We are not atheists. In no way, shape, or form, are we atheists. We are mistaken to be atheists by the ignorant. Nonetheless, we are not atheists. Do we believe in the god of the Christians? No. Do we believe in the god of Israel? No. Do we believe in Allah, the Benevolent? No. Not even remotely do we believe in any of the aforementioned deities. Nonetheless, our disbelief in these deities is not the result of atheism. Misconceptions of Atheism will explain atheism in its simplest form. If you have a twisted understanding on atheism, your understanding on the subject is about to be uncoiled.
You're probably thinking, "How can a person not be an atheist; yet, don't believe in Jesus, Allah, or Yaweh?" Well, the answer is simple: not believing in Jesus as the "Son of God", or Allah the Benevolent, or Yaweh, does not signify atheism. Here's a moment of truth: by definition, an infidel is a person that has no religious faith (Webster's Dictionary). American Writer Abrose Bierce, made an interesting point, "Infidel: in New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople, one who does." What's the point? Understanding the meaning of words and how they are used in certain places and at certain time periods is important.
In having saying that, what is the meaning of atheism? How has the word atheism been used in certain places at certain times? Is atheism defined as not believing in the Judeo-Christian god? Is atheism signified as not believing in Allah, the god of the Muslims? Well, if you tell a Christian that you don't believe in Jesus, you will immediately be labeled an atheist. You could possibly have a set of religious tenets and a deity that you worship, but since you don't believe in the Christian god, you're instantly demonized and deemed a atheist. Why? You don't share the belief in the same god.
For example, in ancient Rome, the early Christians were alluded to as atheists. How can a Christian be an atheist? How can a person that believes in a god, be an atheist at the same time? Well, consider the time and place of reference: Christianity did not become a legal religion in Rome until Constantine. Up until that point, Christians were persecuted and held their liturgies in catacombs. The god of the Christians was not recognized as the Supreme Being. At that time, there were many gods: Zeus, Mithra, Dionysus, and Sol Invictus. Christianity was a new religion with its new god, Jesus Christ. Why should the Romans, who had their own system of theology, incorporate a foreign and new god into their pantheon?
Therefore, in the Writings of Justin Martyr, we read Justin Martyr (2nd century Christian apologist) making a defense for Christians, "We are called atheists and we confess that we are atheists, so far as [the pagan gods] are concerned, but not with respect to the most True God . . ." From this passage, we can deduce that people associate atheism with not believing in their god. Second century Christians did believe in a god-Jesus Christ. So what made them "atheists"? They were considered "atheists" because of their unbelief in the Greco-Roman gods. Although they did believe in a god, they were still "atheists" because they didn't believe in a god of another theology system. Is this the genuine and proper meaning of atheism?
Essentially, one can properly understand the meaning of words by understanding the etymology of that word. For instance, atheism derives from the Greek word atheos. Since theos is preceded by the prefix a, the only conclusion to reach is this: atheos means without god. Look up the word atheism in a lexicon that provides the etymology of words if you doubt what you are reading. Nonetheless, atheism can only be signified as being godless or not believing in the existence of gods. If a person believes in Zeus, but not Jesus, that person is not an atheist; Zeus is a god as much as Jesus is a god. The discussion on the historicity and divinity of each god is another topic. Reverting back to the topic at discussion, believing in one god while at the same time, not believing in another god, is not atheism. Although the early Christians did not believe in the Greco-Roman gods, that did not mean they were atheists; they did believe in a god. If a person does not believe in the Judeo-Christian god, but does acknowledge that there is a Divine Force, that person cannot be and is not an atheist.
You're probably thinking, "How can a person not be an atheist; yet, don't believe in Jesus, Allah, or Yaweh?" Well, the answer is simple: not believing in Jesus as the "Son of God", or Allah the Benevolent, or Yaweh, does not signify atheism. Here's a moment of truth: by definition, an infidel is a person that has no religious faith (Webster's Dictionary). American Writer Abrose Bierce, made an interesting point, "Infidel: in New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople, one who does." What's the point? Understanding the meaning of words and how they are used in certain places and at certain time periods is important.
In having saying that, what is the meaning of atheism? How has the word atheism been used in certain places at certain times? Is atheism defined as not believing in the Judeo-Christian god? Is atheism signified as not believing in Allah, the god of the Muslims? Well, if you tell a Christian that you don't believe in Jesus, you will immediately be labeled an atheist. You could possibly have a set of religious tenets and a deity that you worship, but since you don't believe in the Christian god, you're instantly demonized and deemed a atheist. Why? You don't share the belief in the same god.
For example, in ancient Rome, the early Christians were alluded to as atheists. How can a Christian be an atheist? How can a person that believes in a god, be an atheist at the same time? Well, consider the time and place of reference: Christianity did not become a legal religion in Rome until Constantine. Up until that point, Christians were persecuted and held their liturgies in catacombs. The god of the Christians was not recognized as the Supreme Being. At that time, there were many gods: Zeus, Mithra, Dionysus, and Sol Invictus. Christianity was a new religion with its new god, Jesus Christ. Why should the Romans, who had their own system of theology, incorporate a foreign and new god into their pantheon?
Therefore, in the Writings of Justin Martyr, we read Justin Martyr (2nd century Christian apologist) making a defense for Christians, "We are called atheists and we confess that we are atheists, so far as [the pagan gods] are concerned, but not with respect to the most True God . . ." From this passage, we can deduce that people associate atheism with not believing in their god. Second century Christians did believe in a god-Jesus Christ. So what made them "atheists"? They were considered "atheists" because of their unbelief in the Greco-Roman gods. Although they did believe in a god, they were still "atheists" because they didn't believe in a god of another theology system. Is this the genuine and proper meaning of atheism?
Essentially, one can properly understand the meaning of words by understanding the etymology of that word. For instance, atheism derives from the Greek word atheos. Since theos is preceded by the prefix a, the only conclusion to reach is this: atheos means without god. Look up the word atheism in a lexicon that provides the etymology of words if you doubt what you are reading. Nonetheless, atheism can only be signified as being godless or not believing in the existence of gods. If a person believes in Zeus, but not Jesus, that person is not an atheist; Zeus is a god as much as Jesus is a god. The discussion on the historicity and divinity of each god is another topic. Reverting back to the topic at discussion, believing in one god while at the same time, not believing in another god, is not atheism. Although the early Christians did not believe in the Greco-Roman gods, that did not mean they were atheists; they did believe in a god. If a person does not believe in the Judeo-Christian god, but does acknowledge that there is a Divine Force, that person cannot be and is not an atheist.
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