Definitions

One of the major issues when theists attempt to dismiss the arguments of Atheists is that of definitions.

Atheism for a start is one of contention.

This is something many debaters of Christians have struggled with. Some Christians have the misconception that it is a world view, in similar way communism, or indeed Christianity, can be seen as a world view.

With these two examples comes whole works of doctrine and teachings. Even within these world views there is a huge canyon of disagreement on what is and what is not, part of that world view.

For example the creation myth, some Christians fully believe that the world is around 6000 years old and evolution is wrong. Then there are others who are fine with evolution and a 4 billion plus yr old earth.

The inner working of a world view can be debated and discussed.

To keep things clear many atheistic debaters have resolved this problem with a simple defamation of Atheism:

“Atheism is a rejection of a claim, the claim being that there is a god or gods.”

This is a good definition; it’s clear and to the point. So why are there problems otherwise.


Here is the definition from : www.dictionary.com

“One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.”

So what is wrong with this definition?

It’s the use of the word deny. Dictionary.com has 8 definitions for the word deny. See below. 7 of them are very similar. 1 is not.

Christians tend to jump on the most common use definition of deny, which is to deny someone something, or hold back on making it available: e.g. deny an employee a pay raise. A pay rise is possible, it’s just being denied. Parents not letting a child have an ice cream. The ice cream is there, the child is simply not allowed it. And it is here that Christians mess up, they think that because Atheists deny god, that is evidence for existence, in the same way ice cream exists, the child just is denied it, or a person on a diet may deny themselves a hamburger. The hamburger is there, they are just denying it to themselves, and that, sadly, is how most theists see this definition of Atheism. Whereas the first definition of deny is clearly what Atheists mean. “to state that (something declared or believed to be true) is not true”.

And that is the problem with Christian’s belief that our denial is somehow proof. It is not. Simple English. This is why it is important to not use the word ‘deny’, unless you are prepared to educate theists on its many meanings.


1.
to state that (something declared or believed to be true) is not true: to deny an accusation.
2.
to refuse to agree or accede to: to deny a petition.
3.
to withhold the possession, use, or enjoyment of: to deny access to secret information.
4.
to withhold something from, or refuse to grant a request of: to deny a beggar.
5.
to refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disown; disavow; repudiate: to deny one's gods.
6.
to withhold (someone) from accessibility to a visitor: The secretary denied his employer to all those without appointments.
7.
Obsolete . to refuse to take or accept.
—Idiom
8.
deny oneself, to refrain from satisfying one's desires or needs; practice self-denial.