Quote:
Originally Posted by bryantm3
i really don't think there's much difference in not believing in G-d and believing there is no G-d. i think it's more the fact that many atheists don't want to appear to have positive beliefs and be like theists. if you don't believe in G-d, you're an atheist. if you believe there is no G-d, you're an atheist. either way it doesn't make you any more or less valid or intelligent in your belief system, although i disagree.
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I get what you're saying, but there is a difference regardless of how insignificant the semantics may sound on a superficial level. It's not that I "don't want to appear to have positive beliefs", it's that I actually DON'T have any positive beliefs associated with gods or religion. I choose to live my life and shape my philosophies around knowledge rather than beliefs. So the conclusions I have reached regarding gods and religion are informed conclusions.
Meanwhile, others out there may not be actively pursuing knowledge in regards to how the biological and social evolution of our species led to the advent of gods and religions, and as such, may very well reach their conclusions about god's non-existence based solely on a personal, unsupported belief about it.
Yes, in both cases, you have people who say god doesn't exist. But their philosophical approaches in reaching their conclusions are very, very different.