Why don't some people understand lack of belief?

[Succubus]

I think it may be because you don't hear much from atheists who merely lack belief, since I assume they tend to be the ones who dont say anything about it. The ones you hear from are the ones who actively disbelieve. So when someone thinks of "atheist" they are more inclined to think of someone who thinks God doesnt exist, rather than just someone who doesnt believe nor disbelieve. Is there someone even like that on this forum?

[Ravenshire]

I think it may be because you don't hear much from atheists who merely lack belief, since I assume they tend to be the ones who dont say anything about it. The ones you hear from are the ones who actively disbelieve. So when someone thinks of "atheist" they are more inclined to think of someone who thinks God doesnt exist, rather than just someone who doesnt believe nor disbelieve. Is there someone even like that on this forum?

Right here. I do not believe in any god(s). However, I do not claim no god(s) exist. My position on individual gods (Zues, Apollo, YWVH, etc...) will vary depending on the claims. I most certainly believe that most of the named, defined gods of human history do not exist. Some nebulous god that kick started the universe? Who the fuck knows. Gods who answer prayers and intervene in the lives of mere mortals? Nope, don't buy that shit for a second.

[Martian Mermaid]

A lot of Christians I have met can't seem to comprehend it, because they don't understand being okay with not knowing. The question is "How do you believe we got here?" instead of "Do you believe you know how we got here?"
No, I don't know. I do not believe anything is certain. I am not certain there is a God, I am not certain there is not. But when they hear the word "atheist" they jump to thinking I am saying "I am certain there is no God" when I am really saying "I have no reason to believe there is a God, nor do I have reason to believe any theory over another." Truth is I'm not sure why I exist, and nobody can be sure.
No matter how many times I explain this, the Christians in my life don't get it. Sometimes I speak hypothetically and say "If God exists..." and I ALWAYS hear them respond with "So you admit there may be a God." Of course. I never claimed there wasn't.
They seem to think everyone has to believe in something.

[Catholic_Lady]

I think it may be because you don't hear much from atheists who merely lack belief, since I assume they tend to be the ones who dont say anything about it. The ones you hear from are the ones who actively disbelieve. So when someone thinks of "atheist" they are more inclined to think of someone who thinks God doesnt exist, rather than just someone who doesnt believe nor disbelieve. Is there someone even like that on this forum?

Right here. I do not believe in any god(s). However, I do not claim no god(s) exist. My position on individual gods (Zues, Apollo, YWVH, etc...) will vary depending on the claims. I most certainly believe that most of the named, defined gods of human history do not exist. Some nebulous god that kick started the universe? Who the fuck knows. Gods who answer prayers and intervene in the lives of mere mortals? Nope, don't buy that shit for a second.

But when talking about "God" (like the OP did), most people will assume you're referring to THE God. The one that the vast majority of people in the 21st century believe in. And you've already said you have disbelief in that God lol. So that's what people are going to think of, and that's what people mean when they get the impression that atheists have disbelief in God, rather than just not believing or disbelieving.

[vorlon13]

I'm not remotely convinced THE God the vast majority of people believe in is the same single God for almost any of them. There are just too too too many spins, impressions, inconsistencies, variations, contradictions, differences and inconsistencies amongst all the believers about the immutable characteristics of their individual God concepts.

And the Gods continue to mutate and diversify into multiple new forms. Just in my lifetime many variants of "God" have become far more liberal about divorce, for instance. For folks that believe in an eternal and unchanging God, logically, when one posits He has 'changed' His position on something, He really hasn't. The person asserting the change has simply invented a new God to believe in.

And they've left the old God, the one that the former believer now believes he knows better than, in the dust.


Apostasy, heresy . . . . . .

[LadyForCamus]

For me, my lack of believe denotes that I am open to changing my
Mind if sufficient evidence can be presented. I’m not closed off to the idea of God; I just have never heard an argument that wasn’t fallacious, and I’ve never been presented with any evidence. If it happens I’ll change my mind. I am one of the few atheists here who would prefer it if god were real, so I’m
completely open-minded about it.

[Catholic_Lady]

For me, my lack of believe denotes that I am open to changing my
Mind if sufficient evidence can be presented. I’m not closed off to the idea of God; I just have never heard an argument that wasn’t fallacious, and I’ve never been presented with any evidence. If it happens I’ll change my mind. I am one of the few atheists here who would prefer it if god were real, so I’m
completely open-minded about it.

This is the first time I've seen this sentiment here lol. I'm curious to hear your perspective. Why would you prefer God exist?

[Edwardo Piet]

I think it may be because you don't hear much from atheists who merely lack belief, since I assume they tend to be the ones who dont say anything about it. The ones you hear from are the ones who actively disbelieve. So when someone thinks of "atheist" they are more inclined to think of someone who thinks God doesnt exist, rather than just someone who doesnt believe nor disbelieve. Is there someone even like that on this forum?

She's absolutely right of course. We're not rocks or newborn babies.

---

 I am one of the few atheists here who would prefer it if god were real, so I’m
completely open-minded about it.

I would prefer it too.

If we're talking, a genuinely nice God.

Definitely not the Biblical God, lol.

---

For me, my lack of believe denotes that I am open to changing my
Mind if sufficient evidence can be presented.  I’m not closed off to the idea of God; I just have never heard an argument that wasn’t fallacious, and I’ve never been presented with any evidence.  If it happens I’ll change my mind. I am one of the few atheists here who would prefer it if god were real, so I’m
completely open-minded about it.

This is the first time I've seen this sentiment here lol. I'm curious to hear your perspective. Why would you prefer God exist?

I'd prefer it too.

A genuinely good God running the universe would be a nice thing to have.

Maybe one day he can step in and actually stop all the rape and murder and child starvation and stuff.

Of course it sucks that won't happen. It sucks that such a God doesn't exist. That would be great. I'd wonder why the fuck God didn't fix all the horribleness a lot sooner but I'd overall be very glad of all the bad stuff going away. Duh.

It sucks that so much nasty crap goes on in the world.

[KevinM1]

I wouldn't mind a D&D style pantheon, complete with magic powers. It would put to rest the question of a god's existence while giving people plenty of options to choose from. It would be the most fair setup, I think.

I'd probably choose the Forgotten Realms' Torm, or Eberron's Traveler.

[LadyForCamus]

For me, my lack of believe denotes that I am open to changing my
Mind if sufficient evidence can be presented.  I’m not closed off to the idea of God; I just have never heard an argument that wasn’t fallacious, and I’ve never been presented with any evidence.  If it happens I’ll change my mind. I am one of the few atheists here who would prefer it if god were real, so I’m
completely open-minded about it.

This is the first time I've seen this sentiment here lol. I'm curious to hear your perspective. Why would you prefer God exist?

Well, because I don’t want to ever cease to exist.  That notion cripples me. I don’t want to have a ‘last time’ that I’ll ever see my parents, or my husband, or my babies. I’d much rather believe they we’ll all be with each other forever in a loving, safe place after death.  I know I’m basically alone in this sentiment here at AF, lol.  I’m not at all ashamed to admit it though.