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Atheism, as defined by the ''[[Stanford University|Stanford]] Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism Stanford Encyclopedia of Philisophy - Atheism and Agnosticism]</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational?] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007).  [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>  A common criticism of the concept and term "weak atheism" is that it is not a form of atheism and it is indistinguishable from [[agnosticism]] (see: [[Definition of atheism]] and [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]]).  

Atheism, as defined by the ''[[Stanford University|Stanford]] Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism Stanford Encyclopedia of Philisophy - Atheism and Agnosticism]</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational?] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007).  [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>  A common criticism of the concept and term "weak atheism" is that it is not a form of atheism and it is indistinguishable from [[agnosticism]] (see: [[Definition of atheism]] and [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]]).  

Weak atheism is based on the belief that the ''[[theist]]'', not the atheist, bears the burden of proof to show that any gods exist, because it is the theist who is asserting the existence of an entity. Weak atheists typically compare belief in gods with belief in other equally indemonstrable beings like "flying spaghetti monsters,"<ref>http://www.venganza.org/</ref> or "invisible pink unicorns,"<ref>http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com/</ref> and argue that, "The person attempting to prove that the [[Flying Spaghetti Monster]] exists has the burden of proof. In the absence of sufficient proof to warrant belief, I am justified in disbelieving in all these beings."

Weak atheism is based on the belief that the ''[[theist]]'', not the atheist, bears the burden of proof to show that any God or gods exist, because it is the theist who is asserting the existence of an entity. Weak atheists typically compare belief in God/gods with belief in other equally indemonstrable beings like "flying spaghetti monsters,"<ref>http://www.venganza.org/</ref> or "invisible pink unicorns,"<ref>http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com/</ref> and argue that, "The person attempting to prove that the [[Flying Spaghetti Monster]] exists has the burden of proof. In the absence of sufficient proof to warrant belief, I am justified in disbelieving in all these beings."

As George Smith wrote regarding positive versus negative belief:

As George Smith wrote regarding positive versus negative belief: