Strong Atheism starts from faith

[Edwardo Piet]

@ the OP

FaithvsFact - I agree, strong atheism is a faith position.

That is if both 1. if 'strong atheism' is to be defined as 'gnostic atheism' (as opposed to agnostic), or IOW: Atheism that claims that there absolutely is no God (or are no gods) - and 2. Faith is defined as belief without any evidence to support it. Because there indeed is no positive evidence that proves God absolutely doesn't exist (after all, if there was evidence that could do that, it would be going beyond evidence into absolute proof). There is no evidence to support the claim "God absolutely doesn't exist".

Being an agnostic atheist or so-called 'weak atheist' I simply do not believe in God. I do not claim that he absolutely doesn't exist but I think that he almost certainly doesn't for probabilistic reasons.

P.S. On a battle between faith and fact... I'd go with the facts... and that's a fact (well, almost lol - I can't really be absolutely sure of even my own actions ) (including 'what I'd go with').

EDIT: I didn't answer your questions because I'm not a strong atheist, but I'd like to anyway.

Ok, as to question 1: I consider the only real 'facts' to be scientific facts... which are 'truths' about reality that are backed up by extremely strong evidence but not absolutely proved - there is no absolute proof in science (nor does there need to be of course, facts are certainly strong enough).

And to question 2: I consider 'faith' to be belief despite the lack of evidence

EvF

[TruthWorthy]

Fact is theoretically proven "truth", but even theories can be considered fact, provided there is testable evidence to support it;
Faith is belief against the odds (or perceived odds), it requires any amount of defence mechanisms to sustain, such as rationalisation, intellectualisation, projection, displacement ((and they wonder what's wrong with them) I was once like you).
I believe there isn't a god. There's no way to test the existance, there's no way to measure it, and nowhere to look for it. I belief it solely exists in the imagination, in books, statues, etc.

[FaithvsFact]

Fact is theoretically proven "truth", but even theories can be considered fact, provided there is testable evidence to support it;
Faith is belief against the odds (or perceived odds), it requires any amount of defence mechanisms to sustain, such as rationalisation, intellectualisation, projection, displacement ((and they wonder what's wrong with them) I was once like you).
I believe there isn't a god. There's no way to test the existance, there's no way to measure it, and nowhere to look for it. I belief it solely exists in the imagination, in books, statues, etc.

Are you a strong atheist?

---

@ the OP

FaithvsFact - I agree, strong atheism is a faith position.

That is if both 1. if 'strong atheism' is to be defined as 'gnostic atheism' (as opposed to agnostic), or IOW: Atheism that claims that there absolutely is no God (or are no gods) - and 2. Faith is defined as belief without any evidence to support it. Because there indeed is no positive evidence that proves God absolutely doesn't exist (after all, if there was evidence that could do that, it would be going beyond evidence into absolute proof). There is no evidence to support the claim "God absolutely doesn't exist".

Being an agnostic atheist or so-called 'weak atheist' I simply do not believe in God. I do not claim that he absolutely doesn't exist but I think that he almost certainly doesn't for probabilistic reasons.

P.S. On a battle between faith and fact... I'd go with the facts... and that's a fact (well, almost lol - I can't really be absolutely sure of even my own actions ) (including 'what I'd go with').

EDIT: I didn't answer your questions because I'm not a strong atheist, but I'd like to anyway.

Ok, as to question 1: I consider the only real 'facts' to be scientific facts... which are 'truths' about reality that are backed up by extremely strong evidence but not absolutely proved - there is no absolute proof in science (nor does there need to be of course, facts are certainly strong enough).

And to question 2: I consider 'faith' to be belief despite the lack of evidence

EvF

Ok thanks for your reply! Some of the strong atheists would object to what you have just written about them but that's ok - I don't claim to say that all atheists are supposed to be united or alike.

[Edwardo Piet]

Just so you know.... I do argue with other atheists here from time to time :p

EvF

[TruthWorthy]

No. I just believe god doesn't exist as its own entity. That "god" is a concept that some people elevate to truth status.

[FaithvsFact]

(1) Please define what you consider to be the basis or method for establishing fact

Science, logic, critical thinking.

(2) Please define what you consider to be faith, and how do you see this is different from fact?

I have faith in myself. I believe in myself. I choose my destiny. I, not the invisible man in the sky, am in control of my life. I don't think that differs to much from fact because it is a fact that I'm here typing this now.

I will, however, not make the claim that there absolutely is no God at all, it's impossible to know.

I'll make that claim. I find it impossible to believe in any god so for me there is absolutely no god.

Ok since you are making the positive assertion that there is absolutely no god, you are a strong atheist.
In terms of fact you say science, logic and critical thinking. Can I hold you to those definitions?

For faith, you have said that you believe "in yourself". That's an interesting one - faith to you has to do with how much control you have over life is that right?

[chatpilot]

FvF said: "can you please define what a fact, in your opinion, actually is?

A fact is that which is true no matter what anyone thinks. The simplest thing I can think of to illustrate this is that if you take a walk off of a ledge of a tall building it is a fact that you are going to fall. You can wish that you don't fall or try to will the opposite effect but like it or not the laws of gravity demand that you go down!!

[theVOID]

FvF said: "can you please define what a fact, in your opinion, actually is?

A fact is that which is true no matter what anyone thinks. The simplest thing I can think of to illustrate this is that if you take a walk off of a ledge of a tall building it is a fact that you are going to fall. You can wish that you don't fall or try to will the opposite effect but like it or not the laws of gravity demand that you go down!!

That statement would need precursors to be true, such as "if you walk off a building on earth and you couldn't fly you are going to fall", but other than that you were correct.

[TruthWorthy]

nah, it's addressed to FvF when CPilot states "if you . . . ". Since it is a fact that human's are unable to fly and there's no implication that FvF isn't carrying a hang-glider or any other imaginary factors aren't coming into play, then it would be a miracle to survive. I mean miracle as in extreemely unlikely circumstances - like the existence of god

[FaithvsFact]

FvF said: "can you please define what a fact, in your opinion, actually is?

A fact is that which is true no matter what anyone thinks. The simplest thing I can think of to illustrate this is that if you take a walk off of a ledge of a tall building it is a fact that you are going to fall. You can wish that you don't fall or try to will the opposite effect but like it or not the laws of gravity demand that you go down!!

Firstly can I ask if you are a strong atheist?
You said "a fact is that which is true no matter what anyone thinks". Can I hold you to that definition?