I have some questions for the posters here.

[vulcanlogician]

You're arguing with the dictionary. The important part is the substance of the issue, not the category we use to understand it. If "you do not believe in god," your belief category (whatever you want to call it) aligns with that of most here. Including me.

So the question is, "How is it reasonable to reject the existence of God?"

A lot of atheists here don't reject the existence of God. They say, "I don't know." And therefore, they do not believe. No need to reject anything. Nonbelief gets the job done pretty well.

[Nay_Sayer]

I assert only my god exists.

[Mister Agenda]

I did not see where anyone argued that 'atheism' means 'without theism' because the word 'theism' was coined first. Which was coined first doesn't bear on the current meaning of the words.

[Frank Apisa]

Yes, believers have been calling atheists atheists since before they did it in english, and alot of other things as well.  You're without a god, I'm without a god, every atheist on the board is without a god.

Some of the more amusing applications have been when one group of theists calls another group of theists a bunch of atheists because they believe in the wrong god, as the romans considered the christians.  As the greeks before them considered anyone who might criticize their god concepts.

I do not know if I am without a god or not.

I sure as hell do not "believe" that any gods exist...but if one does exist, we are both "with" a god...no matter our beliefs.

I have no beef with anyone who wants to be known as an atheist, but I am not an atheist.

[The Grand Nudger]

You do know that, actually, what you don't know is whether or not gods exist. You know that you don't believe in gods, and that's what they were claiming about the people they called atheists, and that is, ofc, what the term refers to today.

Would you prefer ham sandwich?

[Frank Apisa]

I did not see where anyone argued that 'atheism' means 'without theism' because the word 'theism' was coined first. Which was coined first doesn't bear on the current meaning of the words.

Whatever.

The fact is that some dictionaries and encyclopedia define atheism as "denying that any gods exist." Most (perhaps ALL dictionaries) prior to the 1950's had as the first meaning of atheism:  The denial that any gods exist. (Or, the denial that God exists.)

[The Grand Nudger]

Those are hard ham sandwiches. Not all ham sandwiches are hard.

[Mister Agenda]

I did not see where anyone argued that 'atheism' means 'without theism' because the word 'theism' was coined first. Which was coined first doesn't bear on the current meaning of the words.

Whatever.

The fact is that some dictionaries and encyclopedia define atheism as "denying that any gods exist." Most (perhaps ALL dictionaries) prior to the 1950's had as the first meaning of atheism:  The denial that any gods exist. (Or, the denial that God exists.)

And you have a problem with current usage because why?

[Frank Apisa]

Whatever.

The fact is that some dictionaries and encyclopedia define atheism as "denying that any gods exist." Most (perhaps ALL dictionaries) prior to the 1950's had as the first meaning of atheism:  The denial that any gods exist. (Or, the denial that God exists.)

And you have a problem with current usage because why?

Because it is gratuitous...and because I do not believe any gods exist...AND I AM NOT AN ATHEIST.

That's why.

[The Grand Nudger]

I'm guessing it's a bit of dissonance at being reminded that he's in the group of people who he's chosen to seek out for the purposes of insulting.

We know, we know, you're a ham sandwich, not some gullible and/or unreasonable and/or ignorant atheist. You're in luck, we're all ham sandwiches here! I'm a little crunchy, but the rest of these guys are soft and decadent, just like you like em.