Is Atheism Intellectual Cowardice?

[Rayaan]

Intellectually, there is not much difference between an Atheist and a Theist.

Yes, the only difference being that one believes in God (theist) while the other doesn't (atheist).

As a species we have only existed for a miniscule amount of time compared to the age of the universe (~14 Billion years according to Scientists). Of this time we have only been studying Science in a rigorous sense for ~ 300 years. It is no exageration to say that, although we have learned a lot in that time, we have much to learn in the future. In fact, it is not just that we do not know everything, but we do not even know how much we don't know.

I agree with everything there. We have learned a lot, and still have many things to learn, and what we know so far could be equal to just a bucket of water from the ocean.

From this it follows that a claim that God does not exist can only be made on the grounds of probability, based upon current scientific knowledge. But probability is only based upon uncertainty and therefore, any claim that God does not exist must be, in the end, a belief (even if based upon the latest empirical and scientific evidence). From this perspective an Atheist and a Theist both share something in common - belief.

I agree with that also. Both theists and atheist come to a conclusion on God in a probabilistic sense as opposed to knowing that God doesn't exist.

Atheism cannot, therefore, be ascerted based upon certain knowledge. Therefore, it follows that the truly honest position of any member of humanity is Agnostic.

Yes, atheism is not based upon certain knowledge. But your second sentence is a non-sequitur.

The fact that atheism is not based on knowledge doesn't mean that people can have beliefs which are different from atheism. Also, how do you know that the "truly honest position" is Agnosticism even though there are so many people who say that they are either theists, atheists, or agnostics?

It is intellectual cowardice, on the part of Atheists, not to accept the rational conclusions that reason leads to - namely, that no definitive statement can be about the existence/or not of God, due to lack of knowledge.

By that reasoning, you should have also said that theism is intellectual cowardice along with atheism due to lack of knowledge.

Although no definitive statement can be made about the existence of God (which I think many atheists will agree with if not all), it still seems very improper to think that not accepting this is "intellectual cowardice." That sounds like too much of a stretch in my opinion and it is totally subjective. I don't see anything cowardly about it. But if you think so, then please explain it to us as clearly as you can.