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[[File:Baby-in-the-suitcase.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Weak atheism is an individual merely lacking a belief in God/gods. Using this broad definition of definition of atheism, there are atheists who argue that babies are atheists.<ref>[https://carm.org/are-babies-born-atheists Are babies born atheists?] by Matt Slick</ref>]]

[[File:Baby-in-the-suitcase.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Weak atheism is an individual merely lacking a belief in God/gods. Using this broad definition of definition of atheism, there are atheists who argue that babies are atheists.<ref>[https://carm.org/are-babies-born-atheists Are babies born atheists?] by Matt Slick</ref>]]

'''Weak atheism''' (sometimes referred to as "negative [[atheism]]") describes a belief system and philosophical stance whereby a person lacks a belief in God/gods. It differs from [[strong atheism]], which goes further than a simple lack of belief and makes an assertion that no gods exist. It also differs from [[agnosticism]], in that a weak atheist says they do not believe in any gods, while agnostics do not know whether or not any gods exist.

'''Weak atheism''' (sometimes referred to as "negative [[atheism]]") describes a belief system and philosophical stance whereby a person lacks a belief in God/gods. It differs from [[strong atheism]], which goes further than a simple lack of belief and makes an assertion that no gods exist. It also differs from [[agnosticism]], in that a weak [[Atheism|atheist]] says they do not believe in any gods, while agnostics do not know whether or not any gods exist.

[[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]]).  

Other theists criticize weak  atheism as seeking to "dodge the issue."  Terry Miethe argued:

Other theists criticize weak  atheism as seeking to "dodge the issue."  Terry Miethe argued:

:"the "negative [[atheist]]" ends up denying God's existence just as much as the "positive [[atheist]]." For the believer (and in reality) to deny the idea of God is to deny the actual existence of God no matter what language game you want to play. Remember, Hans Kung is quite correct in pointing out that there is also an "atheistic language game" that is not self-justified…We must not---cannot---arbitrarily "define" out of existence vast ranges of reality simply because they do not meet our predetermined definition. It is not good enough to say that I have no idea of God therefore I am denying nothing about "his" actual existence. You must examine all of reality and answer or explain why millions have had what they thought was an adequate idea or concept of God, from great philosophers to the 'common folk.'"<ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref>

:"the "negative atheist" ends up denying God's existence just as much as the "positive atheist." For the believer (and in reality) to deny the idea of God is to deny the actual existence of God no matter what language game you want to play. Remember, Hans Kung is quite correct in pointing out that there is also an "atheistic language game" that is not self-justified…We must not---cannot---arbitrarily "define" out of existence vast ranges of reality simply because they do not meet our predetermined definition. It is not good enough to say that I have no idea of God therefore I am denying nothing about "his" actual existence. You must examine all of reality and answer or explain why millions have had what they thought was an adequate idea or concept of God, from great philosophers to the 'common folk.'"<ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref>

[[William Lane Craig]] has called the attempts to broaden the definition of atheism a "deceptive game" (See: [[Definition of atheism#William Lane Craig on attempts to define the word atheism|William Lane Craig on attempts to define the word atheism]]).<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>

[[William Lane Craig]] has called the attempts to broaden the definition of atheism a "deceptive game" (See: [[Definition of atheism#William Lane Craig on attempts to define the word atheism|William Lane Craig on attempts to define the word atheism]]).<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>