Committed atheist found!

[Free Willy]

So you weren't joking then.

So who and how will you identify the 'committed' atheists rather than the beige ones. That seems pretty tricky to me given that atheism is just a lack of belief in god or gods. And then what - who will police the 'identification in public' of those atheists. Who will receive that information.

Let's try it the other way around to see whether you are comfortable. Surely the equivalent of a 'committed atheist' would be a church-going christian. Using your argument, should we not ensure all these people are identified in public. Perhaps get the police to slap a highly identifiable crucifix badge on them as they leave church so that they can be identified as they head home. Make it law that they must wear this badge whenever out - e.g. to the supermarket so that 'public' can identify them when out and about.

Happy with that Vlad?

Not sure about your methodology here, which seems to go something like.

"The best way and closest to a "result" for the question "How many Committed Christians are there is to see who turns up to church regularly So that must be what a Committed Christian is.

Ignore devotion and unique belief in Christ. That does not compute.

Still nothing about what makes someone a committed atheist?

[Maeght]

Not sure about your methodology here, which seems to go something like.

"The best way and closest to a "result" for the question "How many Committed Christians are there is to see who turns up to church regularly So that must be what a Committed Christian is.

Ignore devotion and unique belief in Christ. That does not compute.

Still nothing about what makes someone a committed atheist?

What is a unique belief in Christ?

[Gordon]

Still nothing about what makes someone a committed atheist?

Not holding beliefs about 'Gods' is all it takes: no other qualifications are required.

[Free Willy]

Not holding beliefs about 'Gods' is all it takes: no other qualifications are required.

That makes the word "committed" redundant.

[ProfessorDavey]

Not sure about your methodology here, which seems to go something like.

"The best way and closest to a "result" for the question "How many Committed Christians are there is to see who turns up to church regularly So that must be what a Committed Christian is.

Ignore devotion and unique belief in Christ. That does not compute.

You are missing the point Vlad.

My comment wasn't on how you might determine who is and who is not a committed Christian (although I think those attending church would be 'committed' even if there may be some non attendees who are also 'committed').

No - my point was about how you might make those people identifiable to the public (in the way you seem to want for committed atheists) and whether you thought that was acceptable.

So simply question - do you think it would be acceptable to label 'committed christians' so they can be identified when out in public (whether those people want to have an identifier attached or not)? If not, why would this be appropriate for atheists.

[ProfessorDavey]

Still nothing about what makes someone a committed atheist?

As I said before that question needs to be addressed to the person considering themselves to be a 'committed atheist'. Why are you asking me?

[Free Willy]

As I said before that question needs to be addressed to the person considering themselves to be a 'committed atheist'. Why are you asking me?

I thought you might have come across someone. I think I might ask an atheist friend...apart from you, that is Prof.

[ProfessorDavey]

I thought you might have come across someone.

Nope - can't say I've ever come across someone who describes themselves as a committed atheist. That said (other than on here) my experience is that atheists don't really spend their time talking about stuff they don't believe in - so we tend not to discuss our atheism.

[Gonnagle]

Nope - can't say I've ever come across someone who describes themselves as a committed atheist. That said (other than on here) my experience is that atheists don't really spend their time talking about stuff they don't believe in - so we tend not to discuss our atheism.

Dear Prof,

Solid gold, pure solid gold, 25 carat gold

Gonnagle.

[Free Willy]

Nope - can't say I've ever come across someone who describes themselves as a committed atheist. That said (other than on here) my experience is that atheists don't really spend their time talking about stuff they don't believe in - so we tend not to discuss our atheism.

Excuse me but that makes this forum into some kind of atheist spittoon, doesn’t it?

[ProfessorDavey]

Excuse me but that makes this forum into some kind of atheist spittoon, doesn’t it?

No it doesn't - it makes this forum a place where atheists, theists (and anyone else) can come together to discuss matters relating to ethics and religion (and a bunch of other things too) because they have a shared interest in having those conversations.

But not all atheists, nor all theists, are interested in having those conversations - and those people aren't likely to want to discuss ethics or religion with colleagues, with friends, down the pub etc etc, although they might want to engage in some of the other topics we discuss.