This is a simple introduction to Atheism that is in no way comprehensive. I am writing this in order to clear up some misconceptions about Atheism and I hope to give a straight and simple explanation of Atheism to any non-Atheists.
Definitions Information
There are two main definition of Atheism. I will be using the first definition of Atheism.
Belief in the non-existence of God
This definition is popular among the world's populace and it defines Atheism as the belief that God does not exist.
Absence of a belief in God
This definition is popular among Atheists and it defines Atheism as the absence of a belief in a God.
What's the difference?
The difference between these two definition may not be immediately apparent. The difference is that the second definition encompasses the first. That is, every person who beliefs that God does not exist also has no belief in God, but it is not the case that every person who has no belief in God also believes that God does not exist. For instance, a person who has never heard of God, a feral child or some tribes for example, does not believe in God (since they never heard of God) but you cannot say that they believe that God does not exist (since they never even had any idea of God).
Clarifying most Atheist's Atheism
As a reminder, we will be using the first definition of Atheism. When most Atheists say that they believe that all Gods does not exist they are not 100% certain, instead they are almost completely certain (i.e. 99.9999999999% sure that God does not exist). Atheists cannot be sure that any God does not exist since they cannot disprove the existence of all Gods; some Gods simply cannot be disproved. So they must include a little doubt about the non-existence of any God (i.e. the 0.0000000001% doubt) but there is effectively no doubt.
As an analogy, take your belief in the non-existence of Zeus. You cannot prove that Zeus does not exist, and so you can never be 100% certain that Zeus does not exist, instead you are almost completely certain (i.e. 99.9999999999% sure that Zeus does not exist). So there is effectively no doubt in you that Zeus does not exist. This is the same way that Atheists feel towards almost all Gods.
But, there are some Gods that Atheists are 100% do not exist; these Gods have characteristic that are inconsistent. For instance, a God who knows everything is impossible.
This is a simple introduction to Atheism that is in no way comprehensive. I am writing this in order to clear up some misconceptions about Atheism and I hope to give a straight and simple explanation of Atheism to any non-Atheists.
Definitions Information
There are two main definition of Atheism. I will be using the first definition of Atheism.
Belief in the non-existence of God
This definition is popular among the world's populace and it defines Atheism as the belief that God does not exist.
Absence of a belief in God
This definition is popular among Atheists and it defines Atheism as the absence of a belief in a God.
What's the difference?
The difference between these two definition may not be immediately apparent. The difference is that the second definition encompasses the first. That is, every person who beliefs that God does not exist also has no belief in God, but it is not the case that every person who has no belief in God also believes that God does not exist. For instance, a person who has never heard of God, a feral child or some tribes for example, does not believe in God (since they never heard of God) but you cannot say that they believe that God does not exist (since they never even had any idea of God).
Clarifying most Atheist's Atheism
As a reminder, we will be using the first definition of Atheism. When most Atheists say that they believe that all Gods does not exist they are not 100% certain, instead they are almost completely certain (i.e. 99.9999999999% sure that God does not exist). Atheists cannot be sure that any God does not exist since they cannot disprove the existence of all Gods; some Gods simply cannot be disproved. So they must include a little doubt about the non-existence of any God (i.e. the 0.0000000001% doubt) but there is effectively no doubt.
As an analogy, take your belief in the non-existence of Zeus. You cannot prove that Zeus does not exist, and so you can never be 100% certain that Zeus does not exist, instead you are almost completely certain (i.e. 99.9999999999% sure that Zeus does not exist). So there is effectively no doubt in you that Zeus does not exist. This is the same way that Atheists feel towards almost all Gods.
But, there are some Gods that Atheists are 100% do not exist; these Gods have characteristic that are inconsistent. For instance, a God who knows everything is impossible.