Question for Atheists

[Ben Davis]

*I feared that this would happen

I'm afraid I can't agree. Both have very specific meanings, and they aren't the same.

Anti-theism has 4 meanings:

1. Belief in the non-existence of god(s)
2. Belief that religion/religious organisation should be opposed
3. Belief that god(s), if it (they) were proven to exist, should be opposed
4. Opposing belief in god

1. is the same as 'gnostic atheist'. Further, I contend that it's a more accurate usage due to the etymology.

Anti-theism is literally 'against theism', that is, 'against belief in God'.

Not quite. 'Anti' literally means 'in opposition to' and was used to represent positions with 'in principle' opposition (i.e. contradictory/negatory) as well as 'active' opposition.

An anti-theist opposes belief in God

Only under definition 4.

But, just like an atheist can be pro-theism, a theist can be anti-theist: someone who thinks theism is ill-advised but can't help the fact that they believe. Like a communist party member who can't get over their god-belief, as much as they would like to.

There's quite a bit of confusion of definitions going on here, if you don't mind me trying to clarify...

An atheist might believe that religious organisations are a good thing (one definition of 'pro-theism' but they couldn't promote their belief in god (another definition of 'pro-theism'). A theist might oppose the concept of religious organisation (definition 2.) whilst still believing in a deity.

Would that be a more accurate way of putting it?

Using 'anti-theist' as a synonym for 'gnostic atheist' is relatively new, and in my opinion, confuses the issue.

Because it's the most literal meaning, it's actually the oldest. It's your conflation of multiple meanings that's causing your confusion.

Minimalist (I apoogize in advance Min, for assuming you won't mind being used as an example) is an anti-theistic atheist, beyond doubt.

Indeed. Under all 4 definitions, too, IMO.

However, I cannot then assume that Minimalist's epistemic position on God is that he or she is positive that God does not exist

Min's definitely said that specific gods don't exist. Min's definitely anti-theistic under definition 1. with regard to certain specific gods.

there's no contradiction involved if Minimalist is an agnostic atheist and an anti-theist.

I agree. It depends entirely on the definition in context.

I personally don't know whether Minimalist's atheism is agnostic or gnostic, and knowing Minimalist is an anti-theist does not resolve my ignorance on the matter.

It doesn't under definitions 2, 3 or 4 but does under definition 1.

On your other point...

The etymology is athe-ist, not a-theist.

Actually, it's both but I'm out of time so I'll have to continue on this tomorrow.