Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
An agnostic is somebody who claims that one cannot know.
An atheist is somebody refusing to believe in the concept of theistic deity. This is not so much an active act of belief, but the refusal to actively believe. It thus is somewhat passive an act.
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Cambridge Dictionary -
conviction
- a strong opinion or belief
- a feeling of being certain about something
Merriam-Webster Dictionary -
conviction
-a state of mind in which one is free from doudt
Even though a truth that a person holds is a negative value, for example ‘there is no god’, defending that truth requires conviction. In order to accomplish that a person must express an opinion. He must be able to defend that position with conviction. If he can not then he has failed. If he refuses to then he has no actual opinion or his opinion is unknown to others.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
A prophet is somebody who claims to deliver the message of a supernatural entity, whose will is revelead to the prophet in visions or intuitions.
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Cambridge Dictionary -
prophet
a person who is believed to have a special power which allows them to say what a god wishes to tell people, especially about things that will happen in the future,
also
a person who supports a new system of beliefs and principles
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
So, maybe there is a dogma indeed behind my reasoning, then.  It would be called humanism. |
Cambridge Dictionary -
humanism
a
belief system based on the principle that people's spiritual and emotional needs can be satisfied without following a god or religion
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
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I for one think this is a good development. No organization or person is beyond criticism or examination. If it falls because of this it had little value to begin with. If it makes it stronger because of it, it will have more value.