Am I still an atheist if I believe in a higher being?

[vorlon13]

And strangely, from the really long long long long term view, on average, all universes are empty

[Redbeard The Pink]

And strangely, from the really long long long long term view, on average, all universes are empty

This exact thing has had me wondering if another universe doesn't just spring up behind this one as soon as it clears out of the way. Theoretically, if everything is expanding the way I understand it to be, then eventually the space occupied by the universe will eventually be occupied by mostly nothing, and whenever you have mostly nothing around you could always get another matter-antimatter rip like the one that might have started the Universe we're in now.

[Homeless Nutter]

You are quite mistaken in claiming that one cannot prove the nonexistence of something.  Anything whose definition is self-contradictory cannot exist.  Thus, there are no invisible pink unicorns, because "pink" and "invisible" contradict each other.  We can also know that things don't exist that do not fit with known facts.  For example, how messed up the world is, is incompatible with a being that is omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly benevolent, so such a being cannot exist.  We can know that Santa does not exist because people have visited the north pole and his workshop is not there.  That, though, was unnecessary, as we know it is impossible for one man to visit every house on the planet in one night, and it is impossible for a man to fit down every chimney (not to mention the fact that not every house has a chimney).  The idea that one cannot prove that some things do not exist is just false.

Logically - you can't fully prove a negative statement, because one can always find (make up) justifications for why a thing can exists. "Invisible pink unicorns"? That's easy - they're generally invisible, but sometimes they become visible (whatever - they voluntarily drop their "camouflage", or they can be seen through another dimension, they're simply very, very, very small, or some such un-disprovable assertion), and then they are pink. Sure - I can't possibly prove this, but that's beside the point. 
Santa's factory is hidden way bellow the ice. Or - it's not its actual location, as North Pole does not belong in Santa Claus' definition (many cultures have different versions, North Pole is just a modern American version).

Of course - for practical reasons we can and should consider those entities as non-existent, since there is no proof for them and there are much simpler and testable explanations of reality available. But for the purpose of pure logic - we can not prove that there is no Santa, or that I'm not Napoleon Bonaparte. Luckilly - we don't really have to.

[BitchinHitchins]

I'm going to outline the views of some labels people apply on the internet. This list was helpful to me in determining where I fit on the spectrum.

Keep in mind that none of these sentences assert that the position can be proven, it merely shows the attitudes of various people in regards to the supernatural.

Gnostic Atheist- "There is no god and I am sure of it"
Agnostic Atheist- "I do not believe there is a god but I'm not claiming to know for sure"
Agnostic Theist- "I believe there is a god, however, I can't be certain"
Gnostic Theist- "god is real and I am sure of it"

Gnosticism comes from the ancient greek word gnostikos or "having knowledge". As it follows, gnostic theists or atheists would claim to have knowledge that god exists or does not exist.

This post was just to show the spectrum and the language used and what it all means. It just basically classifies people on a scale of certainty without absolute proof. Someone can, in fact, believe they are certain without any proof. Its all about your attitude.

Furthermore,

deism- "I think there is a higher power but I do not give it a name."
theism- "I think there is a higher power that interacts with everyday life. These people usually give the power a name and/or adhere to a religion"

Vix: I think, from what you have said, that you are a deist because you say you think there is something there but you do not feel the need to accompany that belief with religion. Some would say you are "spiritual" rather than "religious". However, I think with more thought, research, and time you may swing over to disbelief (judging from your responses to comments).

[ignoramus]

Vix, calling yourself an agnostic atheist (or just atheist) is what 99.9% of us are.
No strong stance or anything ... we don't believe because we don't have proof but we're always open minded like all clear thinkers and lovers of logic.

The problem here is that the Xtians will translate that definition for you and TELL you what you believe (or don't believe). And then demand YOU prove that God doesn't exist!
This is where you politely tell them to fuck off!

If only I could be so free to respond to christians in such a manner

You don't! You think it!
You only speak your mind if it benefits your position. (not your ego)

[vixene]

Thanks for all your inputs guys

[IATIA]

So I stopped believing in God about 4 years ago and still pretending to be a christian when at home. I honestly don't believe I have it in me to become a christian again, too many logical fallacies, inconsistencies and contradictions. But I do believe there may be someone/something up there that started all this off.

Does atheism fall under that or is there another name for it? (For the record I don't believe this being is still involved with us or is probably just watching on a cinema screen type of thing eating popcorn)

As an atheist, I do not acknowledge a creator in any way, shape or form.  No intelligent design, just physics.  Anything else and I am not an atheist.

Personally, I do not accept any "first cause".

[robvalue]

I'm not sure about that. If I believe our reality is a computer simulation, would theists really be happy calling Kevin at Universes4U a god? I'd say this is a scientifically consistent (although unecessary) hypothesis.

Here's the problem. Since Gods are made up beings that no one even knows what the fuck they are (including theists) no one has to think too hard about them. Is Derek a god? If God just means "creates universes" then yes he is, but that's just replacing one question with another pointless label.

Fuck Derek. Turn your damn practice realities off when you've finished with them. You hear me? People down here think you're some sort of omnipotent being. Ironically, you probably are with regard to this reality. Not so much in your own. People are eating wafers and thinking they turn into bits of your dead son. Sort it out.

[vixene]

So I stopped believing in God about 4 years ago and still pretending to be a christian when at home. I honestly don't believe I have it in me to become a christian again, too many logical fallacies, inconsistencies and contradictions. But I do believe there may be someone/something up there that started all this off.

Does atheism fall under that or is there another name for it? (For the record I don't believe this being is still involved with us or is probably just watching on a cinema screen type of thing eating popcorn)

As an atheist, I do not acknowledge a creator in any way, shape or form.  No intelligent design, just physics.  Anything else and I am not an atheist.

Personally, I do not accept any "first cause".

Good for you

I'm not sure about that. If I believe our reality is a computer simulation, would theists really be happy calling Kevin at Universes4U a god? I'd say this is a scientifically consistent (although unecessary) hypothesis.

Here's the problem. Since Gods are made up beings that no one even knows what the fuck they are (including theists) no one has to think too hard about them. Is Derek a god? If God just means "creates universes" then yes he is, but that's just replacing one question with another pointless label.

Fuck Derek. Turn your damn practice realities off when you've finished with them. You hear me? People down here think you're some sort of omnipotent being. Ironically, you probably are with regard to this reality. Not so much in your own. People are eating wafers and thinking they turn into bits of your dead son. Sort it out.

Lol, wut?

[ignoramus]

Hi Rob.
Kevin here ...you know ... from Universes4U just replying back to your message.
Yeah sorry about the "religion" thing... I threw in a few self propagating subroutines which randomly populate their "details" from random myths and legends of other similar routines.

I honestly didn't believe anyone would take it seriously as these auto generated snippets usually end up not making a lot of sense. (not without a lot of imagination anyway).
To make your "virtual" lives a little more interesting, I embedded the potential for high "imagination" into your "virtual" entities.

Your program which I called "Universe 1034B" and wrote as part of my thesis has been running for a couple of years (our time) and nested about 6 levels deep within other virtual servers.
It is of very low priority, as are millions of other virtual world progs...

All I can say is please don't take anything too seriously. You pain is not real, your happiness is not real. You, earth, your universe are not real ... Bye for now and good random number generation.
(you may know it as good "luck" in your reality.)