Definitions

[Pappy]

Please refer to the defintions below during debates. This includes formal and informal discussions. You don't get to change the definitions...

Section 1: Belief and Philosophy Definitions

Agnostic
A person who believes that the existence or nonexistence of gods is unknown or unknowable. Agnostics may neither affirm nor deny the existence of a deity, holding that the truth cannot be proven or is not yet known.

Animist
A person who believes that all things—living and nonliving—possess a spirit or soul, including animals, plants, rivers, rocks, and even natural phenomena.

Apatheist
A person who is indifferent to whether any gods exist, seeing the question as irrelevant to daily life.

Atheist
A person who does not believe in the existence of any gods or deities. Atheism can range from a lack of belief due to insufficient evidence to an active belief that no gods exist.

Deist
A person who believes that a divine creator exists but does not intervene in the universe or human affairs. The universe operates according to natural laws established by that creator, without ongoing supernatural involvement.

Existentialist
A person who believes that life has no inherent meaning and that it is up to each individual to create their own purpose and values through free will, choice, and personal responsibility.

Freethinker
A person who forms opinions based on reason, logic, and evidence rather than authority, tradition, or dogma.

Fundamentalist
A person who strictly adheres to the literal interpretation of their religion or ideology, often rejecting modern reinterpretations.

Humanist
A person who emphasizes human reason, ethics, and justice while generally rejecting supernatural explanations. Humanism focuses on human welfare and the use of science and logic to guide moral decisions.

Materialist
A person who believes that only physical matter exists and that consciousness, thought, and emotion arise solely from material interactions. Materialism rejects supernatural explanations and views reality as explainable through science.

Monotheist
A person who believes in the existence of only one supreme god who is the creator and ruler of the universe.

Naturalist
A person who believes that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and that supernatural or spiritual explanations are unnecessary. Naturalists hold that the universe can be fully understood through observation and reason.

Nihilist
A person who believes that life lacks objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. Nihilists often reject moral or religious principles as unfounded.

Panentheist
A person who believes that God is both within the universe and beyond it — that the divine interpenetrates every part of the cosmos but also transcends it.

Pantheist
A person who believes that God and the universe are identical, or that everything collectively is divine.

Pluralist
A person who believes that no single religion or philosophy holds a monopoly on truth and that multiple belief systems may each express valid aspects of ultimate reality.

Polytheist
A person who believes in the existence of multiple gods or deities, each often associated with specific aspects of life or nature.

Relativist
A person who believes that truth or morality can vary depending on context, culture, or individual perspective.

Religious
A person who adheres to an organized faith or tradition that includes shared doctrines, practices, or rituals.

Secular Humanist
A person who combines humanist ethics and compassion with a naturalistic, non-religious worldview.

Secularist
A person who advocates for the separation of religion from government and public institutions, ensuring that religious beliefs do not influence laws or civil affairs.

Spiritual
A person who seeks personal meaning, purpose, or connection beyond the material world without necessarily following organized religion.

Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR)
A person who identifies with spiritual beliefs or experiences — such as a sense of connection, purpose, or higher meaning — but does not adhere to organized religion or formal doctrine.

Stoic
A person who believes in cultivating virtue, reason, and self-control to achieve inner peace, regardless of external circumstances.

Syncretist
A person who blends beliefs or practices from different religions or philosophies.

Theist
A person who believes in the existence of at least one god or deity, often one that is active in or has influence over the universe.

Transcendentalist
A person who believes that divine truth and understanding come through individual intuition and direct experience with nature, rather than through organized religion or reason alone.

Universalist
A person who believes that all people will ultimately be saved or united with the divine, regardless of religion, background, or actions.

Section 2: Discussion Conduct and Concepts

Ad Hominem
A personal attack or logical fallacy in which someone criticizes another person’s character, motive, or background instead of addressing the argument being made.

Believer
A general term for someone who holds a religious or spiritual belief, regardless of which specific faith or worldview they follow.

Blasphemy
Speech or expression that shows disrespect or irreverence toward a deity, religion, or sacred symbols.

Burden of Proof
The responsibility to provide evidence or reasoning to support a claim.

Cognitive Dissonance
The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or when new evidence challenges existing views.

Confirmation Bias
The tendency to seek or interpret information in ways that confirm one’s preexisting beliefs or opinions.

Doctrine
A principle or set of beliefs held and taught by a religious or philosophical group.

Dogma
A belief or set of beliefs presented as unquestionably true, often requiring acceptance without critique or evidence.

Echo Chamber
An environment where people are exposed only to opinions that reinforce their own beliefs, limiting exposure to differing views.

Faith
Confidence or trust in a particular belief, person, or doctrine — often held without complete empirical proof.

Good Faith / Bad Faith
Participating in discussion sincerely and honestly versus intentionally distorting, derailing, or arguing dishonestly.

Nonbeliever
A general term for someone who does not hold a religious or spiritual belief. This may include atheists, agnostics, humanists, or secularists.

Proselytizing
The act of attempting to convert others to one’s own religion, philosophy, or belief system.

Respectful Disagreement
Challenging ideas rather than individuals, maintaining civility and focus on reasoning instead of personal attacks.

Skeptic
A person who questions claims that lack empirical evidence or logical support. In religious or philosophical contexts, a skeptic may doubt supernatural claims without rejecting them outright.

Straw Man
Misrepresenting someone’s argument or position to make it easier to attack or refute.

Tone Policing
Criticizing how something is said rather than addressing the substance of the argument.

Whataboutism
Deflecting criticism or challenge by pointing to an unrelated issue instead of addressing the original point.

Section 3: Forum Moderation and Policy Terms

Flamebait
Content designed to provoke hostility or start arguments between members.

Moderator Discretion
The authority granted to moderators to make judgment calls for maintaining civility, enforcing rules, and protecting discussion quality.

Off-Topic
A post or comment that strays from the subject of the thread or discussion.

Trolling
Intentionally posting inflammatory or off-topic messages to provoke reactions, disrupt discussion, or cause conflict.