Freethought & Rationalism Archive

NonHomogenized · 06-13-2003, 04:38 PM

I have to agree with others who have said that most people aren't going to give a flying piece of monkey dookie what we *want* it to mean, or what some website says it means. It sounds extremely arrogant - nearly as much so as things like "you really believe in god, you just don't want to admit it". Infidel (and heathen, for that matter) has a historical negative connotation, but self-identification as such sort of takes out any bite it has left. Plus, it sounds cool. Really, would you rather be saying "I'm a bright", or "I'm an infidel". "Bright" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Just my $.02, adjusted for inflation.

GunnerJ · 06-13-2003, 05:30 PM

LAME.

ashe · 06-13-2003, 06:09 PM

Just look at 'hacker'.

Cipher Girl · 06-13-2003, 06:17 PM

Bright sounds so damned goofy. I rather be call that damned Heathen or Infidel. Hell I'd rather be called an Atheist than a "Bright". I actually don't have a problem of calling myself an Atheist. Perhaps if we used the word more, we wouldn't have to try new ones.

Autonemesis · 06-13-2003, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toto
Both 'gay' and 'queer' were terms that originally had derogatory meanings, that were taken over and used as badges of honor. The Gay Liberation Front did not just decide to be "smart" or something else and try to hijack an existing word.

Doesn't mean atheists wouldn't succeed in getting it to stick. After all, I'm pretty sure some of us are in advertising.

ashe · 06-13-2003, 06:45 PM

Yea.. I like atheist. If you need to elaborate on the meaning of atheist that is fine.

Take Christian for example. It has many meanings; there are Catholics and Protestants.. and then innumerable subdivisions of those.

Similarly atheism can be a general term with specific subgroups.

AquaVita · 06-13-2003, 07:00 PM

From the site...

Quote:

The Brights' umbrella is large, very large. For example, Brights can be agnostics, rationalists, skeptics, atheists, objectivists, igtheists, and so on.

What the hell is an igtheist?

Cipher Girl · 06-14-2003, 10:50 PM

Igtheist - perhaps an atheist iguana?

Javaman · 06-15-2003, 07:08 AM

I can only find three examples while googling igtheist but I'd say someone just made it up... funny thing that. I'd guess what they did was (changing it to "igtheism" to make it easier on me):

i- (same as in- used for negation)
-g- (from gno- to know which should be very familiar here)
-theism (a belief in a deity)
So igtheism = no knowledge of a deity.

Typically we see stuff like this in 'ignorant' but I'm not sure that, etymologically speaking, it's kosher to use 'g' for 'gno' but I have no idea. I have a background in geology so I keep thinking it should have something to do with fire (igneous) which would make an igtheist a burning believer and that's just cruel.

Queen of Swords · 06-15-2003, 08:32 AM

Igtheist - a theist who lives in a little ice hut.

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06-13-2003, 04:38 PM	#21
NonHomogenized Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: no longer at IIDB Posts: 1,644	I have to agree with others who have said that most people aren't going to give a flying piece of monkey dookie what we want it to mean, or what some website says it means. It sounds extremely arrogant - nearly as much so as things like "you really believe in god, you just don't want to admit it". Infidel (and heathen, for that matter) has a historical negative connotation, but self-identification as such sort of takes out any bite it has left. Plus, it sounds cool. Really, would you rather be saying "I'm a bright", or "I'm an infidel". "Bright" just doesn't have the same ring to it. Just my $.02, adjusted for inflation.

06-13-2003, 05:30 PM	#22
GunnerJ Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: a place where i can list whatever location i want Posts: 4,871	LAME.

06-13-2003, 06:09 PM	#23
ashe Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: _ Posts: 1,651	Just look at 'hacker'.

06-13-2003, 06:17 PM	#24
Cipher Girl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sunny Southern California Posts: 657	Bright sounds so damned goofy. I rather be call that damned Heathen or Infidel. Hell I'd rather be called an Atheist than a "Bright". I actually don't have a problem of calling myself an Atheist. Perhaps if we used the word more, we wouldn't have to try new ones.

06-13-2003, 06:45 PM	#26
ashe Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: _ Posts: 1,651	Yea.. I like atheist. If you need to elaborate on the meaning of atheist that is fine. Take Christian for example. It has many meanings; there are Catholics and Protestants.. and then innumerable subdivisions of those. Similarly atheism can be a general term with specific subgroups.

06-14-2003, 10:50 PM	#28
Cipher Girl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sunny Southern California Posts: 657	Igtheist - perhaps an atheist iguana?

06-15-2003, 07:08 AM	#29
Javaman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,708	I can only find three examples while googling igtheist but I'd say someone just made it up... funny thing that. I'd guess what they did was (changing it to "igtheism" to make it easier on me): i- (same as in- used for negation) -g- (from gno- to know which should be very familiar here) -theism (a belief in a deity) So igtheism = no knowledge of a deity. Typically we see stuff like this in 'ignorant' but I'm not sure that, etymologically speaking, it's kosher to use 'g' for 'gno' but I have no idea. I have a background in geology so I keep thinking it should have something to do with fire (igneous) which would make an igtheist a burning believer and that's just cruel.

06-15-2003, 08:32 AM	#30
Queen of Swords Contributor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Canada. Finally. Posts: 10,155	Igtheist - a theist who lives in a little ice hut.

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