A question about atheistic “beliefs” (opinions, guesses, etc.)

[Frank Apisa]

Most of the atheists here are agnostics, but there's only one thing universal to atheists.  None of us believe in gods.

Okay, Nudger, I agree (sorta).

The expression "None of us believe IN gods" really is shorthand of a sort for, "None of us believe there are any gods."

That does not mean you "believe" there are no gods...it just means you do not "believe" there are any gods.

But MANY people who describe themselves as atheists DO "BELIEVE" there are no gods. They assert there are no gods...they assert the existence of gods is impossible.

Let me ask you the questions again:

Do you, Nudger, "believe" there are no gods"...or that "it is more likely that there are no gods than that there is at least one?"

I've never met anyone who uses "atheist" as a descriptor who could truthfully answer that NO.

So...how about you?

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I’ve known and been friends with many individuals who use “atheist” as a descriptor …and to a person, each of them has one of the following two beliefs, opinions, or guesses:

1)      There are no gods.
2)      It is more likely that there are no gods than that there is at least one god.

I’m wondering if this is a universal truth (or close to a universal truth)  about people who use the descriptor…so what better place to ask it than an Internet Atheist Forum…and what better people to ask than people who use the descriptor?

Do any of you know people who use the descriptor “atheist” to describe themselves, but who do not subscribe to at least one of the two items mentioned above?

Is it your opinion that asserting one or both is universal to people who apply the descriptor to themselves?

Atheism is simply not being convinced that the claim “a god exists,” is true. It’s really not that more complicated than that. Some atheists assert that gods don’t exist, but it’s not a requirement for atheism.

Of course it is not a requirement...nor did I suggest it was. And I agree with you that it appears that all atheists are not convinced of the claim that "a god exists."

If you are a person who uses "atheist" as a descriptor (or part of a descriptor), though, I ask you this again:

Do you "believe" (guess, suppose) that there are no gods...or that it is more likely that there are no gods than that there is at least one.

That is what I am trying to determine.

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An atheist is someone will agree with the statement "I don't believe in any gods".

I agree with "2) It is more likely that there are no gods than that there is at least one god.", but not all do.  

How do you calculate probabilities for something as ill-defined as a god?

I don't think you can calculate that probability, HS, but I am of the opinion that most, if not all, people who use "atheist" as a descriptor (or part of a descriptor) "believe" one of those two things.

You say that you do. Just trying to find out how many here do.

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I object - in a mild, persnickety way - to the thread title. There are no such things as ‘atheistic beliefs’.

‘I do not believe gods exist’ is vitally different from ‘I believe gods do not exist.’

Boru

I absolutely agree that the two are not the same thing...and I speak to that often and loudl.

But I also used opinions and guesses as alternates.

If you use atheist...do you have opinions or guesses about those two things?

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God goes as far as suggets in bible "Im Holy, AND thats why I can toture you trough my sevants for as long as I like". That's worst than Hitler. And of course, I personally cant believe that such insane stuff exists.

Okay. Neither can I.