Atheism VS Anti-theism VS Agnostic

[lukec]

Hello all,

It's been a while since I was here!

Sorry if this has been hashed out before- I was just having a conversation with my uncle, and he was wondering what I meant when I said I was atheist. He thought I meant to say anti-theist, which he claimed to be, since he does not believe in a "God," since apparently the definition of atheism are:

"1. the doctrine or belief that there is no god.
2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings."

He was calling himself ANTI theist because he does not believe in a god or supreme being, and is against organized religion. Now I understand that when I call myself an Atheist I mean to say that I try to be skeptical as much as I can, and that I don't believe, based on what I see in the world, in any god, higher power, or spiritual events.

Now, IS there a better word than atheist for what I am?

[Paul the Human]

The three terms are related, but mean three different things.

Atheist: anyone that lacks belief in deities.

Anti-Theist: anyone that is opposed to religion and/or the religious.

Agnostic: anyone that claims to lack knowledge one way or the other, usually used in conjunction with the existence of deities.

[lukec]

Yes, the googlebot agrees.

As I am an Atheist, I don't believe in deities. However, neither do I believe in ghosts, fairies, "spiritual powers" which some might argue are not "deities." Is the best term simply "Non-believer"? It seems so... unspecific.

[Paul the Human]

I use the word 'skeptic'. When it comes to the existence of deities, I am an atheist. I also lack belief in the 'paranormal' and 'supernatural'... so I am a skeptic. At least... that's the term I use.

[Ashendant]

I prefer the term Strong atheist, but i'm not fully aware what that applies to

[Lethe]

If you're uncertain about your agnosticism, does that make you a double agnostic?! hock:

[yuriythebest]

I prefer the term Strong atheist, but i'm not fully aware what that applies to

Strong atheism: I believe there is no god

Weak atheism: I have not seen any good reason/evidence to believe in a deity/religion

the position of weak atheism is more or less agnostic atheism

[lukec]

Great. Thanks guys!!!

[Rhizomorph13]

If you're uncertain about your agnosticism, does that make you a double agnostic?! hock:

I'm a level four agnostic. I don't even believe that belief in a belief is believable.

[Tiberius]

I prefer the term Strong atheist, but i'm not fully aware what that applies to

Strong atheism: I believe there is no god

Weak atheism: I have not seen any good reason/evidence to believe in a deity/religion

the position of weak atheism is more or less agnostic atheism

Not true. Both strong and weak atheism can be agnostic. As long as the person states that they "do not know" whether God exists, they are full capable of believing there is no God, or taking a lesser stance of simply not believing.