I was born an iTheist

By Pixel at August 26, 2007 at 1:53 pm. Filed in note to self

I’ve heard it argued in various circles that children are born without a belief in God, which technically makes them atheists. Richard Dawkins argues something of the sort.

Others disagree. The Catholic church, for example, registers every baptized child as Catholic. I was born to (technically) Catholic parents, so I’m registered as a Catholic and always will be.

I think it is a rather silly point, but I love silly points, so let me offer my own solution.

The word atheist comes from the root words ‘a-’ which means ‘without’ and ‘theos’ which means ‘god.’ Thus theist means ‘with god’ and atheist means ‘godless.’ This is similar to the root for aliterate (which is a relatively recent term meaning a person who is unwilling to read, although able to do so). Aliterate comes from ‘a-’ and ‘literos’ which means ‘many words.’ There is, however, another word which refers to a person who is unable to read at all. This word is illiterate. Thus, taking a cue from precedent, I’d like to create a new word.

The word I propose for a child who has not yet been exposed to theism is ‘itheist.’

In the same way that aliterate is a person who can read but does not and illiterate is a person who does not know how to read, I’ll parallel atheist as a person who knows about God but does not believe and itheist as a person who is not aware of God at all.

I argue that we need a new word because neither side can possibly win by claiming children all around the world as members of their own camp. What does it matter if atheists win the fight and say that religious people brainwash children? It’s an ad hominem attack, and a poor one at that. I say we create a new word and move on to serious arguments.
I’ve created the word, now let me get out of the way and watch everyone misuse it to refer to people who from foreign lands who may have not been exposed to their religion. Itheism as I know it only refers to people who have not been exposed to any religion, not your religion in specific.

There are currently 71 Google results for itheism, all of them used in different ways. Hopefully this will change.

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