Quote:
Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon
THANK YOU! That's exactly what I was getting at.
It's roughly the equivalent of me arguing with Mike over Mormon terminology. It would be absurd.
I'm fully aware of the original meaning and etymology of the words agnostic and atheistic. There is a semantic difference, yes. But I'm talking about the way the words are evolving (as all words do) and being used by the atheist/agnostic insiders today.
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But as a former member of the group, as a member still being affiliated with those within the group, I'm comfortable that I have a better understanding than those who have always believed. And my belief waxes and wanes, so I understand the segment of the group known to me. And unlike religious faith, there really is no coalescing center, no center of definition. In some ways, atheism is akin to Islam, as there is no central authority for it. It's sorta like a disease that people contract and carry with them for a lifetime.