Positive Atheism

[leo-rcc]

And I still disagree. You can accept the premise on basis of the best evidence provided but it is not conclusive.

Besides, it was a joke. Shame on you for making me point that out.

[Tiberius]

You can still prove that negative statement. "The earth is not the centre of the universe/solar system" is a true statement, yet it is negative.

There is a difference between being able to prove some negative statements, and being able to prove *all* negative statements. When negative statements involve the metaphysical for instance, they become unprovable.

Course, you could equally argue about which type of "proof" we are talking about, but that conversation tends to infinity.

[leo-rcc]

You can still prove that negative statement. "The earth is not the centre of the universe/solar system" is a true statement, yet it is negative.

Nope, still disagree. Who is to say the universe is not spinning in concentric orbits around the Earth? It would look exactly the same from our perspective. When we discuss what is more likely I would agree with you, but I would not hold that as proven. This is how the theist mindset works, all it needs is a little window of opportunity to stick the god option in there.

[Tiberius]

Hence the infinitely long discussion of proof I didn't want to get into

[Eilonnwy]

When I first looked at the poll, I thought it meant positive as in upbeat, not nihilistic, happy aspects of atheism (I.e, what positive things do you get out of being an atheist) Which I definitely say yes!

Then I realized you meant more of the strong atheist position. I still say yes, and I say yes because the discussion of positive atheism is not about what you know but what you believe. Can you absolutely prove there are no gods anywhere? No. Can you believe there are no gods anywhere? yes. Can you reasonably back up your position for your belief to be possible? I think you can.

We always get stuck on this notion of absolute truth/knowledge, which I think we can agree is an unattainable endeavor. However, I think if you look at the science, look at the arguments for god and consider them carefully, you can come to your own conclusion that you believe there are no Gods. It may be hard to convince another person, but I don't think it's impossible.

[Violet]

Hence the infinitely long discussion of proof I didn't want to get into

Because eventually it has to be accepted that we must have faith in something we can call it 'fact'?

[Meatball]

How about "A circle is not a square"?

[Purple Rabbit]

I used to be a Postive Atheist before being set into Agnostic Atheism.

Every week, I watch (rather download the week's new video) of the Atheist-Experience (www.atheist-experience.com , archive section). This show is ran by Positive Atheists, meaning that they believe that gods do not exist, rather than just not believing in a god.

They make good points in thier discussions, and I really like thier logic on everything they talk about.

Sooo, Is Positive Atheism logical? Is Positive Atheism faith based just like religion?

I know the site. I love the arguments for the same reason. Matt Dillahunty is my favourite. IMO the positive atheism that they vent is not the same as proving a negative. At least that's what I conclude from their podcasts. Their claim seems to be that the knowledge we operate with on a day to day basis is not absolute but tentative and that truth assessments about reality by mere mortals like us are intrinsically relative statements. Though it is not possible to assert in an absolute way that gods do not exist, it is possible to assert that there is enough evidence to support the practical claim that gods do not exist. There are no traces in nature of it, it would contradict the things we know of for which is ample empirical evidence and so on. This is a positive claim about atheism. 'Knowing' in this sense means knowing enough. We know enough to draw tentative conclusions. In that way I am a positivist atheist myself and Richard Dawkins imo is too.

[leo-rcc]

Is that a negative claim? Sound more like a description to me.

[Purple Rabbit]

Is that a negative claim? Sound more like a description to me.

Suits me. The thing that matters (to me at least) is that it is a description of reality that is evidence based and of practical nature.