I have never seen atheism defined as a certain belief that there is no god, other than here. It is defined in most dictionaries only as a belief that there is no god. That's good enough for me, and defines me.
There are degrees of beliefs, and we have many words in our language to convey our degree of belief. For instance, my car started just fine today, and I believe that it will start tomorrow, because the battery is fairly new. It might not, because the battery could short out, a light may be left on, corrosion might form on the terminals, etc, but you wouldn't consider me wrong in saying that I believe my car will start tomorrow.
There are many words and phrases to convey my degree of belief.
I doubt that my car will start. (logical thinking if it is sitting out in 30 below zero)
I believe that my car might start. (it's warming up)
I believe my car should start.
I believe my car probably will start.
I believe my car will surely start.
My car will start (only a fool would state that with the certainty that it implies)
All of those statements of degrees of belief are proper and logical except the last.
My belief that it is highly improbable that there is no god. I am an atheist. If I am an agnostic, then so is everybody, including Christians, because they also cannot know for certain whether or not there is a god. The term then becomes meaningless.
Del |
