What is Atheism?

[RoadRunner79]

A deist is not a theist.
A deist does believe in God

Therefore one who is an atheist can believe in God, and still be an atheist.

A deist is a theist, though. They fit the definition of theism. It's just a specific subcategory of theism.

While related, the two words are not synonymous, and do have a distinction between them (theist and deist).

Anthony Flew came to believe in deism before his death, but still rejected theism.

Now there is a second and more vague definition, which describes theist as simply one who believes in God or gods.   In some dictionary's they contrast this to atheism

However many of those same dictionaries also contrast atheism and agnosticism.  Saying that atheist are ones who deny the existence of God or gods.  While an agnostic is a position of not knowing or skepticism (or cannot know).

Now I prefer the narrower definitions and distinctions, as they convey more information in a efficient fashion without the ambiguity (less chance of confusion).  But then again, I don't jump up and down just because someone uses another valid shade of meaning of the word.   I think a simple correction on what was meant is sufficient.