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

[Quick]

Yes, I more or less straddle the line between agnostic and pantheist because I believe that there may or may not be a God that explains out existence and that if there is a God that this God likely is/was more just the push that put the universe into existence. That said, I do believe there are active effects of this supposed God's existence that are represented as phenomenon that cannot be explained.

You didn't ask me a question, so I was not quite sure how to respond.

Fair enough. I was basically challenging your self description as an agnostic. Given what you've just written it seems all the less likely. In response to the question "does a god exist", your answer would seem to be "yes, there are effects of this supposed God's existence that are represented as phenomenon that cannot be explained (otherwise)". Whether or not you are certain, your belief status where God/gods is concerned is affirmative. You have your reasons even if you're not completely certain. It isn't as though you don't think there is any way to know whether gods exist, you've just given one.

I don't claim to know for certainty that gods do not exist but until there is a very good reason to think there might be I choose to ignore the question. So in the meantime I'm a weak atheist: no belief in gods, no claim that they do not exist. But frankly I don't really care either. Do you?

If there was a God or gods how would that change how you live your life? Do suppose that would mean we'd have an afterlife as well?

I am not really sure what you are asking when you say "do you?" could you be more specific?

I think if I had evidence that there was a God, then I would probably appreciate life a lot more. I am not sure on the afterlife bit. I don't think that a God would necessitate an afterlife.

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.

Fair enough. Not sure why you say Atheism isn't a world view however, that confuses the shit out of me honestly.

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.

Thanks for clearing that up. But now I am really confused because you said atheism is a position on belief/disbelief which IMO are both basically the same thing.

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.

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.


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?


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.

My justification for believing what I do is that it gives a sense of purpose that I otherwise wouldn't have. Knowing I fit into something larger and significant gives me direction and motivation to be at peace. But my belief isn't an organized belief system like you see in christianity, islam, hinduism, rastafari (had fun with that one), or any other organized religion. It's simply the belief that there is something bigger than myself that is out there and that in knowing this, it gives me purpose. If I know I was meant to be here, even if it isn't necessarily true, this gives me enough justification for believing what I do.