I have converted to atheism

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God has been a prominent idea in society for ages.

That goes even more for the word "god", imho. There are so many different definitions of this word that it's utterly impossible for me to take a position unless people describe their idea of a god, goddess, or polytheistic pantheon. And I will be more or less skeptic depending on what kind of god they describe and how probable or improbable it seems to me. Some examples:

• God is everything. The universe / multiverse and the natural laws that govern it are god (Pantheism)
I can hardly argue with that. I know that the universe exists, so one could say that I believe in this kind of god. I just don't call it god.

• God is the creator of the universe, but he does not interfere with it (Deism)
I'm agnostic about this claim. I don't think it's impossible that the universe had a creator. If "creator" means "a previous universe that collapsed into a singularity", I actually like the idea. If it instead means "a conscious superpowered entity", I'm a bit more skeptical. But there is no way for me or for anyone else to know that, so all I can say is "I don't know, and neither do you".

• A species of Asgardian gods created the world from the body of a dead giant, who emerged from a void which was lit by sparks and glowing matter (Ásatrú / Odinism)
This is a very specific, polytheistic mythological belief, but I think it makes a nice allegory for the big bang. The void Ginnungagap, lit by the hot matter of Muspellheim, comes very close to a description of a dense, hot singularity. The giant Ymir, whose flesh and bones formed the world Midgard, would be the rapidly expanding early universe. But of course I don't believe in Asgardian gods I think in this case, we are both atheists (correct me if I'm wrong).
This is just one of many beliefs that humans have come up with over the centuries, and to me it makes slightly more sense than the creation stories of the popular monotheistic religions. I mean, we have never come across a species that was comprised of a single lonely specimen, so monotheism seems unlikely on this basis alone.

• God is the biblical deity Yahweh who created the solar system in seven days and later had a superpowered son called Jesus who came back from the dead (Christianity)
I've read the bible, and I found it to be contradictory, logically inconsistent, and overall very hard to believe. Even as an allegory, it just doesn't work for me. I think the probability that the non-historical bible stories with their magical elements (talking animals, flood myth, Jesus' miracles etc.) are true is so low that I might as well call them impossible. So in this case, my position is as close to positive disbelief as it gets in regard to a claim that can neither be proven nor disproven. In other words, I'm a strong atheist when it comes to Yahweh.

These are just four examples of different gods. I could list several hundred more, but I think I've made my point. Which is that it's impossible to say "I believe or don't believe in god" without knowing exactly which god we're talking about. And even then, my position might be an agnostic "I don't know".

That goes even more for the word "god", imho. There are so many different definitions of this word that it's utterly impossible for me to take a position unless people describe their idea of a god, goddess, or polytheistic pantheon. And I will be more or less skeptic depending on what kind of god they describe and how probable or improbable it seems to me. Some examples:

• God is everything. The universe / multiverse and the natural laws that govern it are god (Pantheism)
I can hardly argue with that. I know that the universe exists, so one could say that I believe in this kind of god. I just don't call it god.

• God is the creator of the universe, but he does not interfere with it (Deism)
I'm agnostic about this claim. I don't think it's impossible that the universe had a creator. If "creator" means "a previous universe that collapsed into a singularity", I actually like the idea. If it instead means "a conscious superpowered entity", I'm a bit more skeptical. But there is no way for me or for anyone else to know that, so all I can say is "I don't know, and neither do you".

• A species of Asgardian gods created the world from the body of a dead giant, who emerged from a void which was lit by sparks and glowing matter (Ásatrú / Odinism)
This is a very specific, polytheistic mythological belief, but I think it makes a nice allegory for the big bang. The void Ginnungagap, lit by the hot matter of Muspellheim, comes very close to a description of a dense, hot singularity. The giant Ymir, whose flesh and bones formed the world Midgard, would be the rapidly expanding early universe. But of course I don't believe in Asgardian gods I think in this case, we are both atheists (correct me if I'm wrong).
This is just one of many beliefs that humans have come up with over the centuries, and to me it makes slightly more sense than the creation stories of the popular monotheistic religions. I mean, we have never come across a species that was comprised of a single lonely specimen, so monotheism seems unlikely on this basis alone.

