6 August 2005
Being a non-non-atheist
I ran across a blog today in which a self-proclaimed atheist discovered that there were in fact a zillion different types of athiests and so found himself in a philosophical conundrum. I find it interesting that anyone should feel the need to define themselves with a negative. While I don't believe in a divine force that is someow distinct from the universe itself, I wouldn't bother describing myself as "atheist" any more than I would call myself a "non-Republican" or as a "non-Fascist."
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4 comments:
Excellent point, friend. Perhaps that's why being an atheist is "bad" while believing in God is "good". Placing oneself in opposition to something is to take the negative position. Interesting! It goes back to Lakoff's ideas about framing, I suppose. To oppose the idea within the frame is to place yourself in it actually. Crazy!
BTW, I love your use of the double negative. Ha!!
But am I not thereby also in the frame?!
Of course! Unless that double negative is seen as a get out of jail card. Free from the frame because you've doubled your way out of there!
Maybe it's because our language comes from theistic traditions so we have no word for not believing in God that isn't negative. Really, though, it's just a classification, right? Perhaps we should come up with a whole new word...
I'm an Anywayist.
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