Fathers of Linux Revealed: Tooth Fairy & Santa Claus

An anonymous reader writes "The Alexis de Tocqueville Institute, which published the results of their very thorough investigation today, turned out to be right. Linus really isn't the father of the Linux operating system. After having been found out, Linus had no choice but to admit -- this is what he has to say: 'Ok, I admit it. I was just a front-man for the real fathers of Linux, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.'"

Comments

Dishonest list?

[DAldredge]

http://www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/humftp/E-text/Russell/ agnostic.htm

What Is an agnostic?

An agnostic thinks it impossible to know the truth in matters such as God and the future life with which Christianity and other religions are concerned. Or, if not impossible, at least impossible at the present time.
Are agnostics atheists?

No. An atheist, like a Christian, holds that we can know whether or not there is a God. The Christian holds that we can know there is a God; the atheist, that we can know there is not. The Agnostic suspends judgment, saying that there are not sufficient grounds either for affirmation or for denial. At the same time, an Agnostic may hold that the existence of God, though not impossible, is very improbable; he may even hold it so improbable that it is not worth considering in practice. In that case, he is not far removed from atheism. His attitude may be that which a careful philosopher would have towards the gods of ancient Greece. If I were asked to prove that Zeus and Poseidon and Hera and the rest of the Olympians do not exist, I should be at a loss to find conclusive arguments. An Agnostic may think the Christian God as improbable as the Olympians; in that case, he is, for practical purposes, at one with the atheists.

Re:Dishonest list?

[agm]

Completely off topic, but I disagree. If you don't belief in any deities then you are (by definition) an atheist. If you do belief in any then you are, by definition, a theist. These two terms are mutually exclusive (because of the "a"). You must be one or the other.

An agnostic, on the other hand, doesn't think it is possible to know whether deities exist.

So it is quite plausible to be an agnostic theist as well as an agnostic atheist.

(Though I admit there is not much point in word definition debates as they hardly ever end with agreement).

Re:Dishonest list?

[nacturation]

Depends on how you define the words. Strictly speaking, an atheist is really an a-theist. The "a-" prefix is [Greek? Latin?] for "non-", so atheist in this context means non-theist.

Thus, if someone asks "Are you a theist?" And you answer, "No, I am not a theist." Then you're really saying you're not a theist, non-theist, atheist. Saying that you're not a theist doesn't automatically mean that you actively believe in the complete opposite of whatever theists believe.

Someone who is Gnostic believes a whole lot of other stuff. Thus, to be a non-Gnostic (agnostic) is much different than to be a non-Theist (atheist). Anyway, check out Wiki on theist/gnostic/atheist/agnostic for more info.

Re:Dishonest list?

[soft_guy]

Which am I? When people ask me, I say, "I choose to believe in the non existance of God."

Re:Dishonest list?

[agm]

Atheist.

Re:Familiar pair for atheists.

[benploni]

Who modded me as flamebait?!?! Demonstrating a lack of surprise due to the parent poster's findings' congruence with well-known studies is not flamebait. I guess it's true what that sig said about never saying anything portrayable as anti-religion on slashdot. Even if it's not, you're headed to the karma cellar.

In other news....

[dacarr]

SCOX has once again dropped below $5. They are now at $4.81 as of this posting.

Re:Obligatory

[maximilln]

If I had mod points parent would get two for Funny.