Jargon part II - a poll.

SonistheFatherofMan Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - I find that the label Christian has garnered a lot more negative attention. Also, why am I all of a sudden labeled by others a creationist or a fundie (not referring to you)? I'm a Christian. At least I'm trying to be.

SonistheFatherofMan Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - Side note: Keep in mind that what you're suggesting further solidifies you into a group. Atheists by definition should have nothing in common except lack of belief in a deity but what you suggest now brings you all under the umbrella of a common thought and reasoning method which many of you (read the comment sections of atheist/theist videos if you don't believe me) don't even have the mental dexterity to apply.

nixonfanatic Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - Well, I know where you're coming from.. However, I'm not suggesting that all atheists must be pearlists, but that one who follows the tenets of physical evidence and reasoned logic should just say so, outright. You are right when you say that many do not apply this to their lives; it's well pointed-out. I'm just, I guess, stating where I come from. I am both an atheist and a pearlist, but one describes what I do not believe, and the other what I do. Nix ~ thanks for commenting, Son!

SonistheFatherofMan Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - Well when you put it that way... lol

TheTruePooka Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - There is a power in words. I actually have reservations about this concept, upon thinking about it further. My reservations are with the necessity to define everything by specific labels. Humanity is to complex to define in such a manner. then again, the term does help clarify. Although if people can be convinced Acorn is a secret Agency of Destruction... they can go to town on "pearlist" as well.

nixonfanatic Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - They certainly can, at that. I still feel like my head is going to explode though. This week alone I've had about a dozen 'discussions' concerning the jargon. Blah. Buddy, it's folks like you that help keep me sane. Thanks for responding.

TheTruePooka Says:

Oct 10, 2009 - No worries. Your video got me to thinking about the whole Augustinian Classification System that essentially defines our world. While it's been a boon for science, I often wonder if perhaps we'd been more open in accepting some of the other thought systems that existed back then alongside it, we wouldn't be in the state we are today.

TLSlayer Says:

Oct 11, 2009 - secular humanist.

TipoftheSlung Says:

Oct 11, 2009 - I watched these vids out of order and have posted a response to the third one, sorry, i have had an odd couple of days. Rationalist?

TLSlayer Says:

Oct 11, 2009 - i hope you didnt take offense to me saying "whats the fucking difference?",i was just saying that creationists should just keep their mouths shut.

TLSlayer Says:

Oct 11, 2009 - if people want to call themselves PEARLists then to each their own,"atheist" is just a term that says we do not believe in god.

VelcroBanana Says:

Oct 12, 2009 - Unfortunately I would say that the term Pearlist would not replace the definition Atheist, it only helps define why you have come to the conclusion that there is no God. Example: I believe in Physical evidence and reason-logic...therefore I am an Athiest. Just my 2 cents.

nixonfanatic Says:

Oct 12, 2009 - Yeah, that's precisely what I'm struggling with. When someone asks me for my opinion on religion - in general - I can say confidently that I'm an atheist. When they ask me what I do believe/subscribe to, I like pearlist. Perhaps secular humanist, rationalist, or just skeptic would suffice I guess. It's really not my intellect, but my encounters in the real world, that present the problem. I should probably ignore those who say 'but you can't believe in that'. Nix ~

stealthbadger Says:

Oct 13, 2009 - The problem is that language is the only way we have to communicate with each other, so questions about it are important. Seems to me like it's much easier to own your own thoughts, pick a term, but choose your friends based on the thoughts and not the specific label. The term atheist does have one huge problem: we don't own its definition in the larger society (especially the mass media), and we never have.

stealthbadger Says:

Oct 13, 2009 - An interesting parallel is the word "feminist." The name was chosen not by women's rights activists, but by the media of the time. It doesn't even apply to what feminism is now (basically: the assertion that no group of humans has any more inherent value at birth than any other, and people should be treated as such). Now there has been 120 years or so of trying to claim that word as a positive thing, and it's still being used as a weapon. Food for thought.