Is Atheism faith based?

[TheTurkey]

Not sure where to put this so I'm taking a blind stab. Alright now onto the question.

To accept the existence of god, one must say "I see no evidence disproving him and I feel he exists." However it has been seen there is no evidence to disprove the existence of a god (well.. not that I've seen you can put the proof here if it exists I don't wanna overstep anything)

So is stating "I don't believe that a god exists in any form" a faith based statement seeing as there is no definite proof one way or the other?

[Goat]

Not sure where to put this so I'm taking a blind stab. Alright now onto the question.

To accept the existence of god, one must say "I see no evidence disproving him and I feel he exists." However it has been seen there is no evidence to disprove the existence of a god (well.. not that I've seen you can put the proof here if it exists I don't wanna overstep anything)

So is stating "I don't believe that a god exists in any form" a faith based statement seeing as there is no definite proof one way or the other?

You are making several assumptions that are incorrect. First of all, you are assuming that all atheists are 'strong' atheists, that say 'There IS not god, nor any possibility of God.'

The next point is that the default position on the 'truth value' of something from a logic point of view is the negative. So , you will see many self identified atheists say 'based on the lack of evidence for a god, I do not believe a god exists. You will find this mind set will look at leprechauns, big foot, alien visitors from outer space, and ghosts the same way.

[byofrcs]

Not sure where to put this so I'm taking a blind stab. Alright now onto the question.

To accept the existence of god, one must say "I see no evidence disproving him and I feel he exists." However it has been seen there is no evidence to disprove the existence of a god (well.. not that I've seen you can put the proof here if it exists I don't wanna overstep anything)

There is a flaw. This means that person must accept the existence of every god. Few do. Most ONLY accept just their one pet god.

Now why do they disregard all the others ?

Usually because of the LACK of EVIDENCE.

Atheists just do that for every god.

Personally I think the more described the god is then the least likely. The Koran is what we now call gonzo journalism with an emphasis on the fiction. In the end "99-flavors" Allah has as much credibility as the pasta and less than the Trinity-powered God ("I screwed up so I blamed my Son").

So is stating "I don't believe that a god exists in any form" a faith based statement seeing as there is no definite proof one way or the other?

No. It is simple. Those that make the claims, provide the proof. That's it.

ps: proof in the form of death threats, torture and prison do not count and now can't easily be effected in the Western world.n the

[TheTurkey]

You are making several assumptions that are incorrect. First of all, you are assuming that all atheists are 'strong' atheists, that say 'There IS not god, nor any possibility of God.'

I thought that was the difference between atheism and agnostics, one outright denies the existence the other says there's not enough proof either way so its a possibility

[bernee51]

You are making several assumptions that are incorrect. First of all, you are assuming that all atheists are 'strong' atheists, that say 'There IS not god, nor any possibility of God.'

I thought that was the difference between atheism and agnostics, one outright denies the existence the other says there's not enough proof either way so its a possibility

Strictly speaking a/gnosticism has to do with knowledge not belief.

For example a person who believes in god but does not claim to know god exists is an agnostic theist.

A person who may believe in the JCI god but claims to know that Zeus does not exist is a gnostic atheist with regard to Zeus and a theist with regard to the JCI god.

All one need to do in order to be considered an atheist is to not believe in the existence of gods.

[GentleDove]

To accept the existence of god, one must say "I see no evidence disproving him and I feel he exists." However it has been seen there is no evidence to disprove the existence of a god (well.. not that I've seen you can put the proof here if it exists I don't wanna overstep anything)

So is stating "I don't believe that a god exists in any form" a faith based statement seeing as there is no definite proof one way or the other?

A person would have to examine every known point in the universe simultaneously, in all possible visible and invisible realms, in all of history and all future times, assuming he can perceive all forms of a metaphysically possible god or gods, assuming he has defined "god" correctly, and find no god, before he could logically make a factual statement, "No god exists in any form."

However, since no human being is omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal, and is not born knowing what a god is, no human being can logically state as a fact that "no god exists in any form."

Therefore, someone who states "I don't believe that a god exists in any form," is saying, I can't know for sure because of the limitations of my humanity (not being omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal), but I have found any and all evidence for a god that I have observed or heard so far lacking to persuade me there is a god, and therefore, I have no belief in a god.

(I hope I've stated the atheist position accurately, as I am a Christian.)

Here is a helpful site for understanding more about an atheist stance on the god question:
infidel.org definition of atheism

Sometimes atheists make arguments in an attempt to prove the Christian God does not exist (arguments about the problem of evil, etc.), but I think the most anyone can say (logically) is that he doesn't believe a god exists.