• God is the biblical deity Yahweh who created the solar system in seven days and later had a superpowered son called Jesus who came back from the dead (Christianity)
I've read the bible, and I found it to be contradictory, logically inconsistent, and overall very hard to believe. Even as an allegory, it just doesn't work for me. I think the probability that the non-historical bible stories with their magical elements (talking animals, flood myth, Jesus' miracles etc.) are true is so low that I might as well call them impossible. So in this case, my position is as close to positive disbelief as it gets in regard to a claim that can neither be proven nor disproven. In other words, I'm a strong atheist when it comes to Yahweh.

These are just four examples of different gods. I could list several hundred more, but I think I've made my point. Which is that it's impossible to say "I believe or don't believe in god" without knowing exactly which god we're talking about. And even then, my position might be an agnostic "I don't know".

Here is a conversation between 4 people. "Believer" "Skeptic," "Thor". and "Strong Atheist." This will show the difference between a weak atheist and a strong one.

Believer: "Hi Skeptic. Have you heard that Thor, the god of thunder is real?"

Skeptic: "I don't believe that.(Does not imply not believing in the nonexistence of God) You will have to convince me. Until you do, I will continue to wear this badge which says: "WEAK ATHEIST." I do not believe (at this point) that Thor is real."

Believer: "Do you believe he doesn't exist?"

Skeptic: "No, I have an open mind.(I can still form a belief, but I it's not set in stone, so it's pliable.) It is possible, but until I see enough evidence, I will be an atheist that there is a god named Thor." (My belief maybe somewhat undeveloped, and I'm somewhat uncomfortable stating it, because it's so undeveloped that I'm not confident in exclaiming it, but I'll consider what has to be said.)

Believer: "Well, here he is. Shake hands with Thor."

Skeptic: "Hello. Well, I see that you appeared out of thin air so you must be a god, and you appear to be real, so I will take off my badge that says "WEAK ATHEIST" and put on this one that says "FELLOW BELIEVER."(As promised, I changed my belief from not believing to believing as I've found evidence that is good enough to sway my position. Although, if God is standing right here before me, I'm not sure why I just say I know this is God)

Strong Atheist: "Hello, who is this big blond guy with the hammer?"

Believer: "He is Thor, the god of thunder."

Strong Atheist: "I don't believer it. No gods exist. I think that any god is impossible. This is just a guy in a costume. This trick I heard about that he appears from nowhere is just a magic act."

Skeptic: "Hmm, you are right. I don't believe this guy is a god named Thor. I still believe that a god might exist, but not this one. Puts his "WEAK ATHEIST" badge back on.( But I still have a position, it didn't have one, to having one magically appear, back to it disappearing again)

(BTW I am not saying that all strong atheists rule out the possibility of any god. This one does so this post could be concise and clear.)

And this is what I was trying to say earlier. I am an agnostic apatheist, because I cannot perceive with my senses or my reason even what the definition of god is in the first place. If I cannot even accurately define what "god" is, then how the frig am I supposed to be able to believe or disbelieve in the notion?

Every last one of us were born atheists.

Any non-atheist position is learned behavior.

ruveyn

Skeptic should have the name pliable believer, because he's the most pliable believer.

I just noticed your added bold comments within the scenario. I don't see how you can say these things and not see my point. One person in a different thread used the English language in a way to allow some humorous remark about his wording. I agree with that. I don't agree with the conclusion that anyone who withholds a belief until enough evidence is presented also necessarily believes the opposite of the premise.

This statement was not a attack I was telling Snapcap/smart ass something.

They could believe in it and be skeptical too, I suppose.

I don't see how a "skeptical" can go in and out of belief. To me, saying that you've lost your position after having one is like saying you lost your virginity and then gained it back.

They could believe in it and be skeptical too, I suppose.

I don't see how a "skeptical" can go in and out of belief. To me, saying that you've lost your position after having one is like saying you lost your virginity and then gained it back.

They could believe in it and be skeptical too, I suppose.

I don't see how a "skeptical" can go in and out of belief. To me, saying that you've lost your position after having one is like saying you lost your virginity and then gained it back.