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

[LadyForCamus]

I do not feel superior to either.

Right now I am simply saying that there is absolutely no way anyone can KNOW that there are no gods.

---

He doesn’t believe in beliefs. He believes beliefs are guesses. So basically, he’s guessing that beliefs are just guesses. Air-right epistemology.

Poor you, LFC. Poor you.

I certainly will say that the reality is that anyone who says, "I believe there are no gods"...is actually saying, "I am guessing that there are no gods."

Nothing whatever wrong with making that guess...AND IT MAY EVEN BE A CORRECT GUESS.

Too bad so many atheists don't have the ethical wherewithal to simply acknowledge it as a guess.

---

If a jury finds a defendant “not guilty,” does that mean that they also think they know that he’s innocent?

No.

Qualifier:  In American law...a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. So, theoretically, if a jury does not find a defendant guilt, he is deemed by  American law to be innocent.

But I understand the thrust of your question...and I will stick with the answer, NO.

So...go ahead and make something of that.

Correct. And just so we’re clear, I wasn’t speaking about what “American law” declares. I’m referring to whether or not the jurors must be convinced that the defendant is innocent if they haven’t been convinced of his guilt. You and I seem to agree on this point, so then it shouldn’t be a stretch for you to imagine this analogous to my position regarding god-claims. Someone says “a god exists,” and my position is, “thus far, I have heard no good reason or evidence to accept that claim as true, so I don’t accept it as true.” That doesn’t mean I’m convinced that it’s false.