Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have.[SUP]
[1][/SUP] Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie.[SUP]
[1][/SUP]
Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches.
Samuel Johnson made this point when he wrote about the misuse of the charge of "hypocrisy" in
Rambler No. 14:
Nothing is more unjust, however common, than to charge with hypocrisy him that expresses zeal for those virtues which he neglects to practice; since he may be sincerely convinced of the advantages of conquering his passions, without having yet obtained the victory, as a man may be confident of the advantages of a voyage, or a journey, without having courage or industry to undertake it, and may honestly recommend to others, those attempts which he neglects himself.[SUP]
[2][/SUP]
Thus, an alcoholic's advocating
temperance, for example, would not be considered an act of hypocrisy as long as the alcoholic made no pretense of constant
sobriety.
Sorry Oly, I just cannot see how someone that doesn't believe in something, dating someone that does is a hypocrite. So for the third time you have made that assertion but have yet to explain it even though you have been asked to clarify. What principle(s) does the atheist claim to have that they don't?
You also have made the charge of an atheist believing that belief is dangerous. There is nothing about atheism that says that. We have tried to teach you numerous times that atheism is about one thing, disbelief in a god or gods and says nothing about what they do believe in any other area including what they think about religion in general. UndertheIce is a frequent atheist poster here that routinely defends theism and religion. If you keep confusing atheism with anti-theism, you will continue to be wrong and I will continue to point it out.
We've discussed this before, as an individual, I like you and I think we would get along quite well IRL. Would you and I being friends make me a hypocrite?