Definition of Atheism

[JonathanL]

Weak/negative atheist: Someone who lacks belief in God's existence.

Strong/positive atheism: Someone who asserts that God does not exist.



Both definitions are commonplace, and neither are "wrong" or "abnormal". Under the first definition all non-theists fall under the umbrella of atheism, while under the second only a sub-set of non-theists are atheists.

Generally I tend to view the weak/negative atheism definition as superfluous, since the word non-theist exists, and it's range of meaning is (as far as I can tell) exactly identical to the definition of "weak/negative atheism".

[Electric Skeptic]

You're free to use "apple" to a long, yellow, curved herb, it's not incorrect. It's just an abnormal usage of the word .

Of course it's incorrect. Words have meanings. That's not what 'apple' means. If you use it to mean such, you're wrong.

If you ask me for an apple, I'm going to give you want I conceive of as an apple. If you mean something else by the usage of "apple", I would first need to understand what you mean by your usage.

In which case the onus is on me to show that I'm using a wrong definition of the word.

It's impossible to be wrong in regard to word usage, merely abnormal.

Nonsense.

[Sparko]

You're free to use "apple" to a long, yellow, curved herb, it's not incorrect. It's just an abnormal usage of the word .



If you ask me for an apple, I'm going to give you want I conceive of as an apple. If you mean something else by the usage of "apple", I would first need to understand what you mean by your usage.



It's impossible to be wrong in regard to word usage, merely abnormal.

I am going to interpret all of your words from now on as completely agreeing with me whenever we have a debate, and submitting to me as your lord and master.