Hello all,
I found you while searching the term "Atheists, Skeptics, & Humanists - ASH Folding". I joined the group a couple of months ago, I guess. I've been folding for years, but abandoned my last group due to their lack of participation. I wish Stanford would allow transferring previous work unit credit to a new group, after all, it's volunteer work I did and paid the power bill on.

I've never been a believer, but have only been an "active" atheist for a few years. In fact, I state that I don't "believe" in anything. To me, the word smacks of faith. For example, I trust that evolution is true, but I don't "believe" in it. I'm not a "Darwinist", I just recognize something that makes sense when I see it, particularly when there's evidence.

I also don't call myself "an atheist". It seems to me that it makes it sound as if my position is a thing. The word atheist, with the negating "a" before "theist" is ample. I see it as a lack of something, not possession of something.

I dislike the term "atheism". I don't think lack of belief in one thing constitutes an "ism", and I never capitalize "atheist". I perceive it as a normal noun, not the name of an organization, belief system or anything deserving a proper noun.

I tend to over-analyze, as you can tell. But do you think of what I've said here?

Welcome to ratSkep John.

Well done on your folding work so far
As for the -ism.. it's just a work. Useful but not worth losing sleep over, eh.

Hi!

Hello Atheous

I get what you're saying about "atheism," I find some people do latch onto that - hey, it says "ism" so it's just another "religion."

I like the idea of self-identifying as "atheist" rather than "an atheist." A fine point, I know, but the more I think about it the more elegant it seems. Thanks for that!

Welcome to the lifeboat, Atheous. Glad to have you on board. I find the word 'atheist' rather theocentric for my own taste, so I understand your point of view.

Hello from Canada.

Welcome to RatSkep!

Welcome Atheous,

From your first post I like you already. Enjoy your time here mate!

Welcome to the forum!

I

also don't call myself "an atheist". It seems to me that it makes it sound as if my position is a thing. The word atheist, with the negating "a" before "theist" is ample. I see it as a lack of something, not possession of something.

a gentleman called peter cundall ex abc tv/ radio/.au // has a similar view he has an interview on abc net au / compass / iview somewhere dated appr last sept...