Well, there's self-declared atheists, and then there's the ones who never bothered thinking about the whole god thing.
Does it mean that you declared yourself an atheist, or does it mean that you acknowledge that you don't believe in god? The term 'self-declared atheist' seems to suggest that the ones addressed only call themselves atheist while they have no business doing so. As a result I find the term mildly insulting.
I guess it could be taken as insulting. 'Declared', meaning that they have labeled themselves as such, but not acknowledging that they have the right to think that. Hopefully it wasn't meant that way.
Ah, or are you not sentient enough to make a choice of your beliefs? I don't think you are below that basic ability. It is not as if they had a gun pointed to their heads while making their decision, even then, the gun only influenced the decision making and the probability and payoffs, it did not force anything, it influenced it.
I was born as a non-believer (just like everyone else). Some people start to believe in God at some point, some do not.
That's how I understood it anyway. If he doesn't mean it that way then why not just say 'atheist' instead of 'self-declared atheist'. Is not as if anyone is going to be confused over it.
Well, that is another Point of View of the situation, and it is a sound and valid one. My point of view is everyone is born neutral and depending on influences and oneself, some may chose to believe or deny. It is between them and God, or if you don't believe, then between you and yourself.
I would agree with you, Shogun, but let me clarify that neutral means you don't have an opinion either way, because of the lack of knowledge, and that it's choosing to believe or to not believe....not deny. Deny implies you believe but don't want to accept. Big difference.
Well, I can go take the transit bus to a train station, go to Toronto, take the GO Bus to Pearson International Airport, buy a fare, and make sure I buy a return trip and packed enough and brought enough foreign currency... That aside. Yes, if I chose to do so, I could believe I can fly, but I do not wish to chose to do so, therefore I don't believe I can fly, but the decision to believe it or not falls solely on me. There are actually people in history that did believe they can fly...hate to be the guy that cleaned up the mess though... It is like you can chose to be a gentleman or a douche.
Well, Rhaedas took the words right out of my mouth. It is true that one is not a believer at birth, that is my own opinion and that of my religion.
Interesting. No matter how many times I read Peter Pan, I was never able to believe it. The evidence against it was too strong.
Err...because I don't wish to end my life maybe? However, if I wish to chose to do so, I can, my choice bro.