Defining "Atheism"

[Existentialist]

It seems as if you are complicating and expanding the simple definition of the word atheism, which causes people like me to attempt clarification, which in turn... derails threads (not this one, as this is the topic).

Now that's not fair. I am trying to describe the qualities and concepts contained within atheism, not change the simple definition of it. Dictionary definitions are limited and if every time someone says more about a subject than is strictly defined in the dictionary, they get criticised for attempting to change, expand or complicate the dictionary definition, then we will not be able to have a conversation about anything. But if you want to re-word what I'm saying to "the study of atheism involves an enquiry into the non-existence of God" then I have no objection. My comments about belief and non-belief still stand.

People question, debate, doubt, and contemplate the existence of gods, but only those which lack belief in their existence are atheists. The person that claims a solid belief that there are no gods, does lack belief, and so is an atheist with or without the belief that there are none.

It is, however, a problem that some definitions of atheism don't mention belief, and other definitions do. That is what makes me think that belief is an expendable component of the concept of atheism. Belief and non-belief are separate words from denial and non-denial.