I AM AN ATHEIST NOT A PEARLIST Clarified

rozeboosje Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Very well put. I won't call myself PEARList either. Firstly, I see 'atheist' as a badge of honour, just like 'gay' for example, adopting the derogatory term those who have a problem with your existence invented for you as a statement of defiance. (More)

shanoxilt Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - What is a PEARList?

rozeboosje Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Secondly, my whole life doesn't revolve around rationality. Sure, when I want to make sure that things run smoothly and the roof doesn't leak I use rationality. When I enjoy music, art, love and human interaction I'll allow my social instincts and my emotions to take over and rationality be Damned.

Orygyn Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - It stands for "physical evidence and reasoned logic". It's basically someone who accepts that.

Orygyn Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Ah good points.

Eddiethepizzaboy Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - If you were to think of it scientifically.... Atheists cannot prove there is no god, there could be, we will never know for certain. You would be a moron to devote your life to this 'god' in the expectation that you will be granted a better, ever lasting life. I dont believe in god, i dont not believe in him either. Eddie

Orygyn Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Sounds fair.

Eddiethepizzaboy Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - However i agree with your ideas on trolls on both sides of the creationism debate. I also agree that PEARList may not be the best label for a person, but until something better comes this way.... The fact that its hard to understand what a PEARList means when they disclose that information might be a good thing, gives you a chance to explain why physical evidence and reasoned logic is a good thing.... a kind of conversation started if you like.

Orygyn Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - That's a point yeh. Still, they might then laugh at you for calling yourself a pearlist just because of how it sounds.

jameshanley40 Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Well, this was an improvement.. fact is. Both "labels" are useful. (so I disagree with thunderfoot) Though I do find the term atheist a bit limited.. You'd be more honest saying you believe there is no god. It's more honest about what you believe. I have no problem with either label.. So in that sense, I disagree with both you and thunderfoot.

Eddiethepizzaboy Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - True, but we get laughed at for believing in such laughable ideas like: evolution, plate tectonics, disc accretion, large impact theory, the big bang and possible life on other planets, to name but a few.

jameshanley40 Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Your reasons for rejecting the label are quite weak.. your first one was that it's an acronym. People listening -do- know what the acronym means. Truth is, your reasons are that you think it sounds silly , you think of pearls. Here's a solution, you could say you believe in physical evidence and reason and logic.. And that there is no god. Drop the labels if you need to!

jameshanley40 Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - I do worry that atheists start trying to think and they can't think out morality.. and it's dangerous.. Bible believers are often nice decent moral people who can detect evil, their politics is largely moral. It's just a shame they don't allow stem cell research!

Orygyn Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - I agree with thinking beyond labels. In the end I don't need strong reasons to decline labels myself because I don't have to like them.

shanoxilt Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - I think I like it. I may use it.

shanoxilt Says:

Oct 5, 2009 - Or we could use the tried-and-true label of "skeptic".

Orygyn Says:

Oct 6, 2009 - If you like but I like your idea of simply using the word "skeptic".

TheMekWorkshop Says:

Oct 7, 2009 - In the UK it's redundant. It's the default position for our country(s) now. Saying you're atheist here is like saying 'I'm an AfatherChristmas-ian' to show everyone you don't believe in Father Christmas, you simply say 'I don't believe in Father Christmas' and its enough here, it's only really Americans who give it a title, even the Muslim countrys dont have a name for it, bar maybe 'Infidel'

Orygyn Says:

Oct 7, 2009 - LOL yeh.

totz2 Says:

Oct 7, 2009 - the drone problem has been going on for a long time. some people form their own opinions and others prefer to stick to the opinions of people who they view as having power. i like to think of it as middle age times, in those times if someone formed the wrong opinions they would be killed by someone who lacked the mental strength to question the people in power. its still the same thing, alot of freethinkers tend to break the law and instead of being killed by drones, they get arrested by them.

Orygyn Says:

Oct 7, 2009 - Well said. It's a big problem definitely.

totz2 Says:

Oct 7, 2009 - yea its a huge problem, i just watched your video about music discrimination and im thinking that maybe its the same issue; drones putting down ppl for forming their own opinions. sometimes its weird watching your videos cuz u say the exact same kind of stuff that ive been thinking about recently lol

Orygyn Says:

Oct 7, 2009 - Yeh I get that with other people as well.

xephyr1000 Says:

Oct 28, 2009 - Good video, Orygyn. I appreciate T-fo00t very much, but I prefer to call myself a Atheist, though I actually tell people I am Pantheist, because I feel it better describes how my thinking goes.

Orygyn Says:

Oct 28, 2009 - Thanks.