I think David Glesson's article is excellent and agree with everything he said. I think this sentence sums it up best; "Atheism, as noted above, is nothing but withheld belief. It does not take faith to have a non-belief. If I don't believe that Elvis is still alive, I am not practicing an anti-Elvis faith."

The common conception that "Atheism is the belief that no Gods exist is simply wrong. This commom misconception is based on the fact that most people have some kind of faith or belief, so that they basically do not understand what the lack of faith or belief means and thus fail to define it properly. All the Atheist Ethicist's arguments that we should bow to the popular misconception and that we really do have a "belief" in atheism ring very hollow with me. His final point actually crashes his entire argument in my opinion. He says;

The common-language 'meaning' of the terms atheist, theist, and agnostic depend on how one would answer this question.

Does God exist?

Yes: Theist.

Probably: Weak theist.

I don't know: Agnostic.

Probably not: Weak atheist.

No: Atheist.

The "no" does not imply faith or belief, it simply implies there is no evidence or reason to believe God exists.

If one asks, "Does a giant yellow fish exist at the center of our galaxy?" Someone who says no, says no because there no evidence for it, the idea explains nothing, and it is clearly simply a product of the fanciful human imagination. No faith or belief is involved. The same applies to God.

>>I deny that this is a misconception." <<

Atheism equals "no god" That ain't no misconception in my book.

This is how I have always ordered it in my mind:

Theists live with the constant belief in the existence of some super natural being or beings who somehow live outside of the natural world.

Atheists live with no belief in the existence of these beings, just a belief in the natural world.

[He starts off with the 'misconception that, 'Atheism is the belief that no Gods exist.'--------I deny that this is a misconception."]

Actually he is correct.

Atheism simply means WITHOUT (a-) belief in gods (-theism). A LACK of belief.

The base position of atheist simply is the lack of belief in gods....but not neccesarily any definitive, positive belief that no gods exist. The latter position brings into question a matter of epistemology....and faith.

Positive, faith-based beliefs are the realm of religion, which is why contrary to popular concept, religion can exist on both sides of the atheism-theism line. However, it is unlikely that that any atheistic religion or religious ways of thinking and being would be recognized or organized.

The basic atheist.....ie a person who lacks belief in gods....is actually an "agnostic atheist."

As we move along the range of epistemological positions on either side of the atheism-theism line, there is an increase in faith-based beliefs (claims of IS or IS NOT, or DOES or DOES NOT) in relation to gods. The problem for atheists is that while we can use intelligent critical thinking skills to refute many theistic-religious claims, we cannot claim for certain to KNOW fro a fact that something does not exist somewhere out there beyond our powers to perceive and understand. We are human and we are limited.

I have no belief in gods....but that is not the same thing as saying NO GODS EXIST. I don't think they exist, but to make such a definitive statment would not be entirely honest, nor in the spirit of science.

Theoretically speaking the man is correct. Its just that many people are uninformed in terms of terminology and relevant philosophy. In this day and age, one would hope that eventually such common erros are eventually weeded out so that less time and energy are spent debating and explaning them.

Also, consider it this way. Theism means belief in gods....A-theism basically means non-theist. When you were a little boy before people started preaching at you, did you beleive in gods or were you like I assume most of us are born...lacking in beliefs....ie non-theists. Theists have positive beliefs in gods....basic atheists simply lack those. I would like to say that all of us are born non-theists.....atheists....but it is a personal belief that I cannot currently claim as fact of reality.

MK