[bernee51]

To accept the existence of god, one must say "I see no evidence disproving him and I feel he exists." However it has been seen there is no evidence to disprove the existence of a god (well.. not that I've seen you can put the proof here if it exists I don't wanna overstep anything)

So is stating "I don't believe that a god exists in any form" a faith based statement seeing as there is no definite proof one way or the other?

A person would have to examine every known point in the universe simultaneously, in all possible visible and invisible realms, in all of history and all future times, assuming he can perceive all forms of a metaphysically possible god or gods, assuming he has defined "god" correctly, and find no god, before he could logically make a factual statement, "No god exists in any form."

This is somewhat fallacious.

I do not have to have examined every point in the universe to know that a logically incoherent entity cannot exist - eg. a married bachelor or a squared circle. Similarly, if a particular god concept can be shown to be logically incoherent it can be stated that this god cannot exist. An unchanging, perfect creator deity, for example, can be seen as logically inconsistent.

However, since no human being is omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal, and is not born knowing what a god is, no human being can logically state as a fact that "no god exists in any form."

Which is why the burden is with theists to define their god concept and any related characteristics. Only then can the 'form' be examined.

To date I have seen no need or reason for, nor evidence, of ANY god.

[Goat]

To accept the existence of god, one must say "I see no evidence disproving him and I feel he exists." However it has been seen there is no evidence to disprove the existence of a god (well.. not that I've seen you can put the proof here if it exists I don't wanna overstep anything)

So is stating "I don't believe that a god exists in any form" a faith based statement seeing as there is no definite proof one way or the other?

A person would have to examine every known point in the universe simultaneously, in all possible visible and invisible realms, in all of history and all future times, assuming he can perceive all forms of a metaphysically possible god or gods, assuming he has defined "god" correctly, and find no god, before he could logically make a factual statement, "No god exists in any form."

However, extremely few people who self identify as atheists seem to do that. Most I have seen say 'based on the lack of evidence, I do not believe in God. "

However, since no human being is omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal, and is not born knowing what a god is, no human being can logically state as a fact that "no god exists in any form."

Considering how vague 'god' is often defined, and how many definitions, it is possible to say even if there is a god, the lack of objective evidence for interaction with life makes his/her/its' existence not relevant to living'

Therefore, someone who states "I don't believe that a god exists in any form," is saying, I can't know for sure because of the limitations of my humanity (not being omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal), but I have found any and all evidence for a god that I have observed or heard so far lacking to persuade me there is a god, and therefore, I have no belief in a god.

As is someone who is saying 'I believe there is a God' is saying 'I can't know for sure, but I sure hope there is'.

(I hope I've stated the atheist position accurately, as I am a Christian.)

Here is a helpful site for understanding more about an atheist stance on the god question:
infidel.org definition of atheism

Sometimes atheists make arguments in an attempt to prove the Christian God does not exist (arguments about the problem of evil, etc.), but I think the most anyone can say (logically) is that he doesn't believe a god exists.

The vast majority will admit to that.

[McCulloch]

A person would have to examine every known point in the universe simultaneously, in all possible visible and invisible realms, in all of history and all future times, assuming he can perceive all forms of a metaphysically possible god or gods, assuming he has defined "god" correctly, and find no god, before he could logically make a factual statement, "No god exists in any form."

Sometimes atheists make arguments in an attempt to prove the Christian God does not exist (arguments about the problem of evil, etc.), but I think the most anyone can say (logically) is that he doesn't believe a god exists.

To me is is a matter of definitions. If you ask me whether or not I believe that reatloid thrists exist, I will naturally delay answering your question until you tell me what you mean by reatloid thrists. Similarly, we cannot meaningfully address the question of whether god or gods exist until we both know what it is we are talking about. I have found that theists are reluctant to define god and when they do, they don't agree or their definition is vague, meaningless or otherwise self-contradicting. Therefore I count myself with the group of Ignostics.

An atheist would say, "I don't believe God exists"; an agnostic would say, "I don't know whether or not God exists"; and an ignostic would say, "I don't know what you mean when you say, 'God exists' ".

[Flail]

the burden of proof must be on the claimant....if you claim the undeniable existence of a particular God,then proof him....as an atheist I am simply skeptical...I have no proof that there is no God and no proof that there is a God....it is illogical nonsense to contend that your particular God exists simply because I cant prove that He doesn't...

I believe without question that my dog is a God....and since you cannot prove that my dog is not a God then He is a God...but since he cant open a bank account,you can send me your offerings.