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On 19/04/2020 12:51, Guiio Prisco wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:mailman.40.1587297076.666.extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">
<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">Strong beliefs (including atheism) ...</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
We've already had this discussion. Atheism, by definition, is <i>not</i>
a belief. Your later comments ("atheists or believers...", "atheists
and believers...") admit as much. Saying things like the above is
simply inflammatory.<br>
<br>
If someone believes there are no gods, they are not an atheist. If
someone refuses to change their opinion when presented with
incontrovertible evidence that contradicts their opinion, that's not
atheism. If it can be proven that a god exists, then accepting that
the god exists is no longer believing in it. An atheist can say
"Yes, I now know that this god exists", without becoming a
non-atheist, as long as there is proof for the existence of the god.<br>
<br>
"there's no way to talk atheists or believers out of their
convictions, and discussions are much more likely to end in name
calling than in mutual understanding"<br>
<br>
You said it. In this case, the name-calling is the "there's no way
to talk atheists ... out of their convictions" bit. The opinions of
atheists are not convictions. They are evidence-based opinions.<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Ben Zaiboc</pre>
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