Comments on: the Problem with “A” http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/ Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:53:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Zach Alexander http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-18371 Zach Alexander Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:42:16 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-18371 I like the term "apatheist," meaning you don't even care about the question (or are tired of it). Though there's a performative incoherence in describing <i>oneself</i> that way... I like the term “apatheist,” meaning you don’t even care about the question (or are tired of it).

Though there’s a performative incoherence in describing oneself that way…

]]> By: xJane http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-18281 xJane Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:06:38 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-18281 Lemmie know if you find any... Lemmie know if you find any…

]]> By: Lessie http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-18199 Lessie Sat, 31 May 2008 19:57:35 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-18199 As has been mentioned, part of the problem is that the existence of God has simply been assumed since the beginning of human consciousness. I was looking for a fun Greek word to describe people who have no concept of gods and all I could think of were words that already had been co-opted by believers--agnostic, gnostic (which means knowledge, except that it refers to knowledge about God, not certainty of reality as we see it) etc. I'll keep looking though. Because really, it is only fair that one be able to believe in a positive, active reality rather than the reverse. As has been mentioned, part of the problem is that the existence of God has simply been assumed since the beginning of human consciousness. I was looking for a fun Greek word to describe people who have no concept of gods and all I could think of were words that already had been co-opted by believers–agnostic, gnostic (which means knowledge, except that it refers to knowledge about God, not certainty of reality as we see it) etc. I’ll keep looking though. Because really, it is only fair that one be able to believe in a positive, active reality rather than the reverse.

]]> By: xJane http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-18049 xJane Fri, 23 May 2008 15:15:41 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-18049 markii: the fact that I don't have to say that I'm aunicornist is part of the issue I have. Theism is <i>currently</i> the dominant world view (in this country) but that's changing. And among people I know, it's not. So if you're speaking to an <a href="http://www.wildhunt.org/2008/05/iceland-perfect-pagan-country.html" rel="nofollow">Icelander</a> what would you call yourself? I also generally feel that if it's the dominant position, it's likely to be wrong, for whatever reasons; and that certainly doesn't make me sympathetic (as in: "oh, you're theist, then I'll describe myself in your terms"). Rejecting ἀ is about defining ourselves for ourselves. markii: the fact that I don’t have to say that I’m aunicornist is part of the issue I have. Theism is currently the dominant world view (in this country) but that’s changing. And among people I know, it’s not. So if you’re speaking to an Icelander what would you call yourself?

I also generally feel that if it’s the dominant position, it’s likely to be wrong, for whatever reasons; and that certainly doesn’t make me sympathetic (as in: “oh, you’re theist, then I’ll describe myself in your terms”). Rejecting ἀ is about defining ourselves for ourselves.

]]> By: John http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-17995 John Fri, 23 May 2008 05:24:31 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-17995 I empathize with you. I sometimes grow tired of being defined by what I'm against. I get around the whole thing by defining myself as both atheist and humanist (and much more). :P <i>...atheist-Quaker and secular humanist, cultural Shinto-Buddhist-Christian, and former Mormon...</i> 'Atheist' gets a lot of mileage (and carries much baggage, unfortunately) because we are in the minority. I change my label depending on context--who I'm talking with and what we're communicating about. I use labels strategically. That said, I think there is some value in being against a specific something rather than being for something generic. I get some flak for being a feminist, and my critics will often say that they are for equality for both genders; while I agree with them in principle, I am a feminist precisely because I believe there is deep-rooted sexism against women that needs to be highlighted, and pointing to generic gender equality doesn't highlight things like domestic violence, eating disorders, and glass ceilings. I empathize with you. I sometimes grow tired of being defined by what I’m against. I get around the whole thing by defining myself as both atheist and humanist (and much more). :P

…atheist-Quaker and secular humanist, cultural Shinto-Buddhist-Christian, and former Mormon…

‘Atheist’ gets a lot of mileage (and carries much baggage, unfortunately) because we are in the minority. I change my label depending on context–who I’m talking with and what we’re communicating about. I use labels strategically.

That said, I think there is some value in being against a specific something rather than being for something generic. I get some flak for being a feminist, and my critics will often say that they are for equality for both genders; while I agree with them in principle, I am a feminist precisely because I believe there is deep-rooted sexism against women that needs to be highlighted, and pointing to generic gender equality doesn’t highlight things like domestic violence, eating disorders, and glass ceilings.

]]> By: markii http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-17978 markii Fri, 23 May 2008 02:47:09 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-17978 so basically i'm waiting for that change in the collective mind of america to accept any and all "A" labels, but i'm waiting for others to do most of the work. ;) so basically i’m waiting for that change in the collective mind of america to accept any and all “A” labels, but i’m waiting for others to do most of the work. ;)

]]> By: markii http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-17977 markii Fri, 23 May 2008 02:46:10 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-17977 one doesn't need to call him/herself an "a-fairiest" or something else along those lines, but a label such as atheist is arguably needed because it is a) describes someone of of a minority opinion which is therefore not assumed of someone; b) is a quick way of letting someone know about a general idea of your worldview; c) the more people who use such a label with when describing themselves to friends, families and co-workers, the more it will change previously held pre-conceptions about skeptics. that said, i still hypocritically avoid such terms in describing myself, just because of the baggage associated them. i do like "freethinker", "non-religious", and "humanist" (my favorite- it shows i do believe in something- humans and their rights). one doesn’t need to call him/herself an “a-fairiest” or something else along those lines, but a label such as atheist is arguably needed because it is a) describes someone of of a minority opinion which is therefore not assumed of someone; b) is a quick way of letting someone know about a general idea of your worldview; c) the more people who use such a label with when describing themselves to friends, families and co-workers, the more it will change previously held pre-conceptions about skeptics.

that said, i still hypocritically avoid such terms in describing myself, just because of the baggage associated them. i do like “freethinker”, “non-religious”, and “humanist” (my favorite- it shows i do believe in something- humans and their rights).

]]> By: Cobwebs http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/comment-page-1/#comment-17971 Cobwebs Fri, 23 May 2008 01:24:49 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/05/22/the-problem-with-a/#comment-17971 Yeesh. This sounds precisely like my husband and me. He tells me that I'm much more militantly atheistic than he is, but as nearly as I can tell it's only because I think about the subject more. He's happy to ignore the whole religion issue entirely, as though it doesn't affect him. (Needless to say, this drives me up a wall.) Maybe it's a male/female thing? Yeesh. This sounds precisely like my husband and me. He tells me that I’m much more militantly atheistic than he is, but as nearly as I can tell it’s only because I think about the subject more. He’s happy to ignore the whole religion issue entirely, as though it doesn’t affect him. (Needless to say, this drives me up a wall.)

Maybe it’s a male/female thing?

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