It appears that Gilbert is utterly confused about the meanings of the English words atheist and agnostic, and the Konkani word bamto or bhaamto.
--- Gilbert Lawrence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Question 1: If one makes no claim on religion, but > does live by "a rock solid principles and moral > code", is he / she an true ATHEIST? > The answer is obvious to anybody who knows the meaning of the word atheist. He/she is an atheist if he/she does not believe that there is/are god(s). > > GL's answer: An "agnostic" (no formal faith) with a > "rock solid moral code" does in-effect have a > philosophy and an "unstructured religion" albeit not > a named (recognized) faith. So IMHO, they are NOT > true agnostic, as they do follow and believe in > something. > More confusion. An agnostic is a person who has no religious beliefs, religious philosophy or beliefs based on any kind of recognized or unrecognized faith. > > Question 2: If one claims a religion, but then DOES > NOT live by it, by their OWN claim or actions, is he > a true Believer (NON-ATHEIST)? > An absurd question based on confusion about the meaning of the word atheist. A Christian who does not live by Christianity but still believes in a deity is still a non-atheist. A Buddhist, a Jain, a Confucian or a Taoist is an atheist even though he/she is a believer in his/her religion because his/her religion does not recognize the existence of a deity. > > GL's answer: The individual claiming to be > affiliated with a recognized religion, yet adamantly > refusing to follow many of its basic tenets (not > machem machem cafeteria) is effectively an agnostic > / atheist. The same applies to an agnostic with no > "rock solid moral code". > Confusion galore! > > IMHO, in both groups, they do not follow anything > other than what they make up to suit their > convenience. And both groups ... repeat... both > groups... repeat... both groups... are termed in > amchi bhas as bamtos. > Apart from the confused and prejudiced misunderstanding of the words agnostic and atheist, the above reveals a lack of knowledge about what is meant by the Konkani word bamto (bhaamto). A bhaamto is a miser, or someone who lacks basic generosity. This word has nothing to do with someone's religious beliefs. > > From both a purist and a practical view, doesn't > the analysis make sense? > No. The analysis is an exposition of pure nonsense. Cheers, Santosh _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
