(February 1, 2015 at 5:30 pm)Mr.wizard Wrote:In this sense I also lack belief, but it goes further. That doesn't mean we should define atheism as being just a lack of belief because atheism can be more than that. Defining atheism just as a lack of belief in gods doesn't represent all atheists in the world(February 1, 2015 at 5:23 pm)Blackout Wrote: Wizard, the definition of "atheism is a lack of belief in gods" is the definition of agnostic atheism. If this is, however the only definition of atheism, then I'm not an atheist, because I don't fit the lack of belief label. Gnostic atheism and agnostic atheism are both two forms of atheism, but both are atheism. what I'm saying is that the definition of atheism is both, it's not just a lack of belief in gods; it's either a lack of belief in gods or the belief no gods exist, depending on the individual. If semantically atheism is just a lack of belief, then I am not an atheist by that definition
Your still not getting it, the atheism part of agnostic and gnostic atheists is still the same. Agnostic atheists and gnostic atheist both do not believe in gods, the difference is a gnostic claims to know and an agnostic doesn't claim to know, but the fact that they are atheist means they both lack the belief. Theism and Atheism address what you believe and Gnosticism and Agnosticism address knowledge.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you