Is atheism a belief?

[Simon Moon]

Atheism is absolutely a belief.

Nope. Atheism is simply not being convinced that gods exist.

SOME atheists may go further, and claim that gods don't exist. But I think that is the minority position.

Those who say it is a mere "lack" of a belief do not know what they are talking about. Actually, atheism can be just as dogmatic as religion if not worse. If we lived in a universe, in a Reality, in which there was no God, no religion, no theistic notions of any kind, then perhaps people there could be said to be atheists in the sense that they lack belief in a God.

There are some atheists that do not have good reasons for their disbelief, but there is no way that they, or any other atheists can be as dogmatic as the religious.

Atheism is a single position on a single claim. Religions have the belief in gods, AND a whole lot more dogmatic beliefs piled on top of that. Like: miracles, resuractions, virgin births, world wide floods, sacredness of certain texts, afterlives etc.

Problem is, this isn't that kind of universe.

Instead, we live in a universe where we have to "pick a side" in a sense, and order our belief systems accordingly. Those who adopt atheism, adopt also the things which go along with atheism and the rejection of beliefs and values that don't go along with it. Now, I'm not saying that materialism and atheism, for example, go hand in hand by a strict logical necessity, but a disbelief in God still carries with it a "casting off" of many notions which "gell" with it.

I do not have to 'pick a side'. What side am I picking by not being convinced that gods exist?

My lack of belief is purely based on the lack of demonstrable evidence, and valid and sound logic, theists present to support their claims that gods exist.

My position is a provisional one, not a dogmatic one. As long as theists continue to fail to meet their burden of proof, I will continue to not be convinced that gods exist.

I would also say that atheism in itself is not religious in anyway, but in it's relationship and application to people, it has religious overtones. At least in potential.