Although the literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who believes that God does not exist,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 14% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit.
5 facts about atheists | Pew Research Center
By all definition, you are an agnostic, unless you believe that God does not exist.
Literally, atheist means "not a theist". Learning how the English language works is key to understanding it. The most common full definition of atheist is "a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods". I bolded the part that escapes you.
No one can prove that god does, or does not exist. The difference between the terms atheist and agnostic has more to do with the understanding of the burden of proof. Both atheists and agnostics will admit that it's theoretically possible that god exists, but the atheist recognizes that when there's neither evidence for or against something that no one has ever seen or can prove, it's better to assume the negative position rather than the positive one.
For instance, I don't waste one second wondering if pink unicorns are real. Why? Because there is absolutely no evidence to support it. Could pink unicorns exist? Sure, they could, but I'm not going to mentally hold open the possibility of their existence until there's a reason to do so. I'm not going to label myself a pink-unicorn agnostic just because it might possibly exist.
Now, let's apply this test in reverse. I'm telling you that there are 10 gods, each with different powers, fire, water, earth, etc. Are you atheistic toward my gods because you don't believe in them? After all, I could theoretically be correct so you should hold that possibility open in the back of your mind, right?
There are TONS of gods you don't believe in, I just took that one further than you. How does that make me dishonest and hypocritical?
Agnostic isn't a middle ground between theism and atheism, it exists on an entirely different line. (A)theism relates to belief while (a)gnosticism relates to knowledge. Agnostic is generally about it not being possible to know or prove whether any gods exist or not. A personal can be an agnostic atheist (and I'd argue most are, including myself) and it's also technically possible to be an agnostic theist, believing in a god on the basis of faith yet acknowledging their existence can't be proven.By all definition, you are an agnostic, unless you believe that God does not exist.
No one can prove that god does, or does not exist. The difference between the terms atheist and agnostic has more to do with the understanding of the burden of proof. Both atheists and agnostics will admit that it's theoretically possible that god exists, but the atheist recognizes that when there's neither evidence for or against something that no one has ever seen or can prove, it's better to assume the negative position rather than the positive one.
For instance, I don't waste one second wondering if pink unicorns are real. Why? Because there is absolutely no evidence to support it. Could pink unicorns exist? Sure, they could, but I'm not going to mentally hold open the possibility of their existence until there's a reason to do so. I'm not going to label myself a pink-unicorn agnostic just because it might possibly exist.
Now, let's apply this test in reverse. I'm telling you that there are 10 gods, each with different powers, fire, water, earth, etc. Are you atheistic toward my gods because you don't believe in them? After all, I could theoretically be correct so you should hold that possibility open in the back of your mind, right?
There are TONS of gods you don't believe in, I just took that one further than you. How does that make me dishonest and hypocritical?
So how do you define a theist?
theist:
belief in the existence of a god or gods,
So what does it makes an atheist if he is not a theist?
Although the literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who believes that God does not exist,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 14% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit.
5 facts about atheists | Pew Research Center
By all definition, you are an agnostic, unless you believe that God does not exist.
Who said you were dishonest and hypocritical (I admit, I didn't watch the video)? There's a difference between "I don't believe there is a God" and "There is no God". The second is an affirmative statement of belief (actually presented as fact). Those who espouse the second tend to be the most evangelical of atheists seemingly taking personal offense that others do believe in God.
I've also hear this silly explanation from some atheists talking about.....I think it was Dawkins who presented this too.
"1% believing that God could exist compared to the 99% belief that He doesn't exist" - so therefore they are atheists.
Let me ask you:
If you have a bucket of drinking water, and you see me spit just a tiny little drop in it - will you consider it still clean enough for you to drink? After all, what's a tiny drop of spit to a whole bucket of clean water?
Either you believe that God or gods exist, or you don't!
The rest is just cockamamie b**** simply because, common sense dictates that you'd have to be agnostic - that is, IF YOU RELY ON SCIENCE!
You can't have it both ways.
So tedious and boring.
The title of this thread says something about questions for atheists, yet the OP contains no questions.
More of the same gibberish.
So how do you define a theist?
theist:
belief in the existence of a god or gods,
So what does it makes an atheist if he is not a theist?
By all definition, you are an agnostic, unless you believe that God does not exist.
No one can prove that god does, or does not exist. The difference between the terms atheist and agnostic has more to do with the understanding of the burden of proof. Both atheists and agnostics will admit that it's theoretically possible that god exists, but the atheist recognizes that when there's neither evidence for or against something that no one has ever seen or can prove, it's better to assume the negative position rather than the positive one.
For instance, I don't waste one second wondering if pink unicorns are real. Why? Because there is absolutely no evidence to support it. Could pink unicorns exist? Sure, they could, but I'm not going to mentally hold open the possibility of their existence until there's a reason to do so. I'm not going to label myself a pink-unicorn agnostic just because it might possibly exist.
Now, let's apply this test in reverse. I'm telling you that there are 10 gods, each with different powers, fire, water, earth, etc. Are you atheistic toward my gods because you don't believe in them? After all, I could theoretically be correct so you should hold that possibility open in the back of your mind, right?
There are TONS of gods you don't believe in, I just took that one further than you. How does that make me dishonest and hypocritical?
So how do you define a theist?
theist:
belief in the existence of a god or gods,
So what does it makes an atheist if he is not a theist?
Although the literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who believes that God does not exist,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 14% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit.
5 facts about atheists | Pew Research Center
By all definition, you are an agnostic, unless you believe that God does not exist.
So how do you define a theist?
theist:
belief in the existence of a god or gods,
So what does it makes an atheist if he is not a theist?
Don't schools teach the religious the meaning of words?
The 'verificationism' was the one that made me laugh.
Never heard that term before.
Although the literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who believes that God does not exist,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 14% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit.
5 facts about atheists | Pew Research Center
By all definition, you are an agnostic, unless you believe that God does not exist.
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