What do you call a non follower of neither atheism or theism

[FreeTony]

Well there's always Agnostic if you're really not sure.

Yeah, he can call himself an Agnostic if he wants, though he wouldn't want to bound by their rules and dogma.

I don't think you can be both not a Theist and not an Atheist, from my definition, but there are those out there that say you can have a neutral position. I often think this is because peope assume if you disbelieve one statement, you must believe the opposite, so they don't want to be seen to be doing this. The coin analogy was meant to show why this can become absurd, though I guess you can say you have a neutral believe in both the Head and Tail claims. I'd argue in this case the "nuetral belief" and the disbelief are actually the same thing, as both acknowlege the fact that the coin could show a heads, but it isn't 100% certain to.

It all hinges on this concept of neutral belief and whether one can have one. I guess coming from a scientific background, disbelief is very normal, and all experiments start that way. If the experiement is succesful, it doesn't mean you were wrong at the start by disbelieving the hypothesis. You have to start from disbelief ( or belief in the null hypothesis).

[salamenfuckyou]

That's basically me
Reason: Don't want to be a slave (Unleashes the chains)

A slave?
I consider myself atheist based on this simple definition.

Axiological, or constructive, atheism rejects the existence of gods in favor of a "higher absolute", such as humanity. This form of atheism favors humanity as the absolute source of ethics and values, and permits individuals to resolve moral problems without resorting to God.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

Everything else besides that is just claptrap.
That doesn`t make me, you nor anyone else a slave?

[Mudhammam]

I also wondered what a "slave" to atheism entails... a slave to facts? Curiousity? Knowledge? Intelligence? One's own mind?

[Strongbad]

A "non follower" of "neither"?

I'd call that person a double negative.

[pocaracas]

"follower of atheism"... there's a fine christian talking! On your knees and pray to your god!

[max-greece]

Well there's always Agnostic if you're really not sure.

Yeah, he can call himself an Agnostic if he wants, though he wouldn't want to bound by their rules and dogma.

I don't think you can be both not a Theist and not an Atheist, from my definition, but there are those out there that say you can have a neutral position. I often think this is because peope assume if you disbelieve one statement, you must believe the opposite, so they don't want to be seen to be doing this. The coin analogy was meant to show why this can become absurd, though I guess you can say you have a neutral believe in both the Head and Tail claims. I'd argue in this case the "nuetral belief" and the disbelief are actually the same thing, as both acknowlege the fact that the coin could show a heads, but it isn't 100% certain to.

It all hinges on this concept of neutral belief and whether one can have one. I guess coming from a scientific background, disbelief is very normal, and all experiments start that way. If the experiement is succesful, it doesn't mean you were wrong at the start by disbelieving the hypothesis. You have to start from disbelief ( or belief in the null hypothesis).

I suppose a lot will depend on accepting the coin toss analogy. In my experience agnostics tend to approach this issue as:

God demands faith.
Faith denies evidence.
I do not know if God exists.

Often accompanied by - but I think there is "something" up there and that something has varying degrees of god-like qualities ranging from a deist position to all but the Christian God.

As for the OP I can understand the desire to avoid the label but membership of the atheist club isn't exactly onerous. If you do not believe there is a God you are somewhat in the club - whatever you want to refer to that as.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I'm an atheist, and I don't follow anything (religiously speaking).

Atheism = lack of belief in a deity or deities (whatever they are).

That's all it is. It's not a counter claim to theism, it is the absence of one.

[FreeTony]

I suppose a lot will depend on accepting the coin toss analogy. In my experience agnostics tend to approach this issue as:

God demands faith.
Faith denies evidence.
I do not know if God exists.

Often accompanied by - but I think there is "something" up there and that something has varying degrees of god-like qualities ranging from a deist position to all but the Christian God.

As for the OP I can understand the desire to avoid the label but membership of the atheist club isn't exactly onerous. If you do not believe there is a God you are somewhat in the club - whatever you want to refer to that as.

No, but it is amazing the number of people who I would describe as Atheists, yet they themselves would not*, yet they have almost identical beliefs to myself.

*They tend to describe themselves as Agnostics. Agnosticism as far as I understand it, means not knowing for certain. I can believe/disbelieve something, but not know it is true. Then you get onto at what stage can you claim to know something...


As far as the "Oh but there's something greater than ourselves", again I think it stems back to thinking if you don't believe the claim a God exists, you must believe no God exists, so you are covering yourself. Often accompanied with "I'm open-minded".

[LostLocke]

So for me, it will likely be like the coin just disappeared for me then, because i have belief in myself. I am neither a follower of Theism or Atheism.

Well, the point of that analogy just flew right over your head.

Again, there's nothing to "follow" in atheism; it's merely the position that you don't believe theist claims. Don't believe that there's a god?

Congrats: you're an atheist.

I'd even go one step further and say, technically, you could even be a theist and not 'follow' anything either.

Also, belief in 'yourself' doesn't negate the theist/atheist position. So, you're still on the hook for that...

[Chas]

That's basically me
Reason: Don't want to be a slave (Unleashes the chains)

Well, aren't you special.

One does not 'follow' atheism. It is not a philosophy, it is a lack of belief in a deity.

You sound like an atheist to me, since you are not a theist.