[extropy-chat] Atheism in Decline

[Olga Bourlin]

From: "Technotranscendence" <neptune at superlink.net>

> It's not so much the opposite as just a variant meaning.  (After all,
> "faith" as "trust" or "confidence" could be based on "faith" as in no
> evidence or contradicting available evidence.  The problem is that most
> people I've seen confuse the two and often use the former meaning in
> contexts where it's no attached to the latter.  Just substitute in
> "trust" or "confidence" when you think it's the former and you'll see
> the two concepts needn't be contradictory.  Someone could have faith in
> the Lord, so to speak.:)  The problem is the word is not the concept.
> In English at least, there are at least two different meanings -- two
> different concepts -- covered by the same word faith.

Agree. I myself don't use the word "faith" to mean "trust" or confidence.
 
> Funny.  I thought the argument about atheists not understanding the
> minutiae of various religious debates as an argument against atheism
> entertaining.  I guess those not familiar with the minutiae about
> phlogiston should not be taken seriously when they take Lavoisier's side
> on that issue.

Yes, they should be phlogged.

Olga