What is the difference between an atheist and a theist?
By Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson
Apart from the ‘a’ at the beginning of atheist of course.
According to Wiktionary a theist is
One who believes in the existence of a god or gods.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/theist
Whereas an atheist is
(strictly) A person who is certain that no deities exist or who thinks that the existence of deities can be disproven.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atheist#English
The words are from the Greek where the ‘a’ before theist means ‘without’ and theist means ‘god’, from ἀ- (alpha, the first letter of the alphabet) and θεός, theos.
This seems a useful link for further analysis.
https://thisvsthat.io/atheist-vs-theist
It says
Atheists often rely on scientific evidence and reason to explain the world around them, while Theists often rely on faith and religious teachings to guide their beliefs.
Both Atheists and Theists may have strong convictions about their beliefs and may engage in debates or discussions to defend their viewpoints.
Ultimately, the difference between Atheists and Theists lies in their fundamental beliefs about the existence of a higher power
Atheists do not believe in a higher power but do rely on their own reason and senses. They may even think of themselves as the ultimate power. However, they like theists will rely on belief too as they can believe in the writing of others such as Charles Darwin for example or Richard Dawkins.
And they must ultimately believe that their senses are giving them correct information. Obviously this applies to theists too.
Theists may not defend their beliefs with scientific evidence and reason (in the sense of logical argument) but many do.
They see order in the world, the visible universe, and infer that the evidence of design is clear indication of a god, gods or higher power, whatever else might be the nature of that god, gods or higher power.
As a follower of Christ I might be considered a theist, but not all theists are Christians of course.
Anyway, I thought I would just look at the anagrams of both words to see if there any clues from the words themselves as to the nature of theist and atheist.
Theist
Theist
Theis = 5
There are 50 single words in total and 49 phrases which the anagram machine I use generates. There is one single full word:
- Tithes
Which is interesting as someone who believes in God will often tithe his income.
There are other words and phrases which I might comment on although nothing of great relevance to this post. However, there are the words ‘shite’ and ‘shit’. We can get this full phrase:
- ET shit
Which might be extra-terrestrial shit!
But the ET can be ‘et’ as in the root of ‘etymology’ and meaning in essence ‘word’. I have explained in an earlier post of mine how this relates to the first line in Genesis in the Bible, link at the end.
Atheist
The extra letter means there are 127 single words in total and 357 phrases which the anagram machine I use generates. There is again one single full word:
- Staithe – a landing stage
The relevance of this might seem obscure but perhaps is speaks of the atheist who stays at the boundary of land and sea awaiting the journey inland or to the ocean, but not going anywhere.
Which is why he or she ‘staithe’!
There are various phrases and these are of note;
- is theta
Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet and considered the symbol of death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theta#Symbolism
An atheist will be ‘dead’ to God in their unbelief.
- AI she tt
This reminds me of the female names given to AI’s like Alexa, Cortana and Siri.
Then there are these two phrases;
- ate shit
- eat shit
So atheists can eat rubbish such as the theory of evolution that suggests that random change with no direction by an outside agent causes the creation of ordered complex things.
This quote has been attributed to GK Chesterton:
When a man stops believing in God he doesn’t then believe in nothing, he believes anything.
Or as the Bible says
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” From Psalm 14 v.1
Summary and final thoughts
The words give some clues and what is contained in ‘theist’ is also to be found in ‘atheist’. We can say then that both theists and atheists are ‘shits’. The word has broader connotations than just dung or faeces though and more broadly means ‘stuff’, created things.
Created we are, whether we believe in God, or gods or none at all. In fact the first word of Genesis can be rendered ‘bereshit’, so in the beginning there was shit!
And perhaps we might say we are all ‘shitizens’ of one world or another!
There is the question whether an atheist is truly someone who doesn’t believe in god or gods, as they invariably make someone or something their ‘god’, something that rules or dominates their life, even if it is only their own intellect. As Paul the apostle wrote,
“For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.”
But if you are ‘in Christ’, then as Paul continues,
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.”
Which means he will change shits like us!
Whether a theist is sometimes an atheist with regards to certain matters is worth considering, that is they also ‘eat shit’ by consuming that which is crap or rubbish.
And whether an atheist is sometimes a theist when they act as if God exists.
But one thing is for sure; we are all shits. So let us ‘shit’ down and reason together!
P.S. here is an interesting link re the false logic of atheism saying there is no evidence of God.
And here is my link mentioned.
“In the beginning was the word AND…” – the missing word in the first line of Genesis
This might be of interest from my WordPress site.
I agree with Baldmichael that theists and atheists would do well to shit down together, to make a holy movement. Let them flush out devilish blockages before they turn into ungodly Revelations — and remember: man does not live by bread alone… sometimes he needs a good roll. 💨🚽✨
Interesting breakdown! I don't know what I am, seeing Consciousness as God, meaning everything is God, including Us. And things emerge and change like fractals...
Am I a theist or an atheist...?
I take My views from My spiritual experience:
My Spiritual Experience (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/my-spiritual-experience