Agnostics

[Excited Penguin]

The basis of our disagreement is that you see lack of belief as merely 'belief not present', and I see it as 'belief not granted'. The reason I see it that way is that an atheist is a 'person concerned with atheism' (athe-ist), not a 'person without theism' (a-theist). I used to hold the same opinion as you, I was persuaded otherwise when I looked at the origin and history of the words involved. But just as I would not deny you the right to call yourself an agnostic, I won't deny you the right to call a person who has no notion whatsoever of term 'God/god' an atheist if you want. No skin off my nose. I've presented my opinion, you're welcome to leave it instead of take it.



o·pin·ion
əˈpinyən/
noun
noun: opinion; plural noun: opinions

1. a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
   

Again, atheism is not merely an opinion(though it can be just that in some instances) and I know what an opinion means. I believe I have already showed that the derivation of the word atheist is concerned with describing secular people, which agnostics clearly are. So your invitation that I either take your opinion or leave it coupled with that appeal at authority right there in the middle speaks volumes as to how much you really know about the subject.