Quick Poll - Do you believe in God?

[Cato]

I'll probably be accused of being nit-picky for this, and you did stress an interest in keeping the question simple. I would have simplified it with "Do you believe in <b>any</b> gods?", or "...in <b>my</b> god?".

This was succinctly addressed in the OP so I can't accuse you of nitpicking, but you are obviously tilting at windmills.

[Cyberman]

I tried that once. I fell over. Turned out the windmill was tilting more than I expected.

[God of Mr. Hanky]

I'll probably be accused of being nit-picky for this, and you did stress an interest in keeping the question simple. I would have simplified it with "Do you believe in <b>any</b> gods?", or "...in <b>my</b> god?".

This was succinctly addressed in the OP so I can't accuse you of nitpicking, but you are obviously tilting at windmills.

I'll probably be accused of being nit-picky for this, and you did stress an interest in keeping the question simple. I would have simplified it with "Do you believe in <b>any</b> gods?", or "...in <b>my</b> god?".

This was succinctly addressed in the OP so I can't accuse you of nitpicking, but you are obviously tilting at windmills.

I don't know how people can be "succinct" about something when they don't understand it.  Am I missing something here on his intent, which would somehow necessitate "God", where "Yahweh", "Jesus", "Buddha", "Hindu gods", "this god", or "any damned god" would do? I really don't understand how he would not been able to use such better options without keeping it simple.

[Prometheus]

Doesn't Atheism mean "the lack in the belief of god"? so if you are an atheist and you say I don't believe in god you are taking a stance.
If you are a atheist you would say "I don't know" as you cant assert a truth saying god isn't real you can just say it is most probable that god isn't real based on the current evidence collected.

Im open to any suggestions or corrections

~ Prometheus

[GrandizerII]

Doesn't Atheism mean "the lack in the belief of god"? so if you are an atheist and you say I don't believe in god you are taking a stance.
If you are a atheist you would say "I don't know" as you cant assert a truth saying god isn't real you can just say it is most probable that god isn't real based on the current evidence collected.

Im open to any suggestions or corrections

~ Prometheus

Not believing in God is not the same as disbelieving in God.

[robvalue]

Not believing in God (weak atheism) and believing there is no God (strong atheism) are both states of mind, and as such are descriptive. You can of course state these to be the case, but that doesn't make them more or less true about yourself.

They're not a philosophical position, as they aren't a conscious choice. They don't require any justification either, since they just "are the case". Of course, anyone who values rational thought would want to be able to justify how they reached such a state of mind.

Claiming to have knowledge that there is or isn't a god is more of a claim, and should require justification if it's to be taken at all seriously.

[MattB]

Not sure how an agnostic can vote here. I'm still waiting for more evidence either way. Though I lean to the NO.

[Little Rik]

Not believing in God (weak atheism) and believing there is no God (strong atheism) are both states of mind, and as such are descriptive. You can of course state these to be the case, but that doesn't make them more or less true about yourself.
They're not a philosophical position, as they aren't a conscious choice. They don't require any justification either, since they just "are the case". Of course, anyone who values rational thought would want to be able to justify how they reached such a state of mind.
Claiming to have knowledge that there is or isn't a god is more of a claim, and should require justification if it's to be taken at all seriously.

That is bizarre rob.  
First you say that a weak or strong atheism do not require justification and then say that .............. to have knowledge that there is or isn't a god is more of a claim.....
It is interesting to know how weak or strong atheists get a weak or strong belief that there is no God?
Do they use their brain to work that out (knowledge) or the belief come as per magic?  
So if they use their brain then it is a claim which contradict your own story.  

[LostLocke]

Not sure how an agnostic can vote here.  I'm still waiting for more evidence either way.  Though I lean to the NO.

If you're going to wait for evidence of the non-existence of something before you decide you don't believe it exists, you're going to be waiting for a very very very very very long time.
If something doesn't exist, it can't leave behind evidence of its non-existence.

I have no evidence that Tiamat, the evil five-headed chromatic dragon, doesn't exist, and at this very moment is planning on the take over of the world. But, since there is no evidence that it does exist, I will go with, "No, I do not believe Tiamat exists. But if new evidence comes forth that says otherwise, I will evaluate it and, potentially, change my position on that."
Note, I'm not claiming to know for a fact that Tiamat does not exist. It's just that, since there is no evidence, I do state that I don't believe he does exist.

That's how an agnostic, which most atheists are, answers.  

[MattB]

Not sure how an agnostic can vote here. I'm still waiting for more evidence either way. Though I lean to the NO.

If you're going to wait for evidence of the non-existence of something before you decide you don't believe it exists, you're going to be waiting for a very very very very very long time.
If something doesn't exist, it can't leave behind evidence of its non-existence.

I have no evidence that Tiamat, the evil five-headed chromatic dragon, doesn't exist, and at this very moment is planning on the take over of the world. But, since there is no evidence that it does exist, I will go with, "No, I do not believe Tiamat exists. But if new evidence comes forth that says otherwise, I will evaluate it and, potentially, change my position on that."
Note, I'm not claiming to know for a fact that Tiamat does not exist. It's just that, since there is no evidence, I do state that I don't believe he does exist.

That's how an agnostic, which most atheists are, answers.

I will probably die not knowing. I'm talking about a god in general, not one specific one such as the Christian one.

Also, agnostics are not atheist. Alt.atheism on usenet says they are just a weak theist.