FACT: Atheists are Lost

fact = something believed to be true or real. Therefore, if the author of the OP believes what he stated is 'true or real' then it is a 'fact' ,.... not an opinion.

See www.tfd.com/fact definition 2.c.

 

Out of those six dictionaries. The one at the very bottom contains the word believe in one definition. I know you had to search for that one, but I gotta give it to you. I never thought I would see "Believe" in the definition of "Fact". Good research sir.

All of the other definitions have to do with proof and observation. Now lets look at the definition of "opinion" and see which one more appropriately describes the OP's claims...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/opinion?s=t

Because of the fact that one definition, from one dictionary out of six even contained the word "believe". And even that does not say anything about personal view (or paraphrased as such).
I conclude that "opinion" is a more fitting word.

To give a better example from the pros. Look in the newspaper and look at the opinion section to see the difference. I highly doubt they would print that title under any other section.

 

"
[h=2]o·pin·ion[/h] n.1. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof: "The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion" (Elizabeth Drew). See Synonyms at view."

Opinion can also be a "belief". A 'belief' is something in which a person 'believes'.

Whether or not the publishers of a newspaper would print the "opinion" section under a differing title is irrelevant.

 

LIke I said... I think "opinion" is a better word to describe the thread title, it's definition fits perfectly. "Fact" is less appropriate description, it's application in this instance is highly debatable at the least.

Newspapers are the authority on proper placement/classification standards of opinion articles. So as experts in their field, their actions would be relevant to the topic.

I am not sure what that last sentence means. Why would someone print a newspaper section under a different title? Like changing the sports section to comics, and comics to finance? That hypothetical seems irrelevant.

 

It was a joke about Atheists not understanding the definition of Atheism as displayed by the poll results.

 

It's a fact based on the poll results showing Atheists don't understand the definition of Atheism.

 

Now you have really sparked my interest. Please point me in the direction of this poll you type of. Did I miss it on one of the earlier posts?

What kind of questions do you ask an atheist to rate his understanding of his non-belief in god? That is what I really want to know!

This is the closest I could find...

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/23/5-facts-about-atheists/

 

Fact #3 is exactly what I quoted. They put it as well as I can... it's not really a dig on Atheists... unless of course they take offense to being "lost" in the Christian sense of the term, which I would think they most likely could not care less.

 

now just imagine the MANY “christians” who feel the have a first-class ticket to Heaven. Yet live as the rest of the world does ,(1John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever). Jesus showed his followers are NOT of the world, (John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world). And here ,(John 15:18,19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you). The Atheist isn't the only group who's lost! peace

 

Such is life, it's best to do your best and hope for... well... the best. But like I say, I'm not concerned with the afterlife.

In fact, I believe afterlife focused belief systems are selfishly motivated. The best indication you are doing it right, is the condition you are presently witnessing... as eternity includes right now.

 

I am not sure what that is supposed to prove. It does make a point, that some Atheists do not identify with Atheism, or that many Atheist are afraid of the social consequences of publicly admitting Atheism. I am not sure how you correlate that to being "lost". You did display solid facts, but they are irrelevant to your main point...being lost. They have more to do with classification.

Are you claiming that atheism is a loosely defined term? I would agree with you there, as there are many differing degrees of belief within atheism.

Are you saying Atheists are lost because they have strayed from Jesus? That is a bit of a rhetorical subject, very subjective considering the intended audience. What is your SPECIFIC definition of "lost"?

 

I checked your source, Merriam-Webster. It gave the defenition. However, I did not see a poll or any links to such. If you cannot provide the source/link that can be checked, then I will assume you made it up.

Please do not dodge this request again. I really am curious what kind of questions they asked.

 

Click the survey link in the link you referenced. That is tbe study I quoted in the op.

Yes I'm talking about Jesus lost as well as confused as to what to call themselves... lost. It's a joke, nothing to believe or prove here.

 

A more accurate definition of the label "atheist" would be "someone who lacks a belief in a God or Gods." Active disbelief is not required, since atheism is the default position. The prefix "a" means "lack of", and "Theism" is a belief in gods.

 

According to you. However it has classically been used to specifically denounce the Abrahamic God and more recently expanded to disbelief in all Gods.

 

Proof that cognitive dissonance is not limited to theists only.

 

So when the ancient Greeks called someone ἄθεος, they were referring to their disbelief in the Abrahamic God, not Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and the rest?

 

That was the link, I provided to a PEW poll. Your stats were underneath Merriam-Webster along with the definition with no link... This is what I was looking for...

http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise-religion/#belief-in-god

Sense we are discussing the PEW poll. The only thing I can determine from those stats, is that Atheism is a loosely defined term, and there is a lot of in between area, when it comes to beliefs.

How did you conclude that atheists are lost form this data? It also says that many Christians do not believe in god as well. Does that mean Christians are lost as well?

 

No, keep reading.

 

Some Christians are definitely lost, but not anwhere close to the rate of Atheists.

 

I conclude that some Christians are lost, and that some Atheists are lost... According to that poll.
I think it would be stereotyping to say "all' in either case.

What do you think makes Atheists "lost" at a higher rate than Christians?

 

An Atheist (by strict definition of the term) will deny the existence of God: A Christian will not deny the existence of God.
"
[h=2]a·the·ism[/h] (ā′thē-ĭz′əm)n. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.

 

Good info. But we were talking about the poll results, not the strict definition. If we are going by the strict definition, then it would be a "all or none" thing. In the real world there is much more grey area, not so black and white (as the poll demonstrates).

In fact, I don't know why you even quoted me, when you addressed nothing in my post.

 

Apparently you didn't get my point. "Atheist" has always referred to the prevalent religion of a particular place and time. In ancient Greece, it was disbelief in Zeus. In the last 1,500 years or so, the Abrahamic God.

 

Wait, are you trying to tell me that our Lord, God, who loves us so much, just stuck us all on some minute, insignificant, pale blue dot in the middle of an insignificant galaxy somewhere!? That SOB! I thought he said we were special!