Why don't some people understand lack of belief?

[Jenny A]

I've heard some people say that you can either believe that there is a God or that there is no God. Can't they comprehend the idea of the lack of faith? Or are they unwilling to accept it?

Then why do you Atheists all gather yourself with those who say no God exists, as opposed to gathering your side with those who say God exists, and against those who say God doesn't exist.

Because beleif generally entails religious observance whereas genuine doubt does not.  And frankly, at least on boards like this, it's not as if those among us who have a little doubt think it's very likely.   Personall I am quite certain the Judeo-christian-islamist god and every other god beleived in by humans does not exist.  There's a much better chance that a disinterested creator exists, or existed. But whether a disinterested god exists is really of scientific interest only. And it's still very unlikely.

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Are you really attempting to dumb down and trivialize these distinctions?  Who cares?  Well everyone seems to care on this forum and the distinctions are used to give a more granular understanding of our position.

Yes, because those imaginary distinctions make atheism a trivial position. Nobody cares if you're 20% or 80% certain that no God exists. The issue isn't certainty. It's whether or not you are willing to commit to a stance despite the various uncertainties and vicissitudes of human existence.

If I tell my friend that I'll meet him for lunch. I just say whether or not I'll show or if I need to check my calendar.I don't say, well, I'm an agnostic scheduler so I assume I'll be there unless my car unexpectedly breaks down. Nor do I insist that I'm a gnostic scheduler because there is no circumstance under which I would miss lunch.

But then no one spends their time trying to pin me down about whether my lunch date who is always late will be again.  I can't be certain but it's highly likely she will be.