(February 1, 2015 at 12:26 pm)Blackout Wrote:(February 1, 2015 at 12:23 pm)Mr.wizard Wrote: Because atheism is not a positive claim, it is only saying we don't believe the god claim, it is not a positive assertion that gods do not exist. Antitheism makes the claim that gods do not exist and in doing that they do accept a burden of proof.But atheists can make positive claims; you may not assert that gods don't exist, but you can assert, for example, that someone's religion is false, that religion is bad, or that believing in god is illogical. You have to provide proof.
As for the definition of atheism, it is the positive assertion that gods do not exist or the rejection of god claims (for me) so the agnostic principle doesn't apply always.
Atheists as individuals can make any claim they want and if they do they accept a burden of proof. What your confusing is that claims that an atheist would make does not change atheism. Atheism in itself is a position in response to single claim. Claim=god exists Atheism=don't believe you , that's it.