Do you believe god(s) does not exist, or do you not believe that god(s) exists?
2007-10-24 23:31:40 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The difference is you either believe God exists/believe God does not exist, OR you don't believe God exists/don't believe God does not exist...
2007-10-25 00:16:57 · update #1
That depends on what god you're talking about.
Some gods I can't disprove so I merely lack belief in them while others I can disprove so in those cases I specifically believe in their non-existence.
2007-10-24 23:34:51 · answer #1 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The terminology generally used is that people who believe that gods do not exist are strong atheists or positive atheists.
People who merely lack belief in the existence of gods without making positive claims about it are weak atheists or negative atheists.
I am a weak atheist in general, but a strong atheist towards specific claims. I cannot disprove the existence of anything that could be termed "god", thus I withhold judgement. I will positively deny the existence of God as concieved of by most of the major religions, though.
2007-10-24 23:43:22 · answer #2 · answered by marbledog 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God exists purely through the power of belief - and therefore has an influence on the world around us. I don't believe in this man-made entity but the power of belief of millions around the world gives this being some sort of existence.
2007-10-24 23:38:28 · answer #3 · answered by gothicmamma 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Stop playing with semantics. They mean the same, you're just twisting it to fit an argument.
Basically, you're gonna wait till someone says "I believe there is no god" and then use that to justify calling atheism a religion/belief system.
Any person with a simple understanding of English can see that "I believe there is no god" and "I don't believe there is a god" are interchangable outside of legal documentation. And even then it's open to interpretation by someone with a degree in law.
2007-10-25 01:59:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know whether god/s or goddesses exist. I find it unlikely, what with the lack of evidence and the constant borrowing of one myth to the next tracing right back to primitive superstitious qualities in an insecure patriarchal society
So neither do I believe in them.
I don't know if an invisible teapot exists. So neither do I believe that.
But no-one calls me an ateapotist.
2007-10-24 23:37:53 · answer #5 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
An Atheist is when you don't believe in God, basically they don't believe that God exists.
An Agnostic is when they are not sure whether God exists.
2007-10-24 23:35:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's semantics, your question. I believe god(s) do not exist, nor do I believe god(s) exists. Nor in fact do I believe that any flavor of god has ever existed outside of people's hopes and minds.
2007-10-24 23:54:27 · answer #7 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Same thing. Even though you think it isn't, think again. If I belive that god does not exist, then I do not believe he exists. He's right up there with Santa, Zeus, and the Little Mermaid.
2007-10-24 23:43:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am agnostic, which means I believe there is some Force responsible for all we see (and don't see) but that it is not at all involved in our day-to-day lives, if indeed it is still around.
I don't at all believe in any individual god from any religion whatsoever.
True atheists don't believe in any god whatsoever, which I think makes sense. I just haven't gotten that far yet.
2007-10-24 23:36:57 · answer #9 · answered by nora22000 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is no evidence for god's existence. There is also no evidence for his non-existence, so I can't justify belief in non-existence. So I go with lack of belief.
2007-10-25 02:53:57 · answer #10 · answered by chasm81 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