it doesn't refer to anything. What do TN's say about atheists? Atheists erroneously think theists worship a god named "God", but they don't. Again, we TN's claim that atheists mistake the meaningless row of three alphabet letters "God" (capital "G") for a meaningful word for a nonexistent thing. Atheists also complicate matters further by replacing the meaningless row of three alphabet letters "God" by the meaningFUL word "god", not capitalized. They do that because they think "God" is a meaningful word, and think they are showing disrespect for something by decapitalizing it. But the row of three alphabet letters "God" does not refer to anything to show any disrespect for.
Subscription Note:
Choosing to subscribe to this topic will automatically register you for email notifications for comments and updates on this thread.
Email notifications will be sent out daily by default unless specified otherwise on your account which you can edit by going to your userpage here and clicking on the subscriptions tab.
@ EdParker
We claim that atheists mistake the meaningLESS row of three alphabet letters "God"
Then you would be making an erroneous assumption. Atheists do not "believe in god or Gods."
You are making an equivocation error and confusing "Language" (three letters) with a representation in reality. All letters are meaningless. They are only symbolic indicators of something "real" or "imagined."
"We can only believe that if "God" with a capital "G" had any meaning, we would be able to imagine what it means to some theists, just as we can imagine what "unicorn" and "mermaid" mean because they are meaningFUL words for nonexistent things."
How do you imagine the word mermaid or unicorn is any different than the word God. There is nothing you can not assert about God, that I can not assert about mermaids or unicorns.
@ "No gods exist" (with a small "g"), as atheists say. "
Your second erroneous assumption. You should probably read something about atheism prior to commenting on it. Atheism is a position of "NON-BELIEF" That is completely different than making the assertion that "GOD DOES NOT EXIST." You are wrong again.
Bla bla bla..... The rest of this is just garbage.
So here is the question. When it comes to the God of the bible, as described in the bible, do you believe it exists. If you say yes. You are a theist. If you say no, regardless of your reasons. You are an atheist. All you have said above is that you are a Noncognitivinistic Atheist. You do not believe in God or God's because the words have no meaning to you. Fine.
Do not confuse, not believing, with believing the opposite. This seems to be your problem. If you tell me that the number of stars in the heavens are even. I will tell you that I do not believe you. I am not asserting that the number is odd. Your position of not recognizing anything as God or gods is no different that simply not believing in god or Gods.
Your assertions only demonstrate that you do not understand atheism.
Have "we" decided how many angels can sit on the head of a pin yet?
You need two pins, one for each angel. When you remove them from the kill jar, you have to pin their wings to the press board so that they don't curl up.
'theological noncognitists' are neither theists, atheists
If you're not a theist you don't believe, if you're not an atheist you do believe. They're logical negations of each other, and it's logically impossible to take neither position. Even if you had no concept of deities, as this would mean you lacked belief in them and were an atheist.
"Therefore if early man worshiped the sun, even though we do not worship the sun, we must label the sun as "an existent god"
Firstly worshipped has a double p. No that makes no sense sorry. The sun exists but we do not have to believe any supernatural claims about it.
"Thus we cannot say "No gods exist" as atheists claim, "
We don't have to claim that in order to be an atheist. I don't claim it and I am an atheist, Atheism is the absence or lack of belief in a deity or deities, it is not a contrary belief or claim.
"for the sun may be a god (if early man worshiped it) and the sun exists."
I'd need to see evidence demonstrated that this were possible, and until it is I don't believe it, what evidence can you demonstrate for the claim beyond the bare assertion of believers.
"Agnostics erroneously think 'God' refers to something that may exist and may not exist,"
You're wrong again, agnosticism is the position that nothing is known or can be known about something, in this context a deity. So no agnostics don't think deities may exist, or may not exist, they can by definition have no knowledge on either claim.
"What do TN's say about atheists? Atheists erroneously think theists worship a god named "God", but they don't. "
Please tell me this is another windup? You have told us nothing about what TN's believe, and have made another erroneous claim about atheists. I am an atheist and I don't recognise the atheist you're describing here.
" Again, we TN's claim that atheists mistake the meaningless row of three alphabet letters "God" (capital "G") for a meaningful word for a nonexistent thing. "
Nope, if you're going to make generic claims about atheists then all you can claim is that they lack the belief in a deity or deities. As this is the definition of atheism and therefore atheist, any claim beyond that is an individual one an atheist may or may not hold.
" Atheists also complicate matters further by replacing the meaningless row of three alphabet letters "God" by the meaningful word "god", not capitalized. They do that because they think "God" is a meaningful word, and think they are showing disrespect for something by decapitalizing it. "
Wrong again, you seem to be wrong on just about every claim you've made. Theists sometimes choose to find it offensive when atheists write the word god with a small g, it's unlikely an atheist would care either way. It's also demonstrably absurd to expect an atheist to respect theistic belief. I respect a theists right to believe "the moon is made of cheese" if it makes them happy, but if they try to assert their beliefs should determine how others behave then I will object, if they mention their beliefs in public as they're entitled to, then I have the right to respond should I choose. I do not have to respect a belief, any belief, especially if I find it absurd and irrational.
"But the row of three alphabet letters "God" does not refer to anything to show any disrespect for."
It refers to nothing for an atheist, as I said only theists choose to find this offensive. Your claim is simply not true, I often write god with a lowercase g, and I don't perceive this is disrespectful, as an atheist why would I?
It seems obvious to me that like agnosticism, theological noncognitivism is perfectly compatible with atheism. Why would improperly defined and ambiguous theological words and phrases mean anything to an atheist?
@ Edparker: Seems like atheism to me.
So much nonesense and twisting words in the OP. I bet this is how Socrates felt on the Athenian Agora listening to the sophists explaining why a evil is good and good is evil. So "theological noncognitivism" is like ignosticism, where the concept of "God" is so undefined, so judgement is witheld?
I feel your pain, I get so tired explaining the same things over and over to people who think they are being profound, but don't know how to Google a dictionary deification. The difference between terms like agnosticism, ignosticism, and theological noncognitivism can be nuanced, and these positions are not necessarily mutually exclusive with atheism.
If I hear one more closet theist tell me atheism is a claim or a belief I swear I'm going to take a baseball bat to my laptop and buy a fucking guitar instead.
In English, when you want to refer to a specific god (typically the Christian one), you are supposed to use "God". When you want to refer to gods in general you are supposed to use "god(s)". Don't over analyze it, it is just grammar; and not everyone uses it correctly (myself included).
Theists make the same error as OP in that their retort to atheists is on the lines of - why / how can you discuss or debate something if it does not exist. You are discussing God therefore by default God exists.
Remember folks all atheists and theists are first and foremost agnostics.
@OP
"The name of any specific deity is capitalized just capitalize god like any other name, so when “God” is used to refer to “the one God,” (in other words, in any monotheistic religion) it is capitalized.
For example, you’d capitalize “God” in this sentence:
Some Christians give thanks to God before every meal.
When referring to gods in general, however, or using the word "god" descriptively, keep it lowercase:
The Romans believed a god named Jupiter ruled the heavens.
The Greek gods were always causing trouble for humans.
The same rule holds true for Yahweh, Allah, Zeus, and the names of gods in other religions. They are capitalized." https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/do-you-capitalize-god
I used this site because it saves me copying from my "Fowlers" . They say the same in essence.
And the rest of your ramblings are bunkum.
Stupid autospell capitalises god and I gotta edit it.
@OP, and EdParker specifically,
Did you happen to stop taking your meds?
rmfr