(May 11, 2020 at 11:32 pm)Rahn127 Wrote: For some people it's not about knowing if a god exists or not.
People have beliefs. Some people believe that a god exists.
Some people believe the Earth is flat and some children believe that Santa Claus exists.
From my perspective, I would call something that we believe with such a high degree of certainty, that is backed by evidence, would be called knowledge.
We can also have casual beliefs that may or may not be true.
"I believe it's going to rain today."
"I believe I'm going to win the lottery."
I don't know if either of these are true, but I can still hold the belief that they are.
On the question, "Do you believe a god exists ?"
This is a yes or no question.
It is a question about belief, not about knowledge.
If you answer "Yes" you are a theist.
Answer "No", you are an atheist.
As a person who knows what beliefs you have and don't have. You know if you have this belief or not.
There is no uncertainty.
If I ask myself do i believe God exists I would have to say no. This is where atheists stop the inquiry. But why stop there. I keep going
Do I believe God doesn't exist... No... I believe in truth and i haven't got enough evidence to discern the truth
So if i ask if i believe God exists im an atheist but if i ask if i believe God doesn't exist im a theist
Im not being honest with myself if i look at it from one side and not the other