convert or deconvert?
Is deconvert a word?
Well lets look at the word in which it comes from, convert.
con‧vert [v. kuhn-vurt; n. kon-vurt]
–verb (used with object)
1. to change (something) into a different form or properties; transmute; transform.
2. to cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc.: to convert the heathen.
3. to turn to another or a particular use or purpose; divert from the original or intended use: They converted the study into a nursery for the baby.
4. to modify (something) so as to serve a different function: to convert an automobile factory to the manufacture of tanks.
5. to obtain an equivalent value for in an exchange or calculation, as money or units of measurement: to convert bank notes into gold; to convert yards into meters.
6. Finance. to exchange voluntarily (a bond or preferred stock) into another security, usually common stock, because of the greater value of the latter.
7. to change in character; cause to turn from an evil life to a righteous one: to convert a criminal.
8. Chemistry. to cause (a substance) to undergo a chemical change: to convert sugar into alcohol.
9. to invert or transpose.
10. Law.
a. to assume unlawful rights of ownership of (personal property).
b. to change the form of (property), as from realty to personalty or vice versa.
11. to appropriate wrongfully to one's own use.
12. Logic. to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion.
13. Computers. to subject to conversion.
–verb (used without object)
14. to become converted.
15. Football. to make a conversion.
–noun
16. one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion.
As you can see the word has a lot of meanings, but lets look at the context in which we are using it...
2. to cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc.: to convert the heathen.16. one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion.
Both of these are saying it is dealing with religion or an idea. That is to adopt a belief. Atheism is a lack of belief. By that it doesn't sound like anyone can convert someone to Atheism.
To say you can convert someone to atheism is to you can convert someone to asantaism. So convert isn't that good of a description of it because it is being defined as taking away or disproving of a belief.
Ok now lets look at the other part of the word...
[quoteDictionary.com]de-
pref.
1. Do or make the opposite of; reverse: decriminalize.
2. Remove or remove from: delouse; deoxygenate.
3. Out of: deplane; defenestration.
4. Reduce; degrade: declass.
5. Derived from: deverbative.
I think in this context #1 or #2 is the best description. So really Deconvert means to remove a religion or opinion.
However if we go by this definition anyone who is converted would have to be deconverted first. Also if we were to use the strong atheist definition of atheism then convert would be pretty accurate. But it seems like all RRS is doing is deconverting, removing a belief, and not replacing it with another belief. The only way a person could say they are doing this is if a lack of belief is a belief.
Now lets address the other "problem" it isn't in the dictionary. Well there are a ton of words that were not in the dictionary and now they are. A few of the clearer examples are words like 'Doh', 'Truthyness', or 'Super-cali-fragi-listic-expi-ali-docious'. Basically if you make up a word even if it has no meaning and get it used enough it can be a word. But this word wasn't created for fun like 'Super-cali-fragi-listic-expi-ali-docious' or 'Una-Boob'. This word was created to describe something which doesn't have a good word for it as convert is all about to a religion and this is from all religion.
Ok now some people say atheism is a religion. First an atheist is only describing one thing and has no dogma. Two bald is not a hair color.
P.S. Feel free to comment, add to it, offer corrections, or rip it apart.
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That pretty much covers it.
That pretty much covers it.
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Deprogram
Deprogram:
To counteract or try to counteract the effect of an indoctrination, especially a religious or cult indoctrination.
sounds perfect to me
Saying there can't be morality without God,
is like saying there can't be presents without Santa Claus!
Yeah I gues if they don't
Yeah I gues if they don't like us make a new simple word we can just use that word.