George,

FYI. On the definition of Atheism, from a Theist perspective (Catholic):

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02040a.htm

Oliver,
Thanks for the link. It is not less irritating than definitions provided by atheists themselves: Apparently, neither can most atheists define atheism without defending it, nor can most theists define atheism without criticising it.

It reminds me of my student times, when I was confused by those explaining Einstein‘s relativity by giving reasons why it was preferable to the Newton‘s model without stating clearly what it actually claimed: my reaction was, “please first tell me EXACTLY WHAT you want me to believe (in this case it was the new mathematical model of space and time), and then give me the REASONS WHY I should believe it.

I am even more sensitive about this distinction where world-views - in their entirety or just some aspects of them- are concerned, although I realise that most people prefer this approach of a salesman who will tell you the advantages of his product (against those of the competition) at the same time as telling you what it can actually do.

Atheists and Christians can talk to each other. How about everyone now follows up, and does something practical about respecting everyones rights to free and unfettered access to justice. I am sure it is not just Christians who want that. What I want you to do is this:

The PM has a website: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm On it you can contact him. What has gone wrong with Australia in the last 43 years, can be fixed in one small act by many of you. Click on the above website.

Copy and cut this simple Christian prayer into the message to the PM and watch the blessings flow to all Australians. We are the most over governed country on earth. That is not what we asked for in 1900. We asked for peace, order and good government, in S 51 Constitution. The Prayer is:

25th March 2009, the Commonwealth has an opportunity in the Federal Court, to completely reform the way the Federal Court does business.. If you will simply cut and paste this post into the KR website. The request you should make to KR is this:

Please intervene in the proceedings, for which you are going to receive a S 78B Judiciary Act 1903 Notice and support a request that:
(a) Section 39 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 be declared invalid.
(b) Order 46 Rule 7A Federal Court Rules be declared invalid.
(c.) That the ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL ACT 1975 be given full effect, and the tribunal declared to have power to replace the judgment of any Federal Court Judge who sits without a jury at Commonwealth expense, as he can, with an order that he do so.
(d) Ensure the Commonwealth acts as a Model Litigant.
(e) The Australia Act 1986 except sections 5 and 11 be declared invalid.

Essentially if the Federal Court of Australia is to do its job, and fulfil its Statutory command, as Judicature court, as enacted in S 22 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 to determine a matter completely and finally, KR needs to act. Without your help this will not happen.

Peter what are these acts all about? You encourage us to write to the PM but don't explain why. Save me the time.

Oliver the website sums it up: "without god". Beyond that is personal commentary.

Spikey had it in one. The article is self-serving and circular. Simply, "the definition of the God that atheists do not believe in" is a construct of theists alone. Atheists by definition have no idea where they're coming from.

Apparently, I'm impossible.
Funny, I still feel the same.
(An exercise in brevity, thanks to the teaching of bennie).

If Sells believes that atheists are just knocking down straw men of their own creation then perhaps he should propose something more substantial for them to tackle.
Of course... it is much easier to say what God is not than to say what God is. The difference between an atheist and a 'Sells' is that the 'Sells' says God is not this and God is not that while the atheist simply says that God is not anything.