Definitions of Terms
We can’t have a meaningful discussion if we aren’t on the same page. Precise language promotes clear induction and insures against moving goalposts. This page is an ongoing project in which I try to explain what I mean by what I say.
(a)theist — A generic term denoting interaction between atheists and theists. The phrase, “(a)theist discussion” would translate to, “discussion between atheists and theists.” The phrase, “books about (a)theism” would translate to, “books that address the atheist-theist dialog.”
Blind Faith — Unquestioning acceptance of statements spoken by an authority, often accompanied by a lack of critical thinking.
Commonsense Inquiry — Without reason to doubt them, we trust our senses as accurate. If our car window is smashed we assume we’ve been the victim of a crime. Though we could be wrong, the conclusion is commonsense, e.g., a result of reasoning supported by face value observation.
Consciousness — A base set of abilities, including but not limited to expression, intuition, volition, emotion, and intellect.
Contradiction — An instance of X and ~X. For example, I was in Los Angeles all day long on June 3rd, 2010 [X]. If I also claimed to be in Phoenix from June 1st to June 6th of the same year, that would be an instance of ~X. Per the law of non-contradiction, a reasonable person could safely conclude that my claim is false.
Conservatively Stated Belief — A conservatively-stated belief doesn’t go beyond the facts and is worded in a way that it can persist.
Epistemic Responsibility — One should thoughtfully consider evidence both for and against any empirical claims accepted or made. This does not necessarily entail that refusing to accept consensus is “epistemically irresponsible.”
Extraordinary Claim — Any claim that contradicts or appears to contradict a body of currently accepted facts. For example, that the speed of light is different in your neighborhood than mine, or that your uncle is 250 years old.
Faith — I think the following is a common denominator of all types and degrees of faith: “the extra step required for belief once we’ve reached the limits critical thinking impose on us.”
Free Will — The view that a person is free with respect to a given action if and only if that person is both free to perform that action and free to refrain from performing that action; in other words, that person is not determined to perform or refrain from that action by any prior causal forces. [IEP, 22]
Justified Belief — A conservatively-stated belief or conclusion that corresponds to face value observation, and is not significantly challenged by any anomalous data.
Logical Consistency — A set of statements is logically consistent if and only if it is possible for all of them to be true at the same time. [IEP, 15].
Objective — Primarily, any proposition whose truth cannot vary from person to person. Objective propositions retain “true for everybody” status, regardless of individual preferences or belief.
Subjective — A proposition whose truth varies from person to person, for example any and all preferences: “Chocolate is the best ice cream,” or “Basketball is the hardest sport.”
7 comments
Hello CL,
First of all, my english written is not wonderful as my primary langauge, American Sign Language. So, I have seen your name sometime at two blog: Common Sense Atheism and Debunking Christianity. Anyway, I start to thinking about you. Often I have a hard time to understand your english written, because your are too advance for me. So, I wonder are you Agnostic? or Co Exist? or believe in Jesus Christ? Me believe in Jesus Christ.
Thank you
—Felipe Ramos, 4-18-2011, 9:25 pm | Permalink
Hi Felipe.
I’ve seen you around at CSA, too, and always enjoyed your comments which are usually upbeat and optimistic. I’m sorry that you find some of what I write too advanced. If anything, I’m trying to make things more plain. Thank you for sharing your honest opinion though. I’ve accepted the Gospel. I don’t know if you read it or not, but I go into more detail here.
—cl, 4-19-2011, 12:14 am | Permalink
Hello Cl (smile),
Thank you for your compliment. I read your detail belief. Obviously, you are free thinker, and I am too. I respect people who are freethinker more than a narrowed-mind pastor. Holy Bible is very very human, not inerrancy, not infallible. Athough, Holy Bible is amazing me because it is historical, amazing stories like miracle and healing. Also, Holy Bible is only book in world have a information from the teaching of Jesus Christ despite few contradictions. There are few things I do not have answers as example as God is mysterious, but it is not my position to answer them. It is God’s place to answer to them directly. So, I do not accept Atheism because they do deny and ignore the exist of miracle, NDE, vision, prophet, healing, and spiritual thing. I have very few trusted friends are prophet. I will become atheism If If the people can explain how to cause miracle, NDE, vision, healing, prophet, etc without God.
I do like to ask you a question. Why not you accepted Quran instead Holy Bible? I know Holy Bible have a wonderful framework than Quran. For me,I have never read Quran. I know only is Quran claim Jesus Christ did not died either did not die on the cross. I disagree it because outside of religion book, it does name like Josephus and few (I do not remember). Although, I will read Quran and start to attend Mosque with sign language interpreter soon for listening their perspective.
—Felipe Ramos, 4-19-2011, 7:29 am | Permalink
Hey Cl,
I do like to say add thing. I do not know why Luke Muehlhauser ignore you. So, Luke and I did hang out once before. We talk with sign language interpreter. I do like Luke because he is sincere and seems integrity. I remember I gave three situations (one is prophet, one is supernatural, one is demon possession) which is impossible for atheism to explain them without God. Luke did not have a good explanation for them and he acknowledge it. Luke defend repeatly: “I bet, in future, science will discover healing, prophet, demon possession, etc”. I though it was his very optimistic. In my opinion, I do not think there will discover about it even in 4000 AD (maybe it is EXTREME ADVANCED technology).
—Felipe Ramos, 4-19-2011, 8:19 am | Permalink
Well, I don’t really look at it as an “all or nothing” proposition. I can point to verses in the Quran that I accept. However, I can also point to verses in the Quran that I don’t accept [stance on Jesus, how to treat unbelievers, etc.].
He has said that he doesn’t like to repeat himself, but of course, I never ask for him to repeat himself. I just want him to explain certain things and to admit it when caught in a contradiction. He’s kind of, how shall I say… selective in what he chooses to respond to.
I get that feeling, too. I think it’s cool that you guys hung out. He recently moved to the Bay Area, and I offered to meet up and grab a bite. He didn’t respond. I think he takes this blogging stuff a bit more seriously than people can see. As for me, I’ve got no problem meeting up with somebody I disagree with. In fact, I think it would help our dialog by creating an actual human relationship. That’s how empathy is built.
One can offer that defense for ANYTHING, so I’m not sure what he really accomplished other than conceding that he has FAITH in science.
—cl, 4-22-2011, 10:46 am | Permalink
Hey are you live in California? If so, what part? My family live in Los Angeles. We almost always visit my family during Christmas break. During that, maybe you and I can hang out for chat..
—Felipe Ramos, 4-24-2011, 10:53 pm | Permalink
I don’t make it to LA that often but if you’re ever in the Bay Area by all means say hello…
—cl, 5-3-2011, 2:24 pm | Permalink