My view and reasons for them. Atheist and Christians welcome here. (short)

[Simon Moon]

Absolutely incorrect.

First of all, atheism is not the belief that there is no god. Atheism is the rejection of the claims made by theist that there is a god.

At its most fundamental, atheism is nothing more, than not being convinced that a god exists.

Second, how is not being convinced of an unsupported claim, a faith based position?

I'll bet you disbelieve in many supernatural claims (bigfoot, alien abductions, Jinn, tarot cards, etc, etc). Is you disbelief in any of those a faith based position?

Do you require faith to disbelieve in the Greek pantheon of gods?

If that is the definition of what atheism is, I am not quite sure why this place exists considering it doesn't actually have a theory of its own. I guess I nailed it with my antithesis argument. That seems to be the basis for the entire belief system.

Well, in reality, you are right. There shouldn't even have to be a word to describe people that don't believe gods exist.

But the reality of the world is, that the majority does believe in gods, and their beliefs inform their actions. Theistic beliefs lead to many real world, negative consequences.

Atheism isn't an entire belief system. It is a position on only one claim. Theists claim gods exist, we are not convinced.

Every other belief a particular atheist has, that is not specifically the disbelief in the existence of gods, is outside the purview of atheism. Atheism is not even a worldview.

But then you provide a different definition of what an atheist is which confuses me because this definition looks a lot more like a pessimistic agnostic's beliefs.

I don't think I am defining it differently. Oxford defines it - Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. Which is the meaning I was using.

As far as agnosticism, I am an agnostic. Agnosticism and atheism are not mutually exclusive positions.

Agnosticism is not some sort of middle ground, as many believe, between theism and atheism. Agnosticism/gnosticism is a position on knowledge, atheism/theism, is a position on belief/disbelief.

I think not believing an unsupported claim is fine but it doesn't actually tell you much. I mean there are a lot of things I can simply not believe the claim of, but you don't see me giving a big up and all about those things. What exactly is the direction that atheism gives you? I guess this is a question I would be open hearing from others as well as yourself.[/quoe]

The belief in bigfoot does not lead to; people flying planes into buildings, trying to get pseudoscience taught in school science classes, people trying to legislate morality based on bigfoot beliefs, starting wars based on religious beliefs, etc, etc.

Atheism does not give me any direction. As I said before, atheism only describes one position on one claim.

I get my direction from myself.

My atheism is a natural outgrowth of my skepticism and critical thinking. Those skills came first.

Any stance one makes towards something that cannot be proven one way or another is what I would say is a belief. Do I believe in the Greek pantheon of gods? No, but I can't be sure they do not exist; I can only say it is unlikely that they do.

And therefore, you disbelieve they don't exist. You are an atheist with regards to the Greek pantheon.

I can not prove that your god does not exist, either. But without evidence and reasoned argument to support the case that it does exist, what should be my justification to believe it does?

I think a definition of what an agnostic is in order because I fail to see the distinction between an agnostic and an atheist.

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Agnostics take the position that whether a god exists is either unknown, and possibly, unknowable. This describes me. I am an agnostic.

Atheists disbelieve that gods exist. This also describes me. I am an atheist.

Atheism and agnosticism are answers to different questions.

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